Culture & Education | Wednesday 27 February, 2019 5:37 pm |

The Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance continues with its steadfast commitment to institutionalize innovation and to create a culture of creativity with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding with University of Rochester Technology Dubai, The Sheikh Khalid bin Tannaf Al Manhali Award for Innovation and Excellence in Science, Abu Dhabi Polytechnic College of the Institute of Applied Technology, and University of Sharjah during the second day of Maker Faire Dubai 2019 currently being held at Za’abeel Halls 2 & 3, Dubai World Trade Centre. 

Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance was officially represented by its Secretary General HE Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Muhairi while University of Sharjah was represented by its Director, Dr. Humaid Majoul Al Nuaimi, University of Rochester Technology Dubai by its President, D. Yousef Al-Assaf, The Sheikh Khalid bin Tannaf Al Manhali Award for Innovation and Excellence in Science by its Chairman of the Board of Trustees, HE Bakhit bin Khalid Tannaf Al Manhali, Dr. Ali Seif Hilal Al Naqbi,  Director of Abu Dhabi Polytechnic College of Applied Technology. At the signing ceremony, the parties reiterated the importance of institutionalizing innovation in education to meet the challenges of the future and to contribute to Dubai’s quest to be a decade ahead of major cities in the world in terms of application of technology.

The MoU signing further affirms the insights shared by Maker Faire Dubai 2019 speakers during the second day which dealt mostly with the need to institutionalize innovation in all tiers of society, whether in the government, in educational institutions, and in grassroots. Leading the discussion on innovation in UAE was HE Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police and General Security at Dubai Police. Lt. Gen. Tamim explained how the UAE has adopted the national strategy in innovation, innovators and makers, and the two-track strategy to nurture talents in both the government and the civil path. 

An interesting presentation on UAE’s efforts to recognize the potential of the UAE to be exporters of technology, rather than consumers, was led by HE Huda Al Hashimi, Assistant to the Director General for Strategy and Innovation at the UAE Prime Minister’s Office. An enlightening presentation on UAE-wide research on innovation conducted by their office showed that the UAE is one of the top 10 top innovative nation. Further on their findings, it was shared that the UAE has a huge potential to be technology exporters within the next few years, rather than mere technology consumers. It is for this reason that that the Strategy for Innovation Office has been launching initiatives to support, encourage, and ensure that the culture of innovation is established and consistently promoted.

HE Dr. Abdullatif Al Shamsi, President and CEO, Higher Colleges of Technology, discussed Emirati graduates’ employability based on the current academic programs and how these programs match the skills and knowledge level required in the era of the 4thIndustrial Revolution. Speaking on the topic HCT InnCuVation Spaces – We Innovate, Venture, and Incubate, Dr. Shamsi explained the academic platform enabling innovation in education with partnership with incubators to support young innovators and makers.

The topic Economic Sustainability through Innovation was shared by the co-founder of Ebot System and Producer of Maker Faire Kuwait, Ahmad AlSaleh. In his keynote speech, Mr. AlSaleh impressed his views on the actual value of ideas and their transformation from intellectual creativity to an innovation with personal, international and global economy.

Grassroot Innovation and Social Impact topic, with emphasis on how innovation creates a more effective solution to real-world problems and attain social impact, was discussed by keynote speaker Aisa A. Mijeno, co-founder and CEO of SALt (Sustainable Alternative Lighting Corp.). The speaker also delved on the challenges of developing technology through academic research and how to overcome the hurdles of building a social enterprise to make an efficient, organic system that disrupts the status quo.

Tomas Diez, Instigator at Fab City Research Laboratory and co-founder of Smart Citizen from Spain discussed the topic on designing emergent futures with emphasis on how to enable mass distribution of almost anything through a full stack approach. Concluding the presentation was Reem Almarzouqi, UAE Innovation Specialist who shared an inspirational presentation on harnessing one’s inner inventor. Her inspiring thoughts focused on encouraging individuals, especially students, to bring out his potential in invention despite the odds. 

Day two of Maker Faire Dubai 2019 ended with the awarding ceremony for the representatives of Hamdan Foundation who competed and won in FLL Competition held in Abu Dhabi. Maker Faire Dubai is an initiative of the Hamdan Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance in celebration of the UAE Innovation Month.