Accra:Aqaba Governorate The King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD) is backing the second Mars-life simulation mission by the Madar MENA project in Wadi Rum through its Riyada entrepreneurship program. This initiative was announced by Fund Director-General Samer Al-Mofleh.
According to Jordan News Agency, the mission, part of the MENA Mars Analog Space Mission (MENA-01-WR), integrates space science, scientific research, practical training, and educational tourism. The project leverages Wadi Rum's unique desert landscape, which resembles Martian terrain, to simulate living and working in an isolated space environment.
Al-Mofleh emphasized that supporting entrepreneurial projects is crucial for the fund to promote innovation and widen economic opportunities. The fund's involvement goes beyond financing, focusing on supporting ventures that employ knowledge and technology to create sustainable solutions.
He also mentioned that the initiative links scientific research, innovation, and tourism, providing opportunities for Jordanian professionals in new scientific and technological fields. The Riyada program continues to support entrepreneurial ventures with growth potential, aiming to help young Jordanians develop projects that contribute to economic diversification and add value to the national economy.