SRTI Park opens to collaborations
SHARJAH: Southeast Asian diplomats have welcomed the recent “Innovate in Sharjah” of the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTI Park), classifying it as another avenue through which stakeholders could continually learn and global partnerships established, towards common concerns and challenges.
Interviewed on Sunday were Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Hjayceelyn M. Quintana, Thailand Consul General in Dubai and the Northern Emirates Chairat Sirivat, and Consulate General of Indonesia (Dubai) Economic Affairs Vice Consul Ahmad Saleh Kusnowibono.
On entrepreneurship, associated with technology and innovation, Sharjah Government Relations Department head/digital Transformation Supreme Commitee chairman Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi told Gulf Today: “Entrepreneurship is the way we have seen economies across the globe grow. The reason being, that today, efficiencies are changingtheway(corporations)operate.wecannot rely on large companies to be the sole employers of the people. Everybody understands that in the region, we are going to need millions of jobs in the years going forward and young people want to be entrepreneurs. They want to build their own businesses. We want to let the people know that Sharjah is the home for that. We have the Sheraa (Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre).”
Quintana said: “It is important to be aware of what the UAE is doing to develop international partnerships in research, innovation, and creativity, and how Sharjah is positioning itself to be a hub for this. The Philippines and the UAE recently agreed to explore cooperation in the field of space technology and its various applications on food security, hazard management, climate change, among others; so we will see more bilateral engagements in these fields.
Likewise, information technology and business process management has a deep pool of Filipino talent making it a fast-growing industry in the Philippines.”
Sirivat qualified as impressive, the sustainable developments in the fields of science, technology, entrepreneurship and education in Sharjah: “(SRTI Park) is the evidence that Sharjah is more than its rich cultural heritage, its natural touristic sites and education. That it is also where science, technology, innovation and digitalisation, thrive. Although it is newly developed only in 2016, we surely see the success of the SRTI Park in the coming years. Many high-tech companies invest in it because they see tremendous opportunities.”
Kusnowibowo said: “SRTI Park shows the many achievements of Sharjah because of the close collaboration among the government and private sectors and the academia. We can learn from Sharjah--how they prepare, plan and develop all areas and all aspects for the future.”