SAP Training and Development Institute to Host Innovation Boot Camps for DSOA's Technology Incubation Centre

Dubai, UAE: 01 July, 2015

Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), the regulatory body for Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the integrated free zone technology park, today signed a sponsorship agreement with SAP Training and Development Institute (SAP TDI), appointing the firm as a non-exclusive sponsor of DSOA's wholly owned Dubai Technology Entrepreneurship Center (DTEC), the largest center of its kind in the region.

As part of the agreement, DSOA will provide appropriate space within DTEC to host up to three SAP innovation boot-camps, including Start-Up Focus events, during the agreement period, which will be open to the public. Additionally, DSOA will name one of the DTEC meetings rooms as the 'SAP' Room.

The contract was signed by Shahla Ahmed Abdul Razak, Deputy CEO, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority and Marita Mitschein, Managing Director, SAP Training and Development Institute, at DTEC.

Commenting on the agreement, Shahla Ahmed Abdul Razak said: "We are fully committed to supporting start-ups and entrepreneurs in the fields of technology and Islamic digital economy through our technology entrepreneurship center DTEC. Our support is not only limited to offering financial support, consultancy, mentoring, workspace facilities or networking opportunities, but it also includes signing partnerships with reputed organizations such as SAP. Such partnerships with well-established global organizations reinstate our commitment to offering greater benefits to founders of seed ventures and emerging entrepreneurs that we host and seek to nurture at DTEC."

"Till date, we have supported more than 314 entrepreneurs with their business plans, invested financially in 12 entrepreneurships and selected 4 additional technology companies to receive financial support in 2015," Shahla added.

Founded in November 2012, the SAP Training and Development Institute supports in the creation of sustainable workplaces by boosting the business system knowledge of students, young graduates, and the experienced workforce in the region in order to contribute to the reduction of the local unemployment rate. SAP TDI offers a host of training programs tailored to bring SAP business skills to local talents and serves as Think Tank for knowledge ex-change, co-creation and co-innovation.

On her part, Marita Mitschein said: "In addition to enabling local talents, the development of entrepreneurs will help tackling the challenge of unemployment. This requires above all an environment where entrepreneurial spirit can flourish. With the rich platform provided for start-ups, we see DSOA as an ideal place to nurture innovative concepts. We have witnessed some great ideas stem to life through DSOA and we believe that our partnership will enable more founders to reach great heights".

"Our sponsorship of DTEC reflects our commitment to the region for encouraging more local talents shaping their career based on technology innovation. Since its inauguration, the SAP Training and Development Institute has already created US$ 68m of in Country Value in MENA and we will continue to help the region grow", Marita concluded.

A wholly-owned entity of the government of Dubai, DSO operates as a free zone technology park for large enterprises, medium and small companies looking to set up their offices in Dubai.

-Ends-

About Dubai Silicon Oasis:
Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), a 100% owned entity by the Government of Dubai is a free zone, strategically placed on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed road. DSOA's urban master-planned community spans 7.2 square kilometres of state of the art office towers, R&D and industrial zones, educational institutions, luxury apartments, villas, hotels, healthcare and a full range of lifestyle facilities which translate into a dynamic commercial and social environment. Businesses can flourish under the unrivalled package of incentives, including 100% ownership, and high end IT infrastructure that allows companies to begin operating immediately.

For more information, please visit: www.dso.ae, or contact:
Mazen El Dirany
Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority
Senior Associate Manager - Corporate Communications
T +971 4 5015102 | F +971 4 5015350
Email: meldirany@dso.ae | www.dsoa.ae/

Mathilda Saad
APCO Worldwide
Tel:         +9714 361 3879 (Direct)
M:            +97155 699 9890
Fax:        +9714 388 8001
Email:    msaad@apcoworldwide.com

Mahmoud Kandil
APCO Worldwide
Mob:     +971 55 3027386
Email:   mkandil@apcoworldwide.com

About SAP
As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device - SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 258,000 customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

For further information, please contact Husain Tamimi
husain.tamimi@sap.com
+971 4 440 7222
@SAPMENANews

© Press Release 2015