Business & Money | Wednesday 23 November, 2016 3:38 pm |

 

Today launched “The Innovation Hub” – the main event of UAE Innovation Week in Dubai – under the guidance of the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai, at Burj Park from 23 to 26 November in order to promote the concept and culture of innovation in the community by providing a range of activities throughout the four days innovative and suitable for everyone..

The Innovation Hub is aimed at families, students and youths in general, as well as government and private sector employees. Its target audience are UAE nationals and expatriates as well as visitors interested in getting a closer look at the efforts of the Emirate of Dubai in the realm of innovation, contributing to the enhancement of the UAE’s advanced position in all strategic sectors. Dubai has been laying strong emphasis on the consolidation of innovation as an inseparable part of its strategy, fulfilling UAE Vision 2021 and helping achieve Dubai Plan 2021.

The Innovation Hub incorporates a series of events; a significant experience for explorers of the secrets of imagination through experiencing various activities aimed at people from different segments of the society. The activities provide scientific knowledge that contributes to enhancing the perception of people of the tremendous revolutionary impact of innovation and innovative thinking on the wellbeing of people and society as a whole.

Visitors can take part in exciting activities like ‘Race Against’, ‘Pedal to Guinness’, ‘VR Racer’ adventures, ‘Falcon 360’ or ‘Your Health Today… with Innovation and ‘Smart District’.

The Hub offers and hosts six major events through which a number of government sectors are leading. Dubai Health Authority is making its presence felt in the event through its initiative ‘Your Health Today… with Innovation’. The initiative’s aim is to help shape a public health culture in society using more innovative methods to inspire children and young adults to start adopting a healthy lifestyle at an early age. The initiative has been set into practice through applications like (Smart) brush, developed to stimulate children and encourage them to adhere to healthy and safe practices for dental care, as well as the application (Tummy Fish) which aims to motivate children to follow the health patterns in an innovative way, including drinking water, through an electronic interface.

Also, a drone, ‘Falcon 360’, designed by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will be flying in Dubai’s skies, providing immediate and precise data on the condition of roads to help take immediate action on real-time developments. The event is a central platform for stakeholders to collaborate in an interactive environment and exchange ideas, while celebrating their innovations in a comprehensively empowering framework of innovation for individuals.

 

 

 

 

All activities that fall under "The Innovation Hub" scope are in an effort to encourage and spread the culture of innovation among members of the community, which is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, and the embodies of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aimed at promoting the UAE as a global hub for innovation, and the dissemination of innovation at the state level culture.

His Excellency Abdulla Al Shaibani, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai and member of the Higher Committee for UAE Innovation Week, said: "The Innovation Hub” is example of the standards of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, for this nation - and the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which aims to integrate and harness technology in order to devise ways that facilitate the lives of members of society in all aspects of their everyday activities."

He continues: "The awareness of our wise leadership which continues to endorse the concept of innovation as an approach to individuals through the exercise of their daily routines, will determine the future of the Emirate of Dubai and the UAE in general, as we are constantly working in cooperation with various government sectors to put the bulk of their expertise and experience in individual services according to international best practices to achieve growth, prosperity and stability to all members of the community. "

Visitors to The Innovation Hub will have a chance to discover the ‘Smart District’, which has developed a range of concepts for the future, starting with the design of a smart city and linking infrastructure using the "Internet of Things" technology, for the opportunity for visitors to control a city through a virtual control room that supports augmented reality technology.

Other activities at The Hub, such as ‘Race against’, includes the ability for participants to compete, and engage in a race against technology that can generate an opponent such as a tiger, a leopard, a robot or others! The challenge will take place on an adjacent screen and along a 30 meter track. Visitors can also take a seat using ‘VR Racer’ and using Virtual Reality goggles to take them to a new world full of adventures and challenges to overcome.

The drone, ‘Falcon 360’ designed by the RTA roams across the Dubai skyline and monitors traffic jams, the movement of transport, the extent of pollution, and other data as it is transferred to the unified control of Roads and Field communications room at the “The Innovation Hub."

Hamdah Bin Kalban, Dubai Committee Coordinator for the UAE's Innovation Week, confirmed that the General Secretariat of the Emirate of Dubai is keen to provide the opportunity for the youth of society to adopt an innovative mind-set and apply it on their daily activities. She stated: "to promote the process of innovation and development of an environment requires the stimulation of innovation to fit in with future generations along with the support of government sectors who are participating in the Innovation Hub and steadily adopting modern and innovative methods in various fields to contribute to the world class services of society.”

She added: "His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has always stressed that innovation is not a luxury but it is the secret growth tool that will sustain and enhance a city’s success. This is why it is so important to keep innovation in our daily lives, to harness the energies of individuals and lead them towards new horizons that keeps pace with the status that Dubai and the United Arab Emirates hold."

Dubai is also preparing to break the record for the most energy generated within an hour, using stationary bikes at The Hub, on November 26, and the invitation is open to the public to participate in this unique and exciting event.