Page 502 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - MARCH 2025

Under the agreement, Schneider Electric will support the NextGen FDI mission in two core ways:
firstly, to offer go-to-market strategies and incubation for companies onboarded to the programme,
including potential collaborations with Schneider Electric’s own projects, and secondly to
introduce existing start-ups from the Schneider Electric global portfolio to the initiative.

According to Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the
partnership underscores the vitality of start-ups in aligning the advancement of the UAE’s
innovation ecosystem with its sustainability agenda and net-zero goals.

Al Zeyoudi stated, “The partnership with Schneider Electric is a strategic step towards empowering
climate-tech start-ups with the necessary tools and expertise to scale and grow, expanding the
deployment of cutting-edge technologies that reduce emissions, material waste and time in the
UAE and the broader region. The UAE’s commitment to pioneering climate-tech solutions, from
smart grids to energy-efficient infrastructure, will be further strengthened by this collaboration and
we look forward to the tangible and long-term impact it will have on our sustainability goals.”

Schneider Electric, which has long-term commercial partnerships with more than 35 active
companies covering energy management, sustainability, and industrial automation sees the UAE as
a critical market for driving sustainable growth and innovation.

Olivier Blum, Chief Executive Officer of Schneider Electric, stated, "Digitalisation and electrification
are reshaping economies worldwide, making energy efficiency and sustainability more critical now
than ever. As a strategic partner of the NextGen FDI Initiative, Schneider Electric is committed to
supporting the UAE’s vision for energy resilience and sustainable development. By empowering the
next generation of tech start-ups and accelerating the country’s energy transition, we are driving
growth in alignment with the UAE’s economic diversification goals.”

Blum added, “Our joint efforts build on the UAE’s commitment towards innovation and digital
transformation and solidifies the nation’s position as a leading global hub for technology-driven
creators and innovators.”
Launched in 2022, the NextGen FDI initiative is a key pillar of the UAE’s drive to diversify its
economy and position itself as a global hub for innovation. To date, the programme has welcomed
over 20 companies operating in future focused sectors such as AI, renewable energy, robotics, and
advanced manufacturing, helping accelerate the UAE’s transition to a knowledge-driven,
sustainable economy.

https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/1346530/Ministry-of-Economy%E2%80%99s-NextGen-FDI-
programme,-Schneider-Electric-partner-to-scale-climate-tech-start-ups-in-UAE