In the UAE's 'Year of Innovation', Larry Keeley explored how government and private innovations have resulted in widespread benefits to UAE society

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, February 10, 2015

Traditional governments should look to the UAE and adopt a more scientific approach to innovation, observed a global leading expert on the subject, Larry Keeley, President and co-founder of Doblin, on the second day of The Government Summit, held in Dubai.

Contrary to common thinking, which states that innovation only occurs through brainstorming and creativity, Keeley, who had studied innovation extensively for nearly 35 years, instead believes that discipline is the key and the process of idea generation is most successful when the approach is scientific. Additionally, any great innovation today needs to move beyond simple products and transcend our day-to-day lives

With the UAE having entered its 'Year of Innovation', Keeley's formula for successful innovation can be employed in both the private and public sectors to deliver tangible results. Most positively for the UAE, Keeley's research shows that governments that have a clear objective of what they want to achieve through innovation are 20 times more likely to achieve it.

Larry Keeley, President and co-founder of Doblin, said: "Thoughtful, strategic governments, such as the UAE, can spur economic growth and provide solutions to critical issues such as climate change, food access and public safety. People have never been as hungry for fresh ideas and products which they can harness and use in their daily lives. The UAE Government, over the last decade, has perhaps been more successful in creating such an environment than any other nation in the world."

"Governments can foster innovation at different levels to create internationally prominent and newsworthy initiatives that transform daily life. Every well-run government has a framework to engender innovation, whether through building public/private partnerships or engaging universities and investors to create accelerators. Innovation is systemic and leading to see it this way can benefit the full spectrum of society.  It is obvious that the UAE Government, through creating a Year of Innovation, understands the role it can have in supporting breakthroughs that can change society for the better."

The author of Ten Types of Innovation, a well-reviewed book which takes a deep look at the discipline of innovation, Keeley has worked with scores of the world's largest companies to build their signature innovation competences, and with startup firms trying to change some essential segments of the world. BusinessWeek named Keeley one of seven Innovation Gurus changing the field, and specifically cited Doblin for having many of the most sophisticated tools for delivering innovation effectiveness.

The Government Summit is being held from February 9 to 11, 2015, in Dubai. In total, there will be 50 sessions, more than 100 speakers and 3,000 participants from 87 countries to discuss the future of education, health services and smart cities. The third edition of The Government Summit, which is the biggest event of its kind in the world, the theme for 2015 is 'Shaping Future Governments'.

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For further information, please contact:
Nedal Al Asaad / Omar Badran                                                                     
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller                                        
Tel: (+971) 4507600
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E-mail: nedal.alasaad@bm.com, omar.badran@bm.com

© Press Release 2015