Technology
incubator to be run 100 per cent by UAE Nationals
July
25, 2017
Professional Communication Corporation - Nedaa, the Dubai
Government security networks provider, has announced that it has signed today
(July 25, 2017) an agreement with Finnish multinational ICT giant Nokia formally
designating Dubai as the headquarters of their pioneering Innovation and
Creativity Lab.
In December 2016, Nedaa and Nokia formed a strategic partnership to
develop the lab as a key contributor to Dubai’s ‘Smart City’ initiative
envisioned by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and
Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The region’s first-of-its-kind research and innovation hub will introduce
creative solutions for Education, Health, Utilities and Transport, with local
government agencies, the Smart Dubai project, educational and healthcare
institutions, and private companies involved in the development and
implementation of Smart City applications as primary beneficiaries.
Mansoor Bu Osaiba, CEO, Nedaa,
said: “Now, we can start following our cooperative roadmap with Nokia to help
accelerate Dubai’s transformation into a truly Smart City. We will be bringing
top Emirati talents onboard in keeping with the UAE’s vision of empowering its
citizens to proactively participate in key sectors such as information and
communications technology (ICT) that will underpin country’s transition to a
Post-Oil Era. We look forward to commencing the lab’s operations within the
next few months.”
Amr El-Leithy, Head of Middle East & Africa, Nokia, said: “After months of scouting we now have a worthy base of operations
for our Innovation and Creativity Lab from where we will partner with Nedaa to
innovate Dubai’s ICT landscape. This latest development takes us several steps
closer towards achieving Dubai’s dream of an inclusive, connected and
technology-empowered society.”
Other salient provisions under the Nedaa-Nokia Innovation and
Creativity Lab partnership include the training of the Dubai Government’s employees
and fourth-generation technicians; development, testing and deployment of IoT
communications interface operations through approved networks from Nedaa; and
the enrichment of national intellectual property through support for
research and development.
The highly-anticipated Nedaa-Nokia Innovation and Creativity Lab is
scheduled to start operations within the next few months. This will be the
right platform for local innovative initiatives and accelerating SME across the
UAE.