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8/29/24, 4:41 PM HE Alia Al Mazrouei visits Khalifa Innovation Centre, in5 Business Incubator and Masdar Free Zone - Middle East News 247
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.

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.

Last Updated on 2 days by Middle East News 247

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