Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, has approved the launch of the ‘Dubai Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Grant Initiative’, that aims to provide essential funding for a range of research projects driving significant advancements in Dubai's key economic sectors. The grant initiative stems from the Dubai Research and Development Program, which Sheikh Hamdan introduced in September 2022.
The Dubai Research and Development Program establishes a framework for fostering innovative RDI activities in Dubai. It outlines guidelines on managing and investing in RDI projects, initiatives and legislation, with a focus on increasing local R&D expenditure and enhancing private sector engagement in funding.
The Dubai RDI Grant Initiative aims to support about 20 projects, focused on two specific RDI Priority Sectors: Cognitive Cities and Health and Life Sciences, explored through Cross-cutting Technologies in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Robotics Systems.
Examples of research projects in Cognitive Cities include Smart Mobility, Traffic Management, Smart Grids, and PropTech. Health and Life Sciences will address potential topics such as Precision Medicine, Preventive Genetic Sequencing, Cell-Cultured Foods, and Crop Resilience. AI will be focused on applications such as Fintech, Natural Language Processing, and Computer Vision. Robotics Systems will focus on innovative robotic applications in key sectors such as Logistics, Construction, Aviation, and Healthcare. In the words of Sheikh Hamdan:
“Research and development initiatives are central to achieving Dubai’s vision for the future of its key economic sectors. We will spare no effort in supporting research projects that aim to positively impact our journey towards global leadership across all scientific fields. Dubai will become a destination of choice for regional and international scientists and researchers. To achieve this goal, we must strengthen collaboration and partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as universities and research institutions”.
Any developments in the Dubai Research and Development Program are closely monitored by DMX Associates. Keep an eye on our website to stay updated.
