Sheikha Bodour opens windows of golden opportunities for SRTIP to glitter

At a board meeting chaired by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP), has given a detailed update on the status of the Park, laying out its plans for the next phase of strategic development for the region’s most dynamic R&D and innovation hub.

Bringing the meeting to order, Sheikha Bodour shared her appreciation with the assembled members for their continued and ongoing support. She further acknowledged SRTIP’s leadership, stewarded by SRTIP CEO Hussain Al Mahmoudi, for creating the forward momentum that is driving the Park’s success.

In her opening remarks, Sheikha Bodour elucidated the importance of developing synergetic partnership in academia and industry in supporting SRTIP’s future endeavours. “To achieve our vision, we are leveraging the power of collaboration. Our industry and academic partners are vital pillars of our innovation ecosystem. By leveraging their research capabilities, we are developing cutting-edge solutions that address both local and global challenges in sectors like mobility, sustainability, and healthcare.”

She added, “Now is a golden opportunity for SRTIP to shine in areas like AI, robotics, and sustainable technology. Achieving our goals will require true, deep engagement across sectors.”

Following Sheikha Bodour’s remarks, SRTIP CEO Hussain Al Mahmoudi shared that over the past ten months great progress has been made in taking SRTIP from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of its strategic plan, with work being undertaken to review and refine the strategy and identify new focus areas to enhance competitiveness.

Al Mahmoudi said, “We are excited to deliver the vision of the Park into reality and are working hard, utilising the tremendous experience and support of the board alongside our growing team here at SRTIP, to be agile in reviewing our strategic direction. We are continually striving to create projects, initiatives and concepts that support marketing strategy, ecosystem development, partnerships, freezone service and infrastructure development objectives in the coming years.”

He further shared that activities and programs undertaken at the Park this year had been great successes, improving the Park’s outreach and community engagement. Examples included the Women in Technology Forum and the Seal the Deal – a unique platform undertaken in partnership with American University of Sharjah and Sheraa where student-led startups could interact with business leaders, opening doors to potential investment as well as strategic and operational guidance – thus reinforcing the role of entrepreneurship in Sharjah’s innovating ecosystem.

Following the CEO’s summary, SRTIP’s Chief Strategy Officer Dr Fareed Al Ameeri presented a review of the efforts that he and the team and SRTIP have undertaken to identify key projects and focus areas which will support the future growth of the Park. This detailed study has been the culmination of numerous deep dives undertaken, with the support of board members in working groups. The results of these studies and their subsequent proposals serve to consolidate SRTIP’s standing as one of the most vibrant innovation hubs in the region.

Lastly, the board also reviewed the financial performance of SRTIP over the past year and expressed satisfaction at its success in building its staffing, future planning, and approved the work undertaken in the audit undertaken by KMPG as part of the Park’s fiscal and operational due diligence.

WAM