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Abu Dhabi opens centre for innovators

ABU DHABI, November 22, 2015

Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC) has opened the region’s first open-access making space designed to enable the transformation of ideas into reality for the UAE’s budding inventors and innovators.

The Innovator Space, inaugurated today (November 22), opened the Innovation Week activities in the country’s capital, and was attended by Major General Mohammed Khalfan Matar Al Rumaithi, deputy commander-in-chief of Abu Dhabi Police and a member of the Executive Council, and Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, chairman of Health Authority and a member of the Executive Council.  

Located in the popular Al Zeina development near the Sheikh Zayed Abu Dhabi-Dubai Highway, the Innovator Space is packed with professional grade equipment. Staffed by trained professionals, the 1,000-sq-m space creates an ‘innovation hub’ for professionals, amateurs, entrepreneurs, artists and start-ups to share, learn, make and create under the guidance of highly skilled experts, a statement said.

Director General of TDC Ahmed Saeed Al Calily said: “Realising the UAE Vision 2021 is dependent on taking people on an ‘innovation journey’. In line with the directives of President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announcing 2015 as the ‘Year of Innovation’, we are determined to inspire, engage and empower the local community with science, technology and innovation through four key stages: education, knowledge transfer, knowledge generation and knowledge utilization.”

“By doing this, we can diversify our economy, increase our productivity and create a skilled workforce that drives our position among the most innovative nations in the world.  Innovator Space, inaugurated on the first day of innovation week, brings together technology, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning to create a truly interactive ‘knowledge-exchange’ network set to catalyse innovation within our community.”

The Space is designed and operated in partnership with TechShop, the leading operator of “makers spaces” in the US and globally.

The facility provides affordable access to cutting edge technology such as 3D printers, laser cutters, welders, various computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines, and many more, in addition to CAD/CAM state of the art software – as well as specialized training programmes for all levels of skill and hands-on support and mentoring to transition ideas into prototypes and products.

The Innovator space adopts the “open innovation” philosophy and aims to become a platform for cooperation between individuals, companies and public institutions ushering new models of engagement. In the US and elsewhere, TechShop has been able to establish fruitful partnerships with leading government and industrial counterparts, including GE, Ford, Nasa, BMW and Darpa – among others.

Paul Duggan, CEO, TechShop Global said: “TechShop's mission is to help drive global innovation by engaging, enabling and empowering everyone to build their dreams. In establishing a TechShop here in Abu Dhabi we're furthering that global mission and I'm proud to see the maker movement - with its focus on innovation, accessibility and opportunity for all - embraced and executed with the great support of our partners at the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee."

In Abu Dhabi, Intel Corporation, a global leader in semiconductors has partnered with TDC to provide technology and training in the space.

“For over a decade Intel has been committed to supporting young innovators through investments in science & technology and entrepreneurship initiatives to build a more competitive workforce in the Arab world. By providing the adequate technologies and resources through entities like the TDC Innovator Space we are helping to develop the ecosystem and contribute to transforming ideas into solutions,” said Nassir Nauthoa, Intel’s GCC country manager.

Innovator Space’s broad range of training programmes, extended opening times and membership options provide easy access for everyone, from first-time inventors to professionals, start-ups and companies.

During Innovation week, the space will be hosting an open house, where innovators can witness a taste of what the space has to offer.  The week-long activities will include workshops and talks by experts and professional mentors.

In addition to the Space, the Innovator programme includes the yearly Innovator Show, which took place already in 2014 and 2015, to showcase creations and innovations and the upcoming Innovator Tour, an outreach initiative to engage schools and communities across the UAE and the soon to be published Innovator magazine that will showcase the best-in-class ideas emerging from the local community and provide ‘how-to’ tips and resources. - TradeArabia News Service
 




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