HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has said that DEWA places innovation at the top of its priorities, and includes it in all its strategies and initiatives as part of its efforts to achieve government plans and strategies.
Al Tayer made these remarks in his speech at the 8th Annual Innovation & The Future Conference, which DEWA organised at the Godolphin Ballroom in Jumeirah Emirates Towers hotel as part of its activities for UAE Innovation Month. A number of innovators took part in the conference where they discussed topics related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, disruptive, and blockchain technologies.
The conference was attended by HE Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chief of Police and Public Security in Dubai, HE Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai, DEWA’s Executive Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents and staff as well as other government employees. Speakers at the conference included Alex Tapscott, writer, speaker, and advisor on emerging technologies; Fatima Al Kaabi, the youngest Emirati inventor; Gus Takkale who talked about innovation and change; and Beau Lotto, a neuroscientist.
“DEWA is organising the Innovation & The Future Conference for the 8th year running. We are in the UAE Innovation Month with the theme ‘UAE Innovates,’ which reflects the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership to transform innovation into a government approach and a culture that is adopted by society. This year’s UAE Innovation Month is undergoing a fundamental change, changing from presenting innovative visions to measuring the maturity and readiness of organisations and society in practical applications. At the same time we are also employing innovative solutions and tools to create economic opportunities in vital areas to ensure sustainable development. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, one said, “Creativity can never thrive in an institutional environment that does not favour learning and the dissemination of knowledge. Nor can it thrive in an institution that resists change or fails to encourage the clear and transparent exchange of ideas and views.” The Eight Principles of Governance in Dubai, which His Highness launched state that the Emirate’s prominence, sustainability and competitiveness depend on its capacity to continue attracting skilled and talented people, and nurturing the brightest minds to generate innovative ideas,” said Al Tayer.
“At DEWA, we place innovation at the top of our priorities, and we include it in all our strategies and initiatives as part of our efforts to achieve government plans and strategies. These include the UAE Centennial 2071, which is a long-term government plan to prepare the UAE and young Emiratis for the future; the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, which creates an innovative and highly-productive environment by investing in AI and its applications across multiple domains; the UAE Future Strategy to seize opportunities and anticipate challenges in all sectors and analyse them and set long-term proactive plans for them; the UAE Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution to strengthen the UAE’s position as a global hub for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and increase its contribution to a knowledge-based national economy that depends on innovation and future technological applications; and the Dubai 10X Initiative, which mandates the Government of Dubai to be a global leader that is 10 years ahead of all other cities through government innovation and reformulation of traditional work mechanisms. DEWA has adopted innovation in its main operations, clean energy projects, R&D, smart city initiatives, diversification of income, digital services, supporting emerging tech start-ups, and cyber security. DEWA is using state-of-the-art technologies in Artificial Intelligence, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, energy storage, data protection, blockchain, and Big Data to achieve this.” he added.
“At DEWA, we are committed to providing a motivating environment that encourages creativity and innovation. We welcome the ideas, opinions, and feedback of our customers, staff, partners, and stakeholders that help us develop innovative initiatives and creative ideas that contribute to exceeding customers’ expectations and ensuring their happiness. We believe in the importance of innovation in creating sustainable solutions to the challenges and transform them into opportunities as well as develop services that ensure people’s happiness and contribute to building a better future for generations to come. DEWA won the gold award for Best Deployments in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for changing innovation culture at the USA Golden Bridge Awards 2018 for its Afkari platform, launched in 2015 for employees to share their innovative ideas and foster a culture of innovation. Afkari has been a central repository for the innovation, ensuring DEWA’s continuous development and improvement,” added Al Tayer.
“Through Digital DEWA, the digital arm of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA is redefining the concept of a utility to create a new digital future for Dubai. DEWA will disrupt the entire business of public utilities by becoming the world’s first digital utility to use autonomous systems for renewable energy and storage while expanding the use of artificial intelligence and digital services. I urge you to adopt innovation in all areas to continue the path of excellence and achieve DEWA’s vision to become a leading sustainable innovative global corporation,” concluded Al Tayer.