Dubai has unveiled four ‘future labs’, each focusing on a different aspect of super modern innovation.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai on October 28 launched the four cutting-edge laboratories. His Highness explained that the UAE in particular is a prime location for such ambitious projects thanks to its “proactive strategies and plans for and forecast changes and developments in major economic and technological sectors.”
WAM explains that the four labs are hoped to showcase the expected future that key UAE sectors shall take. Also at the unveiling with Sheikh Mohammed was His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council; H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future, and a number of ministers.
The four labs are overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation and are as follows:
Aviation Future Lab
This lab has a team of five of the top aviation companies, including Dubai’s own Emirates, Airbus, GE, Thales and Collins Aerospace. This team will aid in research and engineering for the future of aviation, helping to bring innovative projects to life.
The lab will launch a range of challenges to develop solutions in partnership with the public and private sectors, such as a challenge for reducing carbon emissions generated by the aviation sector by 87 per cent to reach 15 grammes of CO2 per kilometre per passenger by 2030 WAM explains.
Blockchain Future Lab
This lab hopes to integrate blockchain technology into government services with the collaborative efforts of IBM. Authors of Blockchain Revolution, Don and Aalex Tapscott explain blockchain technology as the following:
“The blockchain is an incorruptible digital ledger of economic transactions that can be programmed to record not just financial transactions but virtually everything of value.”
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Beyond blockchain, the lab also will work to introduce machine learning, artificial intelligence, and internet of things technology into our day-to-day lives and government services.
Energy Future Lab
The Energy Future lab will work to develop and facilitate research towards innovating the UAE’s energy sector. This lab will work closely with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) prompt governments to work more closely with private companies to improve the energy sector.
The main areas of change in this lab is introducing auto-control systems for renewable energy – this means energy production will be autonomous, as well as utilising AI and overall digitalising energy services.
Entrepreneurship Future Lap
This lab is comprised of meeting and conference rooms in Dubai’s Area 2017 – a hub for innovation and achieving the UAE Centennial Plan 2071. It aims to support businesspeople, start-ups in the field of tech and will also make getting a business license a lot easier for people.
It will work with government entities and provide people with the means to test and launch their products and projects.
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Sheikh Mohammed went on to explain his, and the UAE’s vision for these four pioneering labs:
“Today, we have launched four innovative labs that will focus on predicating the future of aviation, energy, blockchain and entrepreneurship. Our end goal is to make these labs a hub for launching future-oriented innovations that will eventually upgrade our business and service sectors,” His Highness said. ” these labs will support the UAE Centennial Plan 2071 and will lay the foundations for building a global centre to test future innovations of the country,” His Highness said.
“Hence, we reiterate our support for government and private partnerships to accelerate work and achievement and create new ideas that provide promising economic opportunities and support entrepreneurs, national and global talents,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
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