Day: October 24, 2021

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72nd International Astronautical Congress convenes tomorrow at Dubai World Trade Centre

DUBAI, The 72nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC), the world’s largest and most prestigious global space event, is set to kick off tomorrow (25 October) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Being held for the first time in the Middle East, the five-day event, which runs until 29 October, is being organised by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in partnership with the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).

Over 4,000 visitors have registered for this year’s edition of the Congress, which will see over 90 exhibitors and more than 110 country delegations and 350 young professionals and space experts from all walks of life converging to the Middle East for the space event of a lifetime. The event is being endorsed by more than 30 sponsors from across the globe, including platinum sponsors Lockheed Martin, gold sponsors European Space Agency, JAXA and the UAE Space Agency, silver sponsors Airbus, Azercosmos, AWS, Boeing, Northropp Grumman, bronze sponsors Blue Origin, Endurosat, Nanoracks and others.

Celebrating its golden jubilee this year, the UAE has worked tirelessly to set a strong and sturdy foundation for the Emirati space sector. From sending the first Emirati into space, deploying several earth-observation satellites and launching the first Arab interplanetary mission to Mars, to forming an astronaut corps and helping establish the Arab Space Cooperation Group, the UAE has been able to establish itself as a leading country for space exploration and related technologies. IAC 2021 is in continuation of the UAE’s efforts of its progress in the global space field and is aimed at expanding the effects of these achievements to the wider region, which in turn will benefit humanity.

IAC 2021 follows a highly successful Space Week held at the Expo 2020 Dubai, which saw a stellar line-up of astronauts, astronomers and space experts come together to discuss a wide gamut of topics including the UAE’s vision for space, women’s vital contributions to space exploration, sustainability in space and more.

Held under the theme ‘Inspire, Innovate & Discover for the Benefit of Mankind’, IAC 2021 will provide an opportunity for participating organisations to highlight their capabilities as well as their experience, contributions and innovations in the space sector. The Congress is further structured to foster the creation of alliances and partnerships and will provide a platform to network with the global space sector’s leaders across government, industry and academia. It will also allow for collaboration and cooperation on a regional as well as international level.

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Chairman, MBRSC said: “At MBRSC, we are committed to nurturing our young space exploration programme and furthering the cause of the space sector in the region and around the world. Hosting the IAC is an important milestone for us that will help consolidate our position in the league of space-faring nations. We are confident that this Congress will help inspire countries within the region to embark on their space exploration journeys as well. With a multi-sectoral and inclusive approach, IAC 2021 will help in achieving this goal, through its aim to serve as a platform to ensure inclusive development in space technologies and as a capacity-building initiative for a broad range of stakeholders to enable them to reap the benefits of space exploration for economic, social and environmental development.”

Yousuf Hamad AlShaibani, Director General, MBRSC said: “The UAE’s hosting of the 72nd International Astronautical Congress reaffirms our commitment to support the growth and development of the global space sector. Being the first country in the Middle East to host this prominent event has been the spark that ignited our plan to create an unprecedented event. This one-of-a-kind assemblage, unmatched in scale and in scope, promises to deliver the best-ever International Astronautical Congress over the next five days.”

He added: “Hosting IAC 2021 is key to fostering a collaborative space ecosystem, placing an impactful footprint and establishing pivotal alliances and building bridges of knowledge with leading international space organisations and agencies for the betterment of mankind. Furthermore, it will act as a catalyst for more nations from the region to join the International Astronautical Federation, as well as engage with international partners and empower a new generation of space experts that are ready to take on the world.”

Over the next few days, participants will be able to access a rich plenary programme, which includes the Heads of Agencies roundtable, and various sessions focusing on Expedition 60/61, Future Mars Sample Return Missions, the role of Emerging Space Agencies, Small Satellites Solving Climate Challenges, Innovative Space Solutions for Search and Rescue and Life Saving Applications, and the views of the Next Generation on Social Responsibility in Space.

Meanwhile, the event features a rich plenary programme that has been thoroughly developed by the IAC International Programme Committee Steering Group. The programme includes 183 technical sessions with the participation of 1,442 speakers, 18 special sessions, 12 symposium keynotes and over 150 interactive presentations. A total of 2,300 scientific and technical papers will be presented from more than 86 countries.

Furthermore, the Global Networking Forum at the Congress, will bring together stakeholders, policy-makers, experts and young professionals in the global conversation about present and future of space activities. IAC 2021 also features an exhibition that will showcase the latest in the field of space technology and research with big names in the industry confirming their participation.

On the spot registrations will be available to visitors at the location. For any queries related to the registration, please email info@iafastro.org or visit iac2021.org for more info.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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MoIAT hosts virtual tour to showcase UAE’s science and technology ecosystem to South Korean investors

ABU DHABI, The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has hosted a “Sci-Tech Virtual Tour” to highlight the UAE’s science and technology ecosystem and the incentives, advantages, and opportunities for global investors, innovators, and business leaders, especially in the medical technology field.

