Ras Al Khaimah Research and Innovation Centre (Rakric), a research centre under the umbrella of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (Aurak), has won the 2016 Emirates Green Building Council’s prestigious ‘Green Building Research Award’.

Rakric, located in Jazeera Al Hamra, Ras Al Khaimah, is a state-of-the-art research and development  unit specialising in sustainable system solution development related to solar technologies.

It acts as a bridge between academics and new product development within the engineering industry.

The annual awards ceremony, this year hosted at the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel in Dubai, UAE, recognises companies across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region which have demonstrated a clear strategy of sustainable design, construction and operation in terms of their buildings and facilities.

The selection committee were unanimous in choosing Rakric’s Solar Calorimeter Test Facility as an outstanding example of world-class sustainability; a model which other companies in the region should aim to emulate.

The committee also commended the centre’s extraordinary research work in the field of renewable energy.

Professor Mousa Mohsen, the director of Rakric and dean of the school of engineering at Aurak, upon receiving the award, said: "The win reflects Aurak’s efforts and commitment to first rate research and development activities. This award clearly demonstrates that the work being carried out here is important and is recognised as such by academics at the cutting edge of green technology."

Mousa also thanked the Rakric team for their work in running the center.

Aurak president Professor Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim expressed his pride upon seeing the university recognised in this manner, emphasising on the strong competition faced from entities from all over the Mena region.

"I am delighted to see that our hard work is being recognised on this scale. Sustainability and the development of renewal energy is of vital importance to the region, and, as a university that is committed to its research programmes, Aurak will continue to encourage this work," he added.-TradeArabia News Service