Breakthrough Innovations Offer Scope for New Applications and Devices in Desalination, Clean Energy and Healthcare
Abu Dhabi-UAE: 13 May, 2013 - Breakthrough innovations, patents in clean energy and advanced technology, and scientific papers in leading journals and international conferences have given a leading status to Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, in driving innovation and R&D in the UAE.
A pioneering breakthrough in developing a novel membrane that operates in an 'in-situ' cleaning system for desalination for which a patent application has been filed has become the most recent innovation announced by researchers at Masdar Institute. Another announcement that a research project on 'thermographic' imaging of the Abu Dhabi metropolitan area is being extended to investigate environmental impacts of the built environment in Dubai and Doha, further reiterates the regional relevance of Masdar Institute's research 'focus areas'.
More recently, two scientific papers led by Masdar Institute faculty were presented at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) 2013 in San Francisco. These papers presented at the premier forum, also known as "Semiconductor Olympics', detailed a new dimension in continuous health monitoring of people with chronic medical conditions. The papers are expected to eventually lead to devices such as a 'Band-Aid' type seizure monitoring sensor for epilepsy care and other low-cost devices for continuous monitoring in healthcare applications.
Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute, said: "The recent innovations serve as tell-tales on the extent of advanced research that Masdar Institute can undertake in highly specialized areas of science and renewable energy. With the support of our country's leadership, we have productively evolved into an institution, offering solutions to global challenges as well as to tackling the region's key issues in renewable energy. We hope the current students and the graduates from Masdar Institute will further pave the way for innovations and scientific discoveries."
Some of Masdar Institute's contributions towards innovations have gained international acclaim. The development and launching of the global solar and wind atlas during the third annual conference of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at the World Future Energy Summit 2013 in Abu Dhabi marked another crucial achievement for the research-based institution. The UAE Research Centre for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment at Masdar Institute was closely involved in the development and launch of the global solar and wind atlas. A robust satellite-based mapping tool developed and validated at the Centre facilitates an accurate assessment of the three solar irradiance components required for generating the maps.
Other key innovations include two provisional patent applications - one for a technology that could support the grid with shunt and series compensation by mitigating voltage dips and the other a new lithium ion battery technology. The Emirates Solar Industry Association's (ESIA) 'Solar Entrepreneur of the Year' award presented to Alaeddine Mokri, a Research Assistant, for designing novel solar power systems, illustrated another key achievement by Masdar Institute in driving innovation.
Earlier, two Masdar Institute students who received training at Bilkent University in Turkey, gained expertise in fabricating thin film solar cells. The two are now trained to use the advanced equipment at The Nano Electronic and Photonics Research Group (NEP) laboratory in Masdar Institute.
Dr Scott Kennedy, Dean for Research, Masdar Institute, said: "Identifying relevant research areas and providing the right scientific environment to lead new discoveries form the core essence of Masdar Institute's knowledge development objectives. Our research aims to bring innovation with societal benefit while additionally facilitating sustainable clean energy projects. We hope every year students at Masdar Institute will continue to focus on R&D efforts that lead to innovations in new areas."
Serving as a key pillar of innovation and human capital, Masdar Institute remains fundamental to Masdar's core objectives of developing Abu Dhabi's knowledge economy and finding solutions to humanity's toughest challenges such as climate change.
Established as an on-going collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.
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About Masdar Institute
Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (Masdar Institute) was established by the government of Abu Dhabi as a not-for-profit, private graduate university to develop indigenous R&D capacity in Abu Dhabi addressing issues of importance to the region.
In collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute has developed an academic and research platform that articulates its mission and vision according to critical energy and sustainability challenges.
An important characteristic of Masdar Institute is its focus on complex real-world problems that require a multidisciplinary approach for the development of solutions from an integrated technology, systems and policy perspective. This multi-interdisciplinary and integrated approach is supported by the structure of its academic programs and by the emphasis placed on engaging external partners from industry, government, and other academic institutions in collaborative activities.
Masdar Institute offers degrees in:
- MSc Engineering Systems and Management
- MSc Computing and Information Science
- MSc Materials Science and Engineering
- MSc Mechanical Engineering
- MSc Water and Environmental Engineering
- MSc Microsystems Engineering
- MSc Electrical Power Engineering
- MSc Chemical Engineering
Please visit our website www.masdar.ac.ae/
For more information contact:
Name: Bader Al Zarei
Director - Communications
Public Affairs Department
Email: balzarei@masdar.ac.ae
Phone: +971 02 8109372
© Press Release 2013
