High-Profile Speakers from Government, Academia and Industry Sectors to Emphasize Importance of Embracing Research Culture
Abu Dhabi-UAE: 14 February, 2012 – The UAE University Leadership Council (ULC), a platform for academic leaderships to share creative ideas, foster common interests and spearhead new initiatives for innovation and technology transfer in the region, today announced the one-day forum on research and innovation (R&I) will open in Abu Dhabi on 15 February.
Organized under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research, the forum titled ‘Bridging the Knowledge Economy’ will be held at the Zayed University campus in Abu Dhabi. High-profile keynote speakers and panelists from the academia, government and industry sectorswill emphasize the importance of embracing a culture of research and discuss ways to spur R&D investment, facilitate R&I capacity building and further strengthen entrepreneurship development.
The keynote address will be delivered by His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan bin Mabarak. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Masdar Institute, will offer the concluding remarks. Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director, Public Affairs, Masdar Institute, will welcome the gathering.
The three sessions at the forum include the Academic Panel that will focus on ‘Development of a robust R&I and human capital development’ and the Industry Panel that will highlight ‘Innovation as a means to enhance global competitiveness’. The Government Panel will emphasize the role of ‘Policies, regulations and organizations to promote innovation’.
Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, will moderate the panel on academia. In addition to Nabil Ibrahim, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University, other panelists include the ULC Executive Council members Dr. Peter Heath, Chancellor of American University of Sharjah (AUS), Dr. Tod Laursen, President of Khalifa University, Dr. Rory Hume, Provost of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), and Dr. Larry Wilson, Provost of Zayed University (ZU).
Other experts from industry and government will focus on the role of their respective sectors. Dr. Dr. Rafic Makki, Executive Director, Office of Planning & Strategic Affairs,Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), will be the moderator ofthe Government Panel. The panelists including Ghaniya S. Bin-Dhaaer Al-Yafei, Petroleum Reservoirs Engineer, Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO), Dr. Richard Perry, Executive Director of Environmental Information, Science & Outreach Management, Environment Agency Abu Dhabi(EAD), Dr Mohammed Baka, Technology Advisor, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, and Noura Ibrahim Al Marri, Special Education Department Director, UAE Ministry of Education, will highlight the policies, regulations and organizations that will help promote innovation.
To be moderated by Dr. Eesa Bastaki,CEO of ICT Fund, the panel on industry will have experts including Yousef Al Bastaki Vice-President of Projects, Emirates Aluminum (EMAL), Sultan Al Haji, Vice-President – Institutional Development,Total UAE, Osman Ahmed, Head of the Centre of Excellence for Smart Buildings at Siemens, and Suhail Mahmood Al Ansari, Executive Director of the Mubadala Healthcare.
The UAE University Leadership Council’s‘ Bridging the Knowledge Economy’ forum is the first in a series of initiatives and events being developed to advance research and innovation and promote the economic development in the UAE. The speakers at the event will also aim to identify potential investment opportunities through collaboration and long-term partnerships among the three sectors.
Acting as a link for faculty and students to interface with both the public and private sectors, the University Leadership Council aims to seek industrial, government, and private individual financial support for the academic and research activities of the universities. It is also mandated to advance the educational goals of the UAE-based universities and align their policies with the government with regard to meeting the requirements of the economy and the industry.
