Major initiative to support sector-specific research and development

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 11, 2010 (ME NewsWire): DIT announced that it recently concluded its 2nd strategic Forum with Governmental leaders, industry, and academia.

Leading R&D and technology experts and scholars from the industry, universities as well as senior officials from government departments and financial institutions took part in the DIT Strategic Forum. Dubai Research Framework (DRF) and Dubai for Innovation (D4I) - which was developed by DIT, were presented during the second DIT Strategic Forum, where leading national and international experts addressed the issue of enhancing DIT's R&D promotion programmes. The Forum is the forward-looking DIT initiative to discuss new innovation systems and establish priorities in its principal research sectors of Health, Water, Energy, Industrial Engineering and Logistics/Mobility.

Hamad Al Hashemi, Managing Director of DIT-TechnoPark said,   "As per recommendation of the first strategic Forum, that took place last July, DIT needs to develop the R&D support framework that creates a culture of innovation, establish a framework for Research & Development Grants and outlined the structure of two such funds to be raised to support individuals and organisations in R&D capacity."

He added "Both DRF and D4I aim to support Dubai's drive to become a global centre for Research and Development activities". DIT collaborated with the renowned Berlin-based institute Fraunhofer IPK, and experts in the field to give shape to the Funds and ensure its success.

The Dubai Research Framework [DRF] which was presented by Dr. Holger Kohl (Fraunhofer IPK), is proposed to be a governmental R&D initiative that includes Research and Technological Development (R &TD) policy (strategy & tools) with a detailed description of the allocation process of financial support for R&D in Dubai. Financial grants will be provided to a wide range of natural and legal persons including private and public companies and organizations in Dubai, researchers, and organizations and companies from abroad cooperating with Dubai.   

Dr, Holger Kohl said: "The development on Science and technology policy is a critical element in the development of R&D and the consolidation of an innovation system. This is the reason DIT has decided to focus on policy."

The Dubai for Innovation, presented by Dr. Samir Hamrouni, DIT Senior Advisor, purely concentrated on raising support from the Society (individuals, institutions, entities, etc.) in addition to Public Private Partnership in the development of R&D activities under DIT.

D4I will focus on raising fund to support R&D will be of three kinds: Project Related Funding for R&D activities in specified DIT core areas; Individual Funding to support education and career development, as well as Institutional Funding for R&D institutions and industry. The general funding structure allocates 45% of the total funds available to Project Related Funding, 15% to Funds for Individual Researcher and 40% to Institutional Funding.

Dr. Samir Hamrouni said: "This is an initiative from Dubai to lead the Emirate towards knowledge based economy."

Attendees of the DIT's 2nd Strategic Forum also agreed that DIT is making significant contributions towards Dubai's knowledge-based economic growth and sustainable development in alignment with the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015.

In addition, the Forum urged the introduction of two levels of Human Resource (Scientists) schemes attracting & retaining those specialists and developing of new ones through very solid program.

"The second DIT Strategic Forum has taken a huge step in advancing  DIT's core vision," Hamed Al Hashemi, Managing Director, DIT-TechnoPark said about the programme. "It has been the Forum's endeavour to create a sustainable long-term platform to support the region's R&D sector. We conveyed this message in the first Forum itself. This time we have moved ahead with the creation of the necessary tools. DIT is looking forward to make it work to perfection," he added.

One of the most ambitious of Economic Zones World initiatives, DIT aims to set up infrastructures and clusters of excellence that will focus on areas in science and technology that are relevant to the region.  DIT aims to establish market-oriented support systems to boost industrial core sectors and contribute to the nation's long term economic progress.

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© Press Release 2010