UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) hosted its second “Sci-Tech Virtual Tour” for a high-level Spanish delegation to highlight the advanced science and technology ecosystem in the Emirates.
Further, the ministry has discussed the role of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, as well as opportunities in the life sciences and healthcare sectors for global investors, innovators, and business leaders.
According to the reports, the series of virtual tours aim to showcase research and development (R&D) in addition to investment opportunities in the UAE to international partners.
The two-day event was organized in cooperation with the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the UAE Embassy in Spain.
The series of panels and discussions examined how the Emirates is deploying advanced technologies and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) solutions and applications in the life sciences sector, including the UAE’s genomics program, as well as the research opportunities presented by the country’s science and technology ecosystem.
The speakers and panelists said the bilateral relationship between Spain and the UAE, especially in the fields of science and technology, would play an important role in accelerating this process and, ultimately, helping the UAE increase the industrial sector’s contribution to national GDP to $81 billion (AED300 billion) by 2031.
Mr. Omar Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy at the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said, “In the last two years, despite the challenges faced by the entire global community, the UAE boldly demonstrated its steadfast commitment to economic diversification for a post-oil era and the transformation of our society into a diverse, knowledge-based economy.”
“Global partnerships are key to utilizing science and technology to address pressing global challenges. We hope to shed light on the UAE’s science and technology ecosystem and showcase what it offers to our international partners. With this virtual tour, we’re looking to create bridges between the two countries, our institutions, and industries, and to open the doors to exploring further opportunities to collaborate in the life sciences and healthcare sectors,” commented Ms. Amna Al Saleh, Head of the Technology Development section at MoIAT.
Mr. Majid Al Suwaidi, the UAE’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain stated, “As of today, more than 200 Spanish companies and more than 40,000 Spaniards call the UAE home. And this virtual tour comes at a perfect time. Our bilateral relations are very strong, particularly at the political level, and the good news is there is a lot of room for growth in our economic relations.”
