Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has launched the UAE Innovation Week, which will be held from 22 to 28 November 2015, urging entities in the government, private and academic sectors to participate in the week.

He also opened the door for the public to suggest activities for the UAE Innovation Week through social media channels to establish it as the most important destination for innovation and innovators in the region.

On the occasion, Sheikh Mohammed said, "Innovation is not an option but a necessity. It is not a culture but work style, and governments and companies that do not innovate risk losing their competitiveness and falling far behind."

He added, "We have multiplied our investments in innovation, especially in terms of equipping and training our national cadres because keeping pace with the rapid changes taking place in the world needs innovative cadres and an environment that supports innovation."

Sheikh Mohammed said, "Our key sectors of education, health, energy, environment, space, economy and services will present their achievements during the UAE Innovation Week. This will also be an occasion for our private sector to compete with the public sector to showcase their success in innovation."

The UAE Innovation Week will witness the announcement of various government initiatives as well as events and activities by the government, the private sector and academic entities, including schools. The week will also feature workshops, seminars and innovative laboratories that will help generate new ideas and re-evaluate innovations achieved during 2015, the Year of Innovation.

He called upon the public through tweets to participate in the UAE Innovation Week by suggesting through social media channels ideas such as ways to celebrate the best innovation in education, the best teacher in innovation and the best government entity that has adopted innovation in its work.

Sheikh Mohammed also urged nominations for the best national companies that are using innovation, and best universities that support innovation, as well as other ideas that can help establish UAE Innovation Week as one of the most important events that highlight the culture of innovation in institutions and sectors.

A committee comprising representatives of the Federal and local Governments and private sector will be formed to organise the UAE Innovation Week. The committee will be responsible for receiving ideas and coordinating all activities related to the Week.

UAE Innovation Week was launched in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council; Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the National Innovation Committee, Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai, Ohood Al Roumi, Director General of the Prime Minister Office, Najla Al Awar, Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet, and Huda Al Hashemi, Executive Director Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation.

UAE Innovation Week will be based on a regulatory mechanism that gives all partners the opportunity to organise their activities in coordination with the supervisory committee. Activities during the Week will include competitions, exhibitions and launch of national initiatives for innovation throughout the UAE.
Source: WAM