HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has honoured winners of the DEWA Robotics Championship 2017. The awards ceremony was attended by HE Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai, HE Marwan Ahmad Al Sawaleh, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Academic Affairs, HE Dr Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for Care and Activities at the Ministry of Education, and officials from the Ministry of Education, DEWA, participating schools and universities, Al Noor Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities, and the parents of participating students. An exhibition for the winning projects was also organised during the event.
18 elementary, secondary, high school, and university teams as well as students of determination, were honoured at the ceremony held at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Dubai. They were honoured in the five categories of the competition: Sustainability, Technology & Artificial Intelligence, Smart Services, Power & Water Saving, and Stakeholder Happiness. The winning teams received a total of AED 135,000. A total of 900 students from 42 schools across the UAE took part in the competition.
In his keynote speech, Al Tayer commended the projects presented by the students at the DEWA Robotics Competition 2017, noting the competition is preparing the next generation of experts and leaders who will implement the ambitious national strategies and plans to achieve the objectives of the UAE Centennial 2071 launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as a long-term government plan to prepare the UAE and young Emiratis for the future.
“Our wise leadership attaches great importance to innovation. The National Innovation Strategy aims to make the UAE one of the most innovative countries in the world. According to the Global Community Innovation Survey, conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the UAE is one of the top 10 highest-ranking countries in the world for innovation. The survey also revealed that the majority of innovators from the UAE are willing to share their innovations with others to help them improve their quality of life. At DEWA, we believe that Emirati youth have the potential to transform Dubai into the smartest and happiest city in the world. We are committed to developing and supporting Emirati talent, developing innovation, nurturing students’ creativity, and providing an environment that encourages creativity and innovation among young people. Today’s youth are the leaders of tomorrow who will play a key role as decision-makers,” said Al Tayer.
Al Tayer noted that DEWA organises various competitions that encourage creativity and innovation both locally and globally. These include the Solar Decathlon Middle East, which Dubai will host for the first time in the Middle East and Africa in 2018 and again in 2020, with prizes worth AED 10 million, and the Shams Dubai Solar Rollers, among others.
“While I congratulate you on your achievements, I remind you of the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who once said, “To those who would like to leave their mark on this country I say, ‘The stage is yours.’” You have the opportunity to achieve the highest levels of success and excellence, while acquiring skills from various resources to achieve your ambitions and reach the highest positions. We expect you to continue the path of success, excellence and global competitiveness that characterise our beloved country,” concluded Al Tayer.
In the Primary School category, the Cooler Bot project from GEMS Our Own Indian School, won first place, while Ayoon Smart Jacket project from Falaj Al Mualla School came second, and Recycled Dust Carrier project from Hessa Bint Al-Mor School, came third.
In the Secondary School category, the Smart House System project from GEMS World Academy Dubai came first, the Revoluta project from GEMS Millennium School came second, and the Smoke Extinguisher Robot project from Al-khansaa school came third.
In the High School category, the Robotic Hand project from Al Khaleej National School came first, the Smart City project from Dibba Al Fujairah Secondary School came second, and the Medical Dispenser Robot project from Ras Al-Khaimah secondary school came third.
Winning projects by Students of Determination from Al Noor Training Centre included the Floor Cleaning Robot, Super Drawing Robot, Egg Holder Robot Car, Auto Tray, Hi Happiness Robot, and Car Robot.
In the Universities category, the Talking Cap project from Manipal University Dubai came first, the Smart House project from University of Sharjah came second, and the Charity Robot project from Al Ghurair University came third.