Sharjah, United Arab Emirates –Broadening its reach and delivering valuable guidance to those with young ideas in the region, Sheraa (Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ajman University (AU) last week. The purpose of the MoU is to support activities that help bridge research and education with industry. The collaboration will also help students, educators, experts and companies identify real world problems and develop sustainable solutions.
The strategic alliance will help accelerate scientific research, pave way for professional internships, boost technical cooperation, all amongst workshops, seminars and exhibitions.
“Providing resources that prove beneficial to support the successful exchange of academic materials, publications and other scientific information is one of the many roles Sheraa is excited to lead in this union,” states Najla Al Midfa, General Manager of Sheraa. “Our goal is to help educate, enable and empower the young students of AU and all those involved to create opportunities for growth, discovery and fruitful partnerships,” adds Al Midfa.
The MoU also promotes employee exchange opportunities with the aim of sharing and furthering the scientific and technical knowledge of both parties.
Dr. Karim Seghir, Chancellor of Ajman University, said that the signing of the MoU with the Sharjah Center for Entrepreneurship (Sheraa) is in line with the university's strategy to forge strong relations with public and private sector institutions. He pointed out that the aim of establishing Ajman University Innovation Center (AUIC) is to transform innovative technologies and ideas into effective and sustainable startups, thus contributing to economic development, job creation and youth empowerment, in addition to developing scientific research in the field of entrepreneurship.
The collaborative initiative comes following the successful graduation of 10 startups from Sheraa’s Accelerator Program. The graduates hailed from various sectors including Food & Beverage (F&B), construction, art and CSR.
The MoU is proof of the imminent rise of Sheraa as not just an incubator and accelerator, but also as a model and key entity in the business of turning dreams and ideas into reality.
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Sheraa (Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center):
Sheraa (Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center) was launched in January 2016, under the patronage of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi - Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) - to provide a launch pad for aspiring and established entrepreneurs in the UAE. Sheraa's state-of-the-art co-working facility is housed at the American University of Sharjah and hosts a thriving community of students and ambitious entrepreneurs. Sheraa – ‘Sail’ in Arabic - inspires youth to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams and empowers them to navigate through the processes of launching a business, transforming them from job seekers to job creators in the United Arab Emirates and the wider region. It runs the country’s first university-based ‘accelerator’ program, offering a mentorship-driven, three-month entrepreneurship boot camp to support teams.
that demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit and courage. The hands-on accelerator also provides seed-funding, strategic mentorship by industry professionals and a suite of other competitive benefits. It successfully unveiled 10 startups through the inaugural flagship accelerator showcase day, which was conceived in the center’s expansive co-working space where creativity is fostered in an exuberant environment. Sheraa’s programs also include an Ideathon, which helps young entrepreneurs quickly validate their idea, and an Incubator, which helps startups refine their concepts and develop advanced prototypes.
For more information, visit www.sheraa.ae.
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