Category: Science & Technology

DUBAI, The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) today announced the launch of the first 13 of 1,000 technology projects that will be implemented under the recently announced Technology Transformation Programme.

Launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the programme is designed to supercharge the UAE’s industrial transformation and help turn the country into a global hub for Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and industries of the future.

The new projects, revealed at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2022, are being executed by major national and international champions, such as Etisalat, Cisco, PTC, Oryx Data, and One Moto. The companies are proactively accelerating the pace of technological transformations across the UAE’s priority sectors, contributing to the development of a knowledge- and innovation-based economy.

The programme will attract major international companies to test innovations in the country’s supportive environment, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading destination for tech and innovation. The UAE is inviting tech firms from around the world to engage with its innovation ecosystem under the Technology Transformation Programme.

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, said, “The projects announced today mark the first step in the Technology Transformation Programme, which will support our national priorities and the development of key sectors in the coming decades. The launch of this programme represents the beginning of a new phase of national competitiveness and sustainable industrial growth in the UAE, enabled and driven by R&D and advanced technology.

“At the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, we have a clear roadmap for the next 10 years. It is a decade in which the UAE will further enhance its position as a global hub for science, technology, and innovation, in line with our leadership’s vision. Our partners are key to this journey and we are committed to exploring collaborations with all companies that seek to join the UAE in its bold technological and industrial transformation.”

First 13 of 1,000 projects

The new projects will have a significant impact on the companies in which they are implemented. By leveraging advanced technologies and Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions, businesses will be able to significantly reduce energy consumption and wastage, enhance efficiency, and increase productivity as well as competitiveness in global markets.

The Technology Transformation Programme also presents an opportunity for national and international champions looking to play a leading role in the country’s industrial journey. MoIAT is inviting these champions to join the programme to benefit from its projects, as well as support smaller businesses on their own technology transformations. Businesses in the UAE can apply through MoIAT to participate in and benefit from the projects.

Cisco’s project is currently supporting three local companies – Emirates Macaroni Factory, National Paints and Falconpack – in their digital transformation journeys. Under its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme, Cisco will focus on the convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) to provide companies with enhanced security, visibility, and connectivity. This project aims at driving digital transformation across the national industrial establishments in the UAE, which is an essential pillar in Cisco’s CDA programme in the country.

The projects are also focusing on leveraging IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things). PTC is offering 25 companies free access to its IIoT platform, ThingWorx, which will enable companies to increase their manufacturing efficiency through ensuring asset optimization, workforce productivity, quality improvement and speed to industrialization. The platform can increase throughput by up to 20 percent, reduce unplanned downtime by up to 30 percent, and reduce energy consumption by up to 13 percent, according to PTC.

Additionally, one of the country’s largest telecoms groups, Etisalat, is building a platform for industry 4.0 technologies. The company is deploying 4IR proof of concept projects within the manufacturing sector, working alongside companies to support the adoption of advanced technologies.

Meanwhile, Oryx Data Incubator, a start-up specializing in real-time streaming and IIoT solutions, is working with Ittihad Paper Mill and Strata to enhance operations. This particular project will help to reduce energy consumption by 10 percent and will lead to 100 percent machine availability along with the prediction of 93 percent of potential failures.

Finally, a global mobility company, One Moto, is working on a project to build the UAEs first electric vehicle (EV) assembly, and eventually manufacturing, facility in Dubai as part of its mission to electrify all last-mile vehicles in the UAE by 2024. The firm has set up its global HQ in DIFC and plans to target 100 cities by 2024.

Technology Transformation Programme

The Technology Transformation Programme was announced in October by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The project is aligned with the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, which supports the industrial sector’s digital transformation as part of the strategy’s objective to increase the sector’s contribution to GDP.

The new programme aims to boost exports of technological products by around AED15 billion a year. The programme will add AED10 billion to GDP annually and drive AED11 billion in technology investments. By automating the industrial sector, the programme will also help to increase industrial productivity by AED15 billion annually.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, Emirates Global Aluminium, the world’s biggest ‘premium aluminium’ producer, has joined the First Movers Coalition, putting the company’s purchasing power behind emerging clean technologies in hard-to-abate sectors.

The First Movers Coalition aims to signal market demand for low-carbon products from hard-to-abate sectors – including aluminium, aviation, chemicals, concrete, shipping, steel, and trucking – to accelerate their commercial-competitiveness with higher-carbon alternatives.

EGA is the first UAE-headquartered company to join the First Movers Coalition, whose current members include more than 50 major companies from around the world. The First Movers Coalition is led by the World Economic Forum and the United States Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.

The hard-to-abate sectors targeted by the First Movers Coalition account for 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of the coalition is to use demand to speed the development and scaling-up of new technologies required to decarbonise these sectors.

By joining the First Movers Coalition, companies commit to buying a proportion of their needs from hard-to-abate sectors this decade as low carbon. EGA intends to identify suppliers in the hard-to-abate sectors with the capability to innovate on emissions reductions, and explore specific cooperative projects. Amongst the hard-to-abate sectors, EGA is a significant consumer of chemicals, shipping and trucking.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said, “As a UAE company, we are committed to the nation’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. To decarbonise our aluminium, we have to reach net zero not just in our own operations but also our supply chain. Joining the First Movers Coalition is a powerful message to suppliers in hard-to-abate sectors that we will deploy our purchasing power to encourage decarbonisation.”

Bin Kalban continued, “Joining the First Movers Coalition is particularly relevant for EGA because we are a major global supplier of aluminium, which is itself one of the hard-to-abate industries. The commitment from other members of the First Movers Coalition to purchase low carbon aluminium will support our actions in our own supply chain.”

