Innovation is essential for driving economic growth and sustainability, acting as a vital engine for productivity, competitiveness, and wealth creation.

To ensure innovation remains a central focus of the national agenda, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, has introduced the Dubai Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Grant Initiative. This initiative aims to provide critical funding for research projects that will advance key economic sectors in Dubai.

The RDI Grant Initiative is a crucial milestone of the Dubai Research and Development Program, which Sheikh Hamdan launched in September 2022.

The Dubai Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Grant Initiative, spearheaded by the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), is set to build a dynamic research ecosystem within the emirate. The program focuses on boosting local R&D investment and increasing private sector involvement.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also chairs DFF’s Board of Trustees, emphasized the critical role of research and development in shaping Dubai’s future. He highlighted the importance of supporting projects that drive the emirate’s global leadership in science.

Sheikh Hamdan reiterated Dubai’s goal to become one of the world’s most future-ready cities by harnessing scientific research for transformative progress. The initiative aims to foster collaboration among public and private sectors and academic institutions to realize this vision.

In its next phase, the RDI Grant Initiative will support up to 20 projects, focusing on two key sectors: cognitive cities and health and life sciences. This phase will emphasize advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Research in cognitive cities will address smart mobility, traffic management, and smart grids, while the health and life sciences sector will concentrate on precision medicine, genetic sequencing, and crop resilience.

The Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) will collaborate with numerous local and international partners, including universities, to advance these goals.

Dubai has recently inaugurated the Dubai National University, a Dhs4.5 billion ($1.23 billion) investment that aligns with its vision of becoming a global hub for higher education and scientific research as part of its Social Agenda 33.

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