The first of a series of virtual tours to showcase investment opportunities in the country, the two-day event was organised in cooperation with the UAE Embassy in the Republic of South Korea. It welcomed an audience of researchers, start-ups, SMEs, and representatives of major companies in the science, technology, and healthcare sectors in the UAE and South Korea. In addition to offering information on the UAE’s investment ecosystem, the virtual tour provided a platform for stakeholders to network, engage, and ultimately exchange ideas, expertise, and know-how.

The sessions and discussions were aligned with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology’s national industrial strategy, Operation 300bn, the 10-year strategy that aims to empower and expand the industrial sector in order to strengthen its contribution to the national GDP to AED 300 billion by 2031.

Omar Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, opened the virtual event, in the presence of Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of South Korea, and a number of stakeholders from both countries. Ghobash offered an overview of the opportunities available within the UAE’s healthcare sector.

The tour comprised several sessions held over two mornings, designed to underline the UAE’s appeal as an investment destination and showcase the strides the nation has made in the fields of science and technology, specifically in healthcare and medical technology.

The first day included a number of panel discussions. The first session focused on the objectives of the national strategy for industry and advanced technology – Operation 300Bn – and the competitive advantages of the UAE economy and the financing and enabling role of the Emirates Development Bank. The second session provided an overview of the investment environment in the country, while the remaining sessions discussed the business environment of the UAE’s science and technology sector. The final session was devoted to discussing the future of technology use in the health sector.

On the second day, the opening session addressed the importance of the academic sector in the growth of the science and technology environment in the two countries, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the progress of research and development efforts. The first session of the day focused on the role of investment and international partnerships within Operation 300Bn. The second session involved a review of the UAE’s research and development sector. The third session comprised a panel discussion between stakeholders from both countries working in the field of healthcare and technology. The fourth and final session focused on the role of academia in developing the industry.

Tariq Al Hashmi, Head of Technology Development and Adoption at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, confirmed the event would represent a vital first step in deepening the relationship between the UAE and South Korea in this important field.

“What we are trying to create in this virtual tour is a bridge between our science and technology communities in the UAE and South Korea. We understand that South Korea has great capacity and great capabilities in science and technology, and we are really excited to learn more about the ecosystem in South Korea.”

He added, “Med-tech is very important to us in the UAE, and we are trying to harness medical technologies for the wellbeing of our people, as well as create commercial opportunities in this vital sector. The UAE and Korea have cooperated on many successful projects in nuclear science and space technology, and we are confident we can expand this collaboration in the medical technology field.”

Omar Ghobash said, “The development of a world-class healthcare system is of critical importance to the Emirates and is one of the key pillars of our national agenda. The sector has rapidly expanded to meet the needs of a growing population and the country’s ambition to become a regional medial tourism hub. As part of the growth and increased sophistication of our healthcare sector, the UAE continues to seek out, identify, develop, and implement new, best-in-class medical technology solutions. These include telemedicine, digitisation of medical records, connected medical devices, data privacy protection, laboratory technology, the internet of medical things, 3D printing, and more. This bodes well for the expansion of the med-tech sector.”

He added, “The Republic of Korea is a leading knowledge economy, pursuing cutting-edge tech research and the development of advanced 4IR technologies – and it is our hope the virtual tour will enable new partnerships and exchanges and empower learning and the development of the sci-tech sectors in both our countries.”

During his remarks, Ambassador Al Nuaimi underlined the rapidly developing industrial ecosystem of the UAE, which he believed provides many opportunities for Korean investors, business owners, and stakeholders.

“The country’s industrial sector is guided by an ambitious, comprehensive strategy that was launched in March 2021 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It focuses on future industries that implement advanced technologies and Fourth Industrial Revolution applications. Named Operation 300bn, the strategy aims to advance and expand the industrial sector to be the driving force of the sustainable national economy in the UAE by 2031.”

He added, “The Republic of Korea is one of the leading countries in science and technology and has made major achievements in advancing the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With regards to bilateral cooperation in science and technology, the sector has been high on the agenda during visits exchanged by the leaders of the two countries over the past few years. During those visits, the two sides concluded a number of agreements for cooperation in various fields, including science and technology.”

The presentations and discussions during the UAE’s Sci-Tech Virtual Tour included an overview of the UAE’s Operation 300bn industrial and advanced technology strategy from Abdulla Al Mahri, Director of Investment and Stakeholder Engagement at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology; an examination of the UAE Investment Ecosystem from the Ministry of Economy’s Dr. Hassan Al Sayegh, Director of SME Development, and Hind Al Youha, Director of the Investment and Talent Attraction Department; the science and technology ecosystem in the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah; the UAE’S research and development ecosystem; and the role of academia in industry.

A group of major national companies participated in the discussions on the role of advanced technology in healthcare. It included G42 Healthcare, a subsidiary of the UAE G42 Group, which specialises in artificial intelligence and cloud computing; Mubadala Healthcare, the integrated healthcare network of Mubadala Investment; and Abu Dhabi Investment Office.

Source: Emirates News Agency