Innovation Arabia is virtual for the first time in its 14th edition

Dubai – United Arab Emirates: A virtual press conference held yesterday evening to discuss the launch of Innovation Arabia 14 which will be held virtually in February 2021, for the first time under the theme “Innovation Everywhere”. The conference focuses on the most prominent innovations and creativity in the UAE and the region, while gathering the most eminent experts, decision makers, researchers, and leaders from all parts of the world, to discuss the latest technologies and solutions that create the future of innovation and creativity in the world.

The launch of the next edition of Innovation Arabia 14 comes virtually as a proactive step by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University – HBMSU, in cooperation with INDEX Holding to achieve the vision based on making education available for everyone easily and with high efficiency, using the modern digital technologies allowing dissemination of innovation and creativity concept everywhere, by providing an online space to meet, communicate, and discuss within an interactive virtual environment that brings together everyone keen on enhancing knowledge and learning with a selected group of specialists and experts in various fields from all over the world.

The press conference was held via “Zoom” and chaired by Dr. Mansoor Al-Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) and Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Chairman of INDEX Holding, in the presence of Dr. Fahad Al Saadi, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), Eng. Anas Al Madani, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of INDEX Holding, in addition to university officials and representatives from the Media.

Dr. Mansoor Al-Awar, Chancellor of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) said: “We look forward to Innovation Arabia Conference 14, the upcoming edition which will be held virtually and supported by the latest digital technology. It is a major achievement and the first of its kind in the history of the event which reflects the flexibility and adaptability of the UAE and its institutions in responding to sudden challenges and changes that we are seeing today.

Complementing the strong momentum and major success of previous sessions, the conference emerges once again as an important platform for exchange of experiences, expertise and knowledge through presentations, seminars and educational dialogues with leading experts and specialists in crises management and business continuity, smart future enablers, learning for a better life, social innovation systems and virtual experience economy.

Al Awar added: “The convening of ‘Innovation Arabia Conference 14’ in the upcoming virtual event reaffirms the futuristic vision and unique approach of HBMSU since its founding more than 18 years ago, following the wise vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. This event is also the result of the university’s successful efforts in the past as it laid the foundation of innovation, technology, and smart learning as the strategy to restructure higher education, aimed at building a new generation that are knowledgeable and technically equipped to become leaders in the future. We will continue to implement quality initiatives and events that are in line with the ‘Smart Dubai’ initiative and the state’s ambition to become the smartest city in the world by 2021. All these efforts are being implemented under the guidance of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of HBMSU, coupled with the vision and firm commitment to transform higher education regionally and internationally using the latest technologies and innovations in smart education and investments to the development of the youth, being the foundation of UAE’s sustainable development.”

Al-Awar also expressed his appreciation to the fruitful partnership and constructive cooperation between the university and Index, organizer of the event,  for is efforts in making the ‘Innovation Arabia’ conference possible as well its major contribution to the continued success of the conference year after year.

Meanwhile, Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Chairman of INDEX Holding, stated that: “After the tremendous success of this prominent event, we are very pleased to organize this new and extraordinary 14^th edition of Innovation Arabia in cooperation with Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU). This emphasizes the strength of our sustainable relationship with HBMSU over the years, culminating today in achieving our common dream in providing an online conference and exhibition that highlights the need to continuous education, creativity, and innovation everywhere, using various modern digital applications. Here in the UAE, we continue to pursue creativity and innovation as a clear approach in building a knowledge-learning-based society following the guidance of our wise leadership.”

Dr. Abdul Salam also added: “We would like to thank H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), for his decent patronage of this important event, and we are confident that Innovation Arabia 14 will be an ideal virtual platform for participants from all over the world to exchange the latest developments in innovation as a main pillar to understand our present and a beginning to create a better future for everyone.”

