ABU DHABI, 17th August 17th, 2013 (WAM)--The Emirates Identity Authority has launched an award for innovation, creativity and institutional applications.

The annual award aims at encouraging individuals, public and private entities to contribute in preparing scientific researches and practical applications within the advanced identity systems. This should in turn help develop the "smart" Identity management system in the UAE.

Emirates ID called on all public and private entities, educational institutions, experts, researchers and students in the UAE to participate in the "Emirates ID Innovation and Creativity Award" which includes two categories: "Best Scientific Research" and "Best Application" in the field of advanced ID systems. The Authority noted that an independent evaluation committee comprising a number of local and international experts will evaluate the participations.

Emirates ID unveiled that it will organise a formal ceremony at the beginning of the next year to honor the winners of "The Best Application in the Government Sector" and "The Best Application in the Private Sector" Shields. The first three winners in "The Best Scientific Research" in the field of the Advanced Identity Systems will also get cash prizes of AED 100,000, AED 75,000, and AED 50,000.

Dr. Eng. Mohamed Ali Al Khouri, Director General of Emirates ID said the launch of the award is in line with the Authority?s quest to develop the advanced identity system in the UAE and thereby support a knowledge-based society and economy and boost the UAE?s global competitiveness.

Dr. Al Khouri added that the Award is one of Emirates ID?s initiatives aimed at encouraging institutions and individuals in the UAE to contribute in developing innovative services for the government and private sectors through upgrading the identity verification system, particularly on the digital networks, thereby support the comprehensive transformation into the "smart government" in the UAE.

He underscored Emirates ID?s keenness and ongoing endeavor to provide the best government services both inside the Authority and on the government entities level across the country based on its strategic plan 2010-2013 and its new strategic plan 2014-2016. This will be done through providing sophisticated and modern technological applications developed by individuals and government and private entities towards serving the public interests of the UAE and the different segments of the society.

Emirates ID has urged all individuals and organisations keen to contribute to the progress of the UAE and who are capable of doing researches and developing innovative digital applications in the field of the advanced identity systems to participate in its Award and hence contribute in enhancing the role of the smart ID card and increasing its usages and effectiveness thereby streamline and simplify services of both government and private sectors.

The Authority announced that the deadline for submitting participating papers is November 30th 2013. Participation in the Best Scientific Research Award in the field of advanced ID systems are open for individuals insides and outside the UAE. Participation in the Best Application Award in the field of the Advanced Identity Systems is limited to government and private entities within the UAE.

According to the Authority, participating papers should add a new scientific value to the subject of research and must follow proper scientific research methodologies in order to be accepted.

Emirates ID noted that the detailed terms and conditions related to the award are available on its website www.emiratesid.ae which can be checked at the knowledge centre section, emphasising that the researches should not have been published before and their ideas should be applicable. A joint research could be submitted by a number of researchers as well.

Out of its keenness to promote the culture of scientific research and spread the tacit knowledge locally and internationally, Emirates ID has published several scientific researches during the past four years in many international scientific journals and periodicals.

It has also created a corner for studies and researches on its website which includes all its scientific researches and papers that have been published or submitted during local and international conferences.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2013.