Sheikh Hamdan launches new RDI grant initiative

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, has approved the launch of the Dubai Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Grant Initiative.

The new initiative aims to provide crucial funding for research projects poised to drive advancements in key economic sectors across Dubai.

This initiative is a significant outcome of the Dubai Research and Development Program, introduced by Sheikh Hamdan in September 2022.

Managed by the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), the programme seeks to create a robust framework for fostering innovative RDI activities in the emirate.

It focuses on managing and investing in RDI projects, boosting local R&D expenditure, and enhancing private sector involvement.

Aimed at making Dubai the most future-ready cities in the world

Sheikh Hamdan, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DFF, emphasised the importance of research and development for Dubai’s future, stating, “We will spare no effort in supporting research projects that aim to positively impact our journey towards global leadership across all scientific fields.”

He further highlighted Dubai’s ambition to become a global hub for scientific research, noting, “With the launch of this initiative, we aim to make Dubai amongst the most future-ready cities in the world, and the most prepared to harness scientific research to achieve impactful accomplishments.”

Sheikh Hamdan also stressed the need for strengthened collaboration between the public and private sectors, as well as academic institutions, to achieve these goals.

“Research and development are fundamental to the success of cities, nations, and economies. Our vision is for Dubai to become one of the world’s top cities in supporting researchers and scientists by offering the necessary funding, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks to…

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) September 15, 2024

RDI Grant Initiative to support research projects

In its next phase, the initiative will support up to 20 research projects.

The selection process will adhere to stringent criteria and standards.

The RDI initiative will concentrate on two priority sectors: cognitive cities and health and life sciences, with a focus on cross-cutting technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics systems.

In the cognitive cities sector, research will address areas such as smart mobility, traffic management, smart grids, and proptech. The health and life sciences sector will explore topics like precision medicine, preventive genetic sequencing, cell-cultured foods, and crop resilience.

AI research will target applications in fintech, natural language processing, and computer vision, while robotics systems will focus on innovative applications in logistics, construction, aviation, and healthcare.

To realise the objectives of the RDI grant initiative, DFF will collaborate with a diverse group of local and international partners, including public and private sector entities, universities, and research institutions.

In other news, Dubai recently launched the Dubai National University with an investment of Dhs4.5bn ($1.23bn).

The university forms a central part of Dubai’s Social Agenda 33, aimed at enhancing Dubai’s status as a global hub for higher education and scientific research while preparing highly skilled Emirati leaders and professionals.

Read: Dubai unveils Dhs4.5bn national university to boost higher education