Head of the First Movers Coalition at the World Economic Forum Nancy Gillis said, “We welcome Emirates Global Aluminium as the first member of the First Movers Coalition from the United Arab Emirates, the host of COP28 next year. We look forward to working with EGA to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors, including aluminium.”

EGA spent some US$4.5 billion in its supply chain in 2021.

Last year, EGA became the first company in the world to produce aluminium commercially using the power of the sun, through a partnership with Dubai Electricity & Water Authority. Electricity generation accounts for around 60 percent of the global aluminium industry’s emissions. EGA markets this metal under the product name CelestiAL.

Earlier in 2022, EGA announced a strategic initiative with TAQA, Dubal Holding and EWEC to divest its natural gas-fired power plants and instead source electricity from the grid, including an increasing proportion of clean energy. The initiative would unlock significant further development of solar power in Abu Dhabi, progress power asset and generation optimisation, and enable EGA to vastly increase its production of CelestiAL.

EGA and “K” Line Group have signed an agreement to cooperate on the decarbonisation of bulk cargo shipping, focused on the development and implementation of new marine decarbonisation technologies suitable for EGA’s bulk cargo shipping routes in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean. “K” Line Group is leading research into decarbonisation opportunities, with EGA set to target pilot projects on its “K” Line shipping routes.

Source: Emirates News Agency

“It is my honour to convey my sincere congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; Their Highnesses the Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates; Their Highnesses the Crown Princes; and all citizens and residents of this generous country, on the occasion of ‘Flag Day’. This day symbolises our sovereignty, pride, national cohesion and our eternal belonging to the UAE. We pray to Allah to continue to bless our beloved country with dignity and prosperity,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“On this national occasion that is dear to our hearts, with reverence, we remember the efforts of our Founding Fathers, who have laid the foundations for establishing the UAE to become the country it is today, as one of the most developed and resilient countries under its wise leadership. The country’s greatness is reflected in its citizens’ support for their wise leadership and the Union’s flag, to keep it fluttering high. We continue to move forward to preserve these gains and ensure further achievements to enhance the UAE’s global leadership in all fields and to achieve the goals of UAE Centennial 2071, to make the UAE the world’s leading nation,” added Al Tayer.

Source: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is organising the 15th Public Health and Safety Week from 2 to 6 November 2022, to raise awareness about public health and home safety rules, and the necessary precautions to prevent accidents, fires or water leaks, and ways to prevent electrical hazards, to preserve lives and property. This is part of DEWA’s social responsibility and its keenness to enhance the health and safety of all members of society.

During the event, DEWA will organise a series of innovative workshops and interactive activities at its stand in City Centre Mirdif, to highlight the latest and best international practices in health and safety.

“Our vision is guided by the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who once said, ?The health and wellbeing of citizens, residents and visitors is one of our highest priorities. It is a duty we ensure to fulfil at all times and under all circumstances.’ We instil and promote a culture of health and safety to support national efforts to make Dubai a home for educated and healthy individuals, and to ensure a healthy, safe and brighter future for generations to come. DEWA remains fully committed to applying health and safety standards, according to the best global practices, including the Integrated Management Systems Policy, which has established a culture of health, safety and environment in all its sectors and operations. It also strengthens its global partnerships and keeps pace with all developments related to occupational safety and health globally. In addition, we are committed to promoting awareness among all segments of society about health and safety issues to improve their level of safety and health and enhance their happiness,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA, noted that this year, DEWA has won the Sword of Honour in Occupational Health & Safety for the 15th time. DEWA has been awarded a 5-star rating certificate by the British Safety Council (BSC) since 2002, with a 97.88% score in 2022. DEWA was the first organisation in the Middle East to meet the global standards of BSI for COVID-19. DEWA received the International Business Excellence Award (IBXA-2020) Gold Award for Wellbeing & Health.

Source: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

DUBAI, In his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, issued Decree No. (18) of 2022 appointing Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Supreme President of the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance.

The Decree is effective from its date of issuance and will be published in the Official Gazette.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)’s Innovation Centre concluded the second batch of the CleanTech Youth Programme. The programme aims to attract talented young energy leaders from different sectors and expand their skills and knowledge in clean and renewable energy and entrepreneurship. 25 young energy leaders graduated from the programme after presenting their innovative projects. Participants included university students and graduates from 13 accredited institutions across the UAE. The students were selected from 145 applicants across 15 engineering, science and more fields.

The three-month programme shed light on different fields of clean energy and the uses of disruptive technologies. The programme had a wide range of workshops, specialist sessions, and field visits to accredited institutions with the participation of experts from several universities, start-ups, local and global organisations.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, Founder and Chairman of WETEX and Dubai Solar Show, highlighted that the increased participation in youth empowerment programmes in the fields of sustainability and clean and renewable energy supports DEWA’s efforts to achieve the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to empower the youth and enrich their experience to become the cornerstone of sustainable development. He said such programmes qualify young leaders to become active partners in shaping their future and lead the next phase of the national plans and strategies. These programmes also support DEWA’s effort to consolidate Dubai’s position as a global hub for green economy.

“DEWA’s Innovation Centre strives to develop the skills of the next generation of innovators and experts in clean technologies while focusing on and nurturing skilled Emiratis. This will help consolidate DEWA’s leading global position. The CleanTech Youth Programme empowers youth to lead the global efforts towards a sustainable future, while building bridges to communicate, exchange knowledge, and develop skills and expertise, and offer a unique opportunity to explore the latest innovations in the field of sustainability,” said Waleed Bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA.

Source: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority