Aim for Nobel, Mohammed tells Emirati researchers
VP approves 20 strategic initiatives for Emirates Scientists Council
dubai — His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved 20 strategic initiatives for the Emirates Scientists Council, designed to create a conducive environment for innovation and scientific research in the country.
“Our objective is to set our scientific and research priorities that serve our interests, cement our economy and build a future for our generations. We bet on young scientists to establish a national scientific and research platform,” Shaikh Mohammed said. “Scientists and academicians are partners of the government in facing the challenges, saving costs, and making people happy.”
Shaikh Mohammed also noted that the strategic initiatives offer a holistic scientific approach to achieving excellence in the scientific field