The Association of Spanish Scientists and Researchers in the United Arab Emirates (Asociación de Científicos e Investigadores Españoles en Emiratos Árabes Unidos, ACIEAU in Spanish) was officially launched yesterday with the presence of HE Sarah Al Amiri, HE Rafael Rodrigo, HE Antonio Álvarez Barthe, Mr. Guillermo Cobelo and Dr. Alicia Pérez-Porro and Dr. Lourdes Vega.
The ACIEAU is a professional networking platform of Spanish scientists and researchers working in UAE. It has over 60 members, including prominent scientists, researchers and experts in a broad range of knowledge areas: from Engineering, Environment, Health, Veterinary and Biology, to Social Science and Artificial Intelligence. Its purpose is to disseminate the science and technology achievements by Spanish researchers in the UAE, to facilitate the creation of R&D consortia between academia and industry, to assist in the
integration of newly arrived Spanish scientists in the UAE, as well as in the return of researchers from the UAE to Spain. Building up on the expertise of its members, ACIEAU aims to play a key informative and consultative role on scientific aspects for different organizations in Spain and the UAE.
Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State of Advanced Technology and Chair of the Emirates Scientist Council (ESC) celebrated the creation of ACIEAU and stated that “Science and research are the key pillars of UAE Vision to move towards a knowledge-based economy. The recent announcement by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, extending the 10-year golden visa to include a wide variety of scientists and researchers highlights UAE’s aim to attract talented people and great minds in the UAE, and continue the successful collaboration between all nationalities to become a regional and global hub of advanced science and technology.”
HE Rafael Rodrigo, General Secretary of Research of the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain highlighted the perfect timing of the launch of ACIEUA. He mentioned that: “Spain and UAE share common interests in science and technology, as was recently expressed in a high-level meeting between Ministers of both countries. The official launching of ACIEAU showcases the great talent of Spanish scientists and researchers, while also emphasizing the knowledge transfer from academia to the society.”
The Chairman of the Spanish Business Council (SBC) in UAE, Mr. Guillermo Cobelo, and the President of RAICEX, Dr. Alicia Pérez-Porro also attended the launching. Mr. Cobelo expressed the full support of the SBC stressing the importance of the combination of science and research for the growth of companies: “We have great challenges and great opportunities, by combining the efforts of the industry with the ones of science; we will meet them and with our achievements create a prosperous future”. Dr. Alicia Pérez- Porro, welcomed ACIEAU to the Network of Spanish Researchers Abroad (in Spanish: Red de Asociaciones de Investigadores y Científicos Españoles en el Exterior, RAICEX). On July 2020, ACIEAU joined RAICEX becoming a network of 18 associations representing more than 4,000 Spanish researchers abroad.
Prof. Lourdes Vega, President of the Association and Director of the Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and hydrogen, at Khalifa University in the UAE, expressed that “We are delighted to launch the ACIEAU today with the support of the UAE and Spanish authorities, the private sector, and RAICEX. ACIEAU and its members are engaged and willing to build the UAE knowledge-based economy according to the UAE Vision 2021 through a series of scientific and dissemination activities, while fostering collaboration between Spain and the UAE”.
HE Antonio Álvarez Barthe, Spanish Ambassador in UAE, closed the official launching congratulating the more than 60 associates and wishing ACIEAU a successful journey to promote science and research in UAE, a country that has always embraced excellence and innovation. HE Antonio Álvarez stressed the importance of science diplomacy to facilitate international cooperation for the benefit of the society and extended the embassy continuous support to ACIEAU and to all the outstanding Spanish scientific community in the UAE.
More information is available on the ACIEAU website www.acieau.es
-END-
About Asociación de Científicos e Investigadores Españoles en Emiratos Árabes Unidos (ACIEAU):
Established in 2020, the Asociación de Científicos e Investigadores Españoles en Emiratos Árabes Unidos (ACIEAU) is a Spanish non-profit association committed to serve as a networking platform of the Spanish scientists and researchers working in the United Arab Emirates.
