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9/2/24, 2:51 PM HE Alia Al Mazrouei visits Khalifa Innovation Centre, in5 Business Incubator and Masdar Free Zone - Middle East Business News an…
emphasising advancements in emerging technologies. They outlined Masdar’s focus on six key
sectors: space, energy, life sciences, agricultural technologies, AI, and mobility.

Her Excellency gained insights into both current and future plans designed to support start-ups

and SMEs. She learned about the diverse range of options and co-working spaces available for
establishing businesses and various activities. The visit underscored how entrepreneurs can
take advantage of the opportunities and resources available in the area, which is considered an

ideal hub for innovation, technology, and emerging businesses. The zone is home to both local

and international companies, along with leading global organisations across a variety of vital
sectors.

The discussion also highlighted the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, including the struggle to
secure funding and obtaining specialised equipment needed to develop innovative technologies.

Both parties emphasised the necessity of enhancing collaboration to create a joint programme
that supports the adoption of emerging technologies and develops tools to help establish

forward-looking companies.

‘Khalifa Innovation Center’: An incubator for Deep Technology:

During her visit to the Khalifa Innovation Centre, part of Khalifa University of Science and

Technology, Her Excellency met with HE Prof. Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of the University. The
Centre’s team highlighted their key initiatives to support entrepreneurs and outlined their

strategic objectives. Notably, the Khalifa Innovation Centre is the country’s first incubator
dedicated to ‘Deep Tech,’ offering startups a comprehensive network to facilitate market

access. The Centre also arranges promotional tours to other universities and hosts networking
sessions where entrepreneurs can share ideas about the business landscape. Furthermore, the

Centre runs competitions for pitching startup projects, providing entrepreneurs with
opportunities to secure funding for their businesses.

In their meeting, both parties emphasised the significance of boosting innovation outputs at
Khalifa University and aiding the UAE’s advancement in the Global Innovation Index. They

noted that this could be accomplished by concentrating on the tangible results and outputs of
the innovation ecosystem. Furthermore, they discussed various challenges hindering

innovation, such as the difficulties in communication between academia and the private sector,
along with the insufficient funding for startups in the early phases of their projects.

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