Page 262 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - AUGUST 2024

8/29/24, 4:41 PM HE Alia Al Mazrouei visits Khalifa Innovation Centre, in5 Business Incubator and Masdar Free Zone
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.

During her university tour, Her Excellency Alia Al Mazrouei visited a range of state-of-the-art laboratories focused on
AI, robotics, and other cutting-edge technological fields. These labs are equipped with the latest advanced
equipment to support researchers and innovators, leading to the development of various research projects within
these facilities.

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