Sharjah making strides with 4th industrial manufacturing hub

Sharjah’s Research and Technology Park (SRTIP) is host to the latest and most advanced 4th industrial manufacturing (4IM) equipment and is rapidly becoming established as a meeting place for global R&D leaders.

The park is attracting companies, governments and academics to collaborate to shape the future of key industrial growth areas and to resolve important sustainability challenges.

SRTIP Chief Executive Hussain Al Mahmoudi said: “The Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park aligned with the UAE’s 10-year strategic plan to position the country as a global industry leader.”

The park will commence its active new phase by converting a 5,000 square foot area into one of the region’s leading M2 printing machines centres. The focus will primarily be metal printing, a domain that has garnered attention due to rising demands from firms globally who acknowledge metal 3D printing’s serial production potential.

The facility which will be an addition to the 12,500 square foot 3D labs, will utilise ultra-modern AI technologies and be used primarily for the 3D printing of metal parts for the oil and gas, and automotive industries.

Al Mahmoudi said: “The Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park is a regional and global centre of R&D excellence, and we look forward to offering partners world-class 3D printing facilities utilising cutting-edge technologies.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to global supply chains and a wide range of industries now seek 3D printing manufacturing solutions that offer vastly improved resilience and flexibility compared to traditional manufacturing processes.

“We believe the 3D printing facility we are creating will be optimally positioned to meet this demand and to drive significant value for clients and partners”.

Computer-integrated processes make significant use of AI, with no prognostications of slowing down. AI in the manufacturing industry is expected to inflate from its 2016 market size of 272.5 million to a whopping 4.8 billion by 2023.

Company orders for robots are surging, with orders spiking 5.2% in the final quarter of 2019, at 23,894 units ordered with a total sitting value of Dhs1.3 billion.

Created in 2016, SRTIP is a hub for advanced R&D and innovation ecosystems, attracting leading academics and researchers from around the world to share knowledge and create the breakthrough technologies of the future.

A freezone in which 100 per cent foreign company ownership is permitted, SRTIP promotes research into renewable energy, water management, environmental technology, transport and logistics, production, design and architecture, and digitalisation solutions.

Fifty senior officials and key decision makers part of the Sharjah government have stressed recently that digital transformation is no longer just a consideration for the emirate, but an area equipped with strategic decision making followed by long-term investments, human capital training and consistent efforts to boost the emirate’s economic performance, innovation, leadership and sustainability across sectors.

They were gathered at the inaugural edition of “NexTech: The Formula for Digital Transformation Excellence”, a new technology initiative designed by Sahab Smart Solutions, which seeks to highlight exciting new possibilities in digital transformation for the emirate’s government departments. The event was held in partnership with the Higher Committee for Digital Transformation in Sharjah at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre (JRCC).

The officials analysed the current state of digitisation in Sharjah, focused on challenges and opportunities, and discussed future possibilities for both Sharjah and the UAE. They highlighted that upskilling the nation’s human resources with the right policies and legislative framework, a strong focus on making the nation’s cybersecurity practices more robust, and full integration among different sectors were pillars of successful digital transformation.

Moderated by Amin Al Zarouni, CEO of Sahab Smart Solutions, the talks were led by Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Higher Committee for Digital Transformation in Sharjah; Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi; Asma Rashed Sultan Bin Tulaiah Secretary-General of the Sharjah Executive Council; and Colonel Sami Khamis Al Naqbi, Director General of Sharjah Civil Defence.

Dr. Eng Khalifa Musabbah Al Tunaiji, Chairman of the Sharjah Directorate of Housing; Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO, Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP) also attended.

The attendees put forth a series of recommendations including the need to enhance joint investments between the public and private sectors to develop programmes, platforms and digital solutions to create secure and advanced public services, and subsequently, make digital governance a reality.