Etisalat-BT Innovation Center (EBTIC), established by Khalifa University, Etisalat and BT recently won an award for best technology investment of 2010.

The award by CommsMEA Magazine, recognises operators, vendors, regulators and individuals who have made signification contributions to the telecommunications sector in the Middle East.

The award highlights the research being conducted by EBTIC. The centre, hosted at Khalifa University campus in Abu Dhabi, employs over 20 researchers, with plans to grow this number to 70 in the future, a statement said.

To date, EBTIC researchers and associates have submitted and published over 21 journals, conference papers and three books. Two patents are also in the process of being filed, it added.

Areas of research include intelligent systems technologies for Next Generation Networks (NGNs) and NGN-enabled ICT applications and services, computational sustainability and green ICT, and solutions for next generation applications and services deployed in education and health care.

“It is our honour and privilege to receive this award,” said Nader Azarmi, managing director of EBTIC.

“This award not only serves as recognition for our joint efforts but also acknowledges the intellectual capabilities in the Middle East, and highlights the enormous benefits of our research to our partners, customers and the telecommunications sector as a whole,” he added.

CommsMEA editor Roger Field said: "EBTIC impressed the judges because of the scale and scope of the investment, and the potential that the project holds for developing new technologies and services in the coming years."

The CommsMEA Awards have been running for five years. The competition and awards ceremony are hosted by the leading technology regional publishing house ITP. – TradeArabia News Service