The Dubai Future Accelerators, an intensive 12-week programme that pairs top companies and entrepreneurs with powerful partners in Dubai to create breakthrough solutions together, has launched its second cycle with 11 new global challenges in vital sectors for innovative enterprises.

Mohammed Al Gergawi, vice chairman of the board of trustees, and managing director of Dubai Future Foundation, emphasised that a positive innovative approach to address future challenges, is the most important learning from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Al Gergawi said that HH Sheikh Mohammed believes that the future does not wait for people, and the race of foreseeing the future is a challenge, where winning is for the stronger and more prepared ones.  

Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed, Dubai Future Accelerators has become a platform to anticipate and create opportunities and solutions ahead of time. It serves as a scientific path to meet the challenges facing human societies, and convert them to opportunities for the better future for the coming generations.

Al Gergawi announced that submissions for the second cycle are open from today (January 2), said a statement from the organisation.

He said: “Coinciding with the success of the first cycle of the programme that attracted some of the world's leading innovative companies and achieved cooperation with them to develop innovations for the future, Dubai Future Accelerators has now been expanded with its second cycle.”

“It will harness a wider range of modern technology and innovation to find effective solutions to the challenges in key sectors for achieving the prosperity of the society,” he stated.

“We seek to build partnerships between government and private sector companies globally that will help create well-developed technological models that lay strong foundations for the future of the UAE as a hub for innovative ideas,” he added.

Al Gergawi further said: “The success achieved by the first Dubai Future Accelerators emphasised the competency of the UAE and Dubai to play a pivotal role in exploring and shaping the future of vital sectors by utilising modern technology under the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which can bring radical and positive change for the future.”

There are 11 challenges cover vital sectors in the second cycle of the Dubai future Accelerators programme, participated by 11 entities from government and private sectors, as follows:

Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) - Mobility in the future:
Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, said: “RTA encourages commuters to use public transport services, and provides enablers supporting this direction, such as technology solutions and transport policies.”

“Through the second round of Dubai Future Accelerators, we aim to launch innovative solutions for payment and ticketing. Moreover, RTA aims to study the readiness of the public to futuristic transport modes such as autonomous vehicles,” he added.

Dubai Police - Air Police:
Major General Dr Abdul Quddos Abdul Razzaq Al Obaidly, assistant commandant for quality and excellence affairs at Dubai Police, assured that they are ready to participate in the second cycle of the Dubai Future Accelerators (DFA).                
                        
Dubai Municipality - Environment friendly solutions:
Eng Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality, confirmed the municipality's commitment to promoting and strengthening the identity of Dubai in the field of creativity and innovation locally, regionally and globally.

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) - Self management system for patients:
Humaid Al Qatami, chairman of the board and director-general of DHA confirmed that the programme, which was launched, by HH Sheikh Mohammad has reshaped the sustainability and developmental map in the world.

He added that DHA will focus on qualitative outcomes in the second phase of the Dubai Future Accelerators Programme which targets having a comprehensive and exceptional model for patients and different types of customers of DHA.

Knowledge and Human Development Authority - 21st Century skills:
Dr Abdulla Al Karam, chairman of the board of directors and director general of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), said: “Dubai Future Accelerators has provided an important platform to boost innovation and create a futuristic city where new ideas are encouraged.”

“With the launch of the second cycle of the programme, we will witness further innovative ideas that can help solve future challenges and potentially have a significant impact on the economy and society,” he added.

Dubai Holding - Smart technology in project management:

As part of the second cycle, Dubai Holding will focus on the development of new methods, intelligent technologies and innovative business models across all its business segments, and operations, so that it can anticipate the current and future needs of its customers, employees, and its partners, proactively and independently, to improve the performance of the sectors.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority - Changing traditional method of operations:
Saeed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), said: “We implement initiatives, strategies and new technologies enabling us to become a pioneering energy utility that leverage on disruptive technologies to  generate, transmit and distribute world -class electricity and water services, with a focus on the quality of life for citizens and residents and the sustainability of our resources.”

Etisalat Digital - Communication technologies to serve humans and the preservation of health:

Eng Saleh Alabdooli, group CEO of Etisalat, said: “Our digital's partnership with Dubai Future Accelerator is a commitment to the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed to transform the UAE into the global capital for creating technology advancements that define the future of humanity.    
    
Etisalat Digital aims at partnering with global startups to solve critical business challenges within different segments, such as health, education, smart cities and others.        

Department of Economic Development - Futuristic services:
Sami Al Qamzi, director general, Department of Economic Development of Dubai (DED), said: “Dubai has emerged as a major player in the world economy and its role in the global market place cannot be overstated.”

“The Future Accelerators program is one of the vehicles that Dubai’s DED is using to contribute to the Emirate’s transition into a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation,” he said.

“DED’s accelerators aim to achieve quantitative and qualitative improvements in the ease of doing business, and harness smart technologies to consolidate government services for the benefit of a happier investor,” he added.
 
Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du) -  Digital techniques for customer service  
Osman Sultan, CEO of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du), said: "The UAE leadership has put customer centricity centre stage, envisioning the Emirates as a global benchmark for management practices in the service industry.”

DNRD: Digital transactions and Electronic Gates:
Major General Mohammed Al Marri, director of DNRD, said: “The programme is a foundation to proactively face development challenges before they arise, invest in opportunities, and create the future.”

DFA will contribute effectively in transforming creative ideas to reality in order to achieve the government's objectives in various sectors. It will provide distinct space for co-working to develop and implement innovative ideas and projects that will benefit all segments of society.

Saif Al Aleeli, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, said: "By combining innovative enterprises and the government sector in Dubai, the second cycle of Dubai Future Accelerators will be a perfect opportunity to find solutions for the challenges that face vital sectors and provide innovative models to upgrade its services.”

“Over 12 weeks, the programme will bring together companies and government agencies in Dubai to explore the technologies of the future, and using them find solutions to the challenges facing cities,” he said.

“The Dubai Future Accelerators explores the opportunities offered by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We will examine the impact of science and technology to make radical changes through artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, 3D printing, genomics and other technologies,” he added.

“The innovative projects and businesses will be selected based on their ability to find solutions for these challenges, and translate them into models and pilot projects to build economic value, enhance investment attractiveness and bring positive change to create a universal model in Dubai that can benefit the rest of the world,” Al Aleeli concluded. – TradeArabia News Service