Collaboration between British government and Emirate of Sharjah held under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi
The Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTI Park) has successfully hosted a seminar for key stakeholders, featuring leading enterprises from the UK in line with its ongoing program on ‘Innovation & Cities of the Future’. The event was held in collaboration with the British government and the Emirate of Sharjah under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member, Ruler of Sharjah.
The event hosted innovation and technology companies from the UK, which also showcased their works at the AUS campus, as part of the series of activities being organized by SRTI Park in partnership with Future Cities Catapult Services aimed at making Sharjah a leading destination for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship and contribute to sustainable development. Future Cities Catapult Services is a UK government institution dedicated to developing innovative products, services and infrastructure to meet the smart needs of communities.
The seminar seeks to strengthen Sharjah’s linkages with key technology players and leading innovators from the UK who have showcased their projects and digital experiences at the AUS campus. A VIP panel discussion is also being held with the theme ‘Innovative Sharjah: Towards a World-Class Innovation Destination’ and moderated by Nicola Yates OBE, CEO of Future Cities Catapult in the presence of dignitaries and official representatives from the British Consulate in Dubai, Government of Sharjah, and SRTI Park.
Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Executive Chairman of the Department of Government Relations and Head of Higher Committee of Digital Transformation in Sharjah said: “The seminar is an ideal platform to showcase the components offered by the Emirate of Sharjah, which enables it to become a leading global centre for innovation, research and entrepreneurship. We are keen to organise more seminars in the future considering its positive impact on our growth in the field of innovation and digital technology and strengthen Sharjah’s position to become a leading smart city in the world.”
The panel discussants which include Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi; Andrew Jackson, Consul General, British Embassy Dubai; and Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO, SRTI Park, discussed the importance of partnerships and explored key areas where the UK and Sharjah can enhance cooperation in creating innovation and building of smart cities, in line with Sharjah’s goals to promote the emirate as a regional capital for innovation, research and development in the Middle East and to strengthen its position in this field.
A group of innovative companies from the UK which showcased their products and innovations included Pavegen and Strawberry Energy, which presented ‘smart seats’ technology; Igloo Vision for their virtual reality experiences, and Emu Analytics for their leading data analytics solution. AWTG showcased their engineering and technology solutions, while Hypercube presented a range of data science platforms. Spaceti displayed its intelligent building management solutions while Winnow Solutions has showcased its food waste management through data technology.
Al Mahmoudi said: “This important event is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation with our international partners and to expand the exchange of experiences and knowledge transfer with them in line with our efforts to further strengthen Sharjah’s position as a global capital for scientific research, innovation, knowledge and entrepreneurship. The event is another major step aimed at establishing our networks with key players in the UK and build partnerships with several
leading companies in the field of innovation and present to them the key opportunities to showcase their technologies and innovations and leverage the advanced facilities and unique framework of SRTI Park.”
To achieve its objectives of supporting Sharjah’s future in innovation and advance research in the emirate, the SRTI Park has been continuously promoting various activities in line with innovation, research and technology and contribute to the transformation of the emirate into a global hub for innovation, research and entrepreneurship.