Abu Dhabi sets up an innovation hub to mentor and train entrepreneurs

Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee, or TDC, opened the facility on the first day of the UAE Innovation Week being celebrated across the country on the instructions of The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has declared year 2015 as the 'Year of Innovation'.

It's time for aspiring innovators to rejoice. Abu Dhabi has opened innovator space, a tech hub stocked with state-of-the-art equipment and latest technological tools to convert ideas into reality.
Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee, or TDC, opened the facility on the first day of the UAE Innovation Week being celebrated across the country on the instructions of The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has declared year 2015 as the 'Year of Innovation'.
The TDC is leading the emirate in creating human resources to meet the requirements of a knowledge-based economy by collaborating with schools, colleges and industry.
Located in Al Raha Beach's Al Zeina development, the innovator space provides affordable access to cutting-edge technology such as 3D printers, laser cutters, welders and more.
The centre also provides training programmes for all levels of skill and mentors members to convert their ideas into prototypes and products.
Featuring professional grade equipment and professionally trained staff, the 1,000-square-metre space aims to be an innovation hub for professionals, amateurs, entrepreneurs and start-ups to share, learn and create under the guidance of skilled experts.
The inauguration was attended by Major General Mohammed Khalfan Matar Al Rumaithi, deputy commander-in-chief of Abu Dhabi Police and a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, or Adec; Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, chairman of Health Authority and an Adec member; and Ahmed Saeed Al Calily, director-general of TDC.
"The innovator space brings together technology, entrepreneurship and learning to create a knowledge exchange network set to catalyse innovation within our community," Al Calily said.
He added: "Realising the UAE Vision 2021 is dependent on taking people on an innovation journey. We are determined to inspire, engage and empower the local community with science, technology and innovation through four key stages: education, knowledge transfer, knowledge generation and knowledge utilisation," the TDC chief said.
By doing this, "we can diversify our economy, increase our productivity and create a skilled workforce that drives our position among the most innovative nations in the world," Al Calily added.
TechShop, the operator of the Al Zeina workshop, has established partnerships with government and industrial counterparts, including GE, Ford, Nasa and BMW, among others, in the US. Paul Duggan, chief executive officer, TechShop Global, said his mission is to help drive global innovation by empowering everyone to realise their dreams.
Intel Corporation has partnered with TDC to provide technology and training in the Abu Dhabi hub.
"By providing technologies and resources through entities such as the TDC innovator space, we are helping to develop the innovation ecosystem," said Nassir Nauthoa, Intel's GCC country manager.
During Innovation Week, the space will host an open house for innovators. Activities will include workshops and talks by experts.
The innovator space lies at the core of TDC's Innovator programme, which comprises a series of components to inspire the local community to innovate.
The Innovator programme also includes the yearly Innovator Show, the upcoming Innovator Tour, an outreach initiative to engage schools and communities across the UAE, and the soon-to-be-published Innovator magazine that will showcase the best-in-class ideas from the local community.
- haseeb@khaleejtimes.com