Eng. Anas Al Madani, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of INDEX Holding, said: “We express our appreciation for Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), for its great confidence in INDEX Holding as a strategic partner in organizing this important event, as Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) has always been a pioneer in its vision and direction in providing virtual education and distance learning. During the next edition of Innovation Arabia 14, we are keen on providing a new concept in organizing long term conferences that are not limited to a number of days. The event, which will be entirely virtual, provides a unique experience and excellent opportunity for participants to interact with experts, researchers, and innovators. The main conference is also preceded by a series of workshops and seminars addressing topics focusing on education sector and private sector, in addition to the video series starting from October 2020”.

Eng. Anas also added: “Today, we will keep pace with Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) vision by providing the first online edition of Innovation Arabia 14. The conference which will be broadcast over two consecutive days in February 2021 will discuss an agenda rich with all significant topics set by the conference Scientific Committee. In addition, the event will include a virtual exhibition that provides an opportunity for private sector companies to benefit from this exhibition. We should also mention the important and success of U-Start competition during this year, which was directed to startups and focused on university sector, and we are going to expand the competition in the next edition to include the startups from various sectors. We would like also to thank the Scientific Committee for introducing substantial topics to be covered in the next edition.”

Moreover, the agenda of Innovation Arabia 14 in its next edition includes a number of lectures, seminars, and panel discussions addressing the various business sectors and focusing on many important topics including Crisis Management and Business Continuity, Smart Future Enablers, Learning for a better life, Social Innovation Systems, in addition to Virtual Experience Economy.

Under the title “Crisis Management and Business Continuity”, the participating experts will discuss vital topics including “Lessons learnt in the aftermath of Covid-19”, “Health system responsiveness for Covid-19 Pandemic and beyond” and “Digital Transformation of Education beyond Covid-19”. In addition, under the headline “Smart Future Enablers”, specialists will discuss several topics including: “Urban Living and the Challenges of Architecture”, “Smart Waste Management”, “Smart Health Systems”, Smart Transportation”, Food Innovation and the Future of Agriculture – Eating for Health”, “The Smart Home, The Smart Car, The Smart Workplace”, Getting to Net Zero – What Will it Take?”, “Water Resources Management and the Challenge of Growth”, New Materials, New Designs, New Challenges”, as well as “Eldercare and the Role of Technology”.

Within the title of “Learning for a Better Life”, researchers focus on the topics of “Future Skills”, “New Innovations in Learning for Life”, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Education”, “Learning for a Different Future”, “smart Learning”, and “Teachers Preparedness for online delivery”. Furthermore, the “Social Innovation Systems” addresses topics of “Meeting Social Needs through Social Enterprise and Social Innovation”, “Health, Homes, and Happiness”, “Cultural Values, Cultural Enterprise, and Economic Growth”, “Changing the way we live together and work through social innovation”, Case Studies of social innovation impact”, “Social Innovation and Systems Thinking”, and “Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship”.

Additionally, as for “Virtual Experience Economy” headline, specialists will shed light on several topics including “What Comes After 5G?”, “Immersive computing and Artificial Intelligence”, “Technology Breakthroughs for creating new Customer Experience”, “Retail Business and Customer Experience”, as well as “Virtual Reality as Technology for Creating Consumer Immersive Experience”.

The conference agenda also includes a pre-event video series that precede the main conference and start from October 2020 until January 2021. These episodes include pre-recorded videos and interviews, in addition to online workshops and educational videos. Furthermore, participants of students and specialists will be able to obtain continuing education hours, in addition to watching the live videos directly or on demand.

The pre-event video series agenda also includes a number of direct dialogue sessions with Decision Makers specialized in the Government Sector, Retail, Telecom, Consultancy, Technology, Fashion Brand, Gaming, Automotive, Social Media Influencer, Logistics, Tourism, Consumer Goods, and Airline.

Running parallel to the main Innovation Arabia 14 conference is the online exhibition, which will attract a number of companies from different business sectors, showing their multiple services within designated display platforms that allow visitors to virtually get to know the services of each company. The online exhibition also provides smooth and effective meetings and consultations between exhibitors and participants regarding the most prominent services provided.

Innovation Arabia 14 is organized by INDEX Conferences and Exhibitions - a member of INDEX Holding, in partnership with Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University -HBMSU.

© Press Release 2020