The UAE’s Open Labs initiative was introduced with the objective of providing researchers and scientists with the access to state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, establishing an environment to exchange knowledge, expertise and results, which cutting down research costs.
“The UAE is offering a leading global model for the perfect investment in human potential and providing a scientific environment and research infrastructure that allows great minds to innovate pre-emptive solutions to major challenges facing humanity, constituting a knowledgeable addition to the region and greater world, in line with the UAE Vision 2021 and its Centennial Plan 2071,” said His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
What is the Open Labs?
The Open Labs initiative serves as a platform for the gathering of all major research institutions in the UAE. Its key objective is to render an advanced research environment and eminent infrastructure to enhance the country’s scientific industry by decrease the cost of research mobility by 30 percent. It also serves to provide an integrated work system based on a substantial amount of activities by scientific research institutions through compelling collaborations with leading international research centres.
This initiative aims to attract and encourage outstanding scientists and drive individuals, including students and all those interested in science to be a part of the expansion of scientific research methods and allow researchers to source for partnership opportunities in the field. The platform will connect state laboratories to scientists and experts to warrant the production of knowledge in the country’s investment in specialised laboratories to enhance the output of research institutions. The platform will strive to increase the number of operating scientific devices and bring together research capacity in the UAE.
The platform consists of six key research institutions in the UAE, including the Mohammad Bin Rashid Space Centre, Khalifa University, UAE University, American University of Sharjah (AUS), the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, and the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA). It allows all scientific researchers to have absolute and quick access to more than 150 research devices throughout the country. It provide scientists access to top notch research equipment, with the intent of improving local research efforts, supporting researchers and academics and driving scientific research and development of scientific and technological capacity in the UAE.
The platform is an initiative of the Emirates Scientists Council (ESC), responsible for the development of a supportive environment for research and scientists as part of the UAE Advanced Science Agenda 2031, which was launched by Shaikh Mohammad in early April 2018.
Source: Gulf News
Join us in the upcoming QS-MAPLE 2019 from 25-27 February 2019 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as we discuss the topic on “Research in the Middle East and Africa: Overcoming the Barriers”.