DFA programme to position Dubai as a hub for innovation

Dubai Future Foundation has announced the launch of the 6th cohort of Dubai Future Accelerators (DFA) programme, with some 30 local and global companies working closely with the government entities in Dubai.

Organisations taking part in the 6th cohort hail from 15 countries, including six companies from the UAE, five from the United Kingdom, three from the United States, three from Spain, two from Denmark, and two from Poland. Other companies hail from Finland, France, India, Chile, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine. Companies will work with government entities to address their industry-specific challenges as well as provide recommendations and smart solutions to tackle such challenges.

Participating government entities include Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai Police and Etisalat Digital.

Saeed Al Falasi, Executive Director of Future Platforms at Dubai Future Foundation, said that this cohort saw the participation of companies from Japan and Chile for the first time, which reinforces the importance and success of this initiative in attracting innovative companies from around the world to Dubai to work with government entities to create a positive impact in society.

Launched in 2016 by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of Dubai Executive Council and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation, the Dubai Future Accelerators is seen as a global platform that provides an opportunity for startups and entrepreneurs around the world to collaborate with strategic government entities as well as work closely with decision makers in Dubai.

The programme aims to position Dubai as a hub for innovation, a testbed for emerging technologies as well as an attractive destination for startups and entrepreneurs with bold solutions to future challenges.

The 6th cohort has witnessed participation from 15 countries including; 6 companies from the United Arab Emirates, 5 from the United Kingdom, 3 from the United States, 3 from Spain, 2 from Denmark, 2 from Poland, as well as companies from Finland, France, India, Chile, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine.

Saeed Al Falasi, Executive Director of Future Platforms at Dubai Future Foundation, said that this cohort saw the participation of companies from Japan and Chile for the first time ever, which reinforces the importance and success of this initiative in attracting innovative companies from around the world to Dubai to work with government entities to create a positive impact in society.

Dubai Municipality is participating in three challenges, including the challenge of “Innovative Irrigation Techniques” that looks into increasing green areas in Dubai through the use of modern irrigation systems.

The second challenge, “Wastewater Treatment”, to develop sustainable and intelligent systems for monitoring and eliminating odors resulting from wastewater treatment processes. Lastly, the challenge of “Treatment of Rustling Sludge”, to treat and reuse 100 per cent of rustling sludge from wastewater treatments

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) aims to find innovative solutions to the challenge of “Mobility Infrastructure” specifically by utilizing future technologies to help in reducing the time and cost associated with building and maintaining road and mobility infrastructure. Their second challenge is “Manage & Personalize Customer Experience”, by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data to facilitate immediate service enhancements. Dubai Police is participating with three challenges including, “Digital Observation for the Future of Police” which looks into creating an electronic portal that is dedicated to research around the future of law enforcement; whereas their second challenge, “Traffic Congestion”, seeks to utilize technology to anticipate and prevent traffic jams. Their third and final challenge, “Prediction Police” explores ways to provide predictive and proactive solutions for law enforcement aspects.

Through its participation, Etisalat Digital is seeking to find solutions for three of its challenges. The first challenge is “Insurance on Demand” to create a new customized insurance on demand based on artificial intelligence technologies. The second challenge, “Multicloud” seeks to accelerate the adoption of Multicloud solutions for UAE companies by reducing complexity while improving security risk management. The third and final challenge is “Industrial IoT”, which aims to support digital transformation of companies by reducing inefficiencies and productivity loss while optimising inventory and supply chain through industrial IoT solutions.

WAM/Agencies