Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has signed an agreement with 3M, a global leader in research and development (R&D), to exchange and share knowledge and expertise in anticipating the future and developing disruptive innovation in Dewa’s work.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa, and Robert Nichols, managing director of 3M in Mena.

The MoU aims to enhance cooperation in several areas including anticipating and leading transition in new technologies, supporting and encouraging disruptive innovations by exploring investment opportunities to develop new services, and support promising start-ups in areas expected to shape the future.

This includes Internet of Things (IoT) and activities that foster innovation such as Hackathons. The two sides will work together to benefit from international experiences and expertise in energy and sustainability solutions in buildings to reduce energy use. According to the MoU, the two parties will develop and implement pilot projects and cooperate in R&D to raise safety standards in the workplace.

“The MoU with 3M supports our efforts to enhance Dewa’s competitiveness and excellence in the fast-paced technological developments. We do this by cooperating with leading international companies and organisations to develop disruptive technologies and innovative solutions that keep pace with the rapid changes and help us anticipate opportunities and develop long-term proactive plans. This also helps us make use of the most successful experiences and best international practices in smart grid and data network solutions, to support Dewa’s vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility,” said Al Tayer.

“It is with great pleasure that we join forces with Dewa to successfully and effectively bring our innovations to life in the UAE. Together, we have agreed to work on preliminary projects and cooperative studies that will improve sustainability in the energy sector in Dubai. 3M enjoys deep roots within the global energy sector, and we are bringing our expertise to the UAE by collaborating with entities who, like us, are driven to discover new ways to harness the earth’s energy and optimise valuable natural resources. We are confident that the partnership will enhance collaboration between public and private entities and provide innovative solutions,” said Nichols. – TradeArabia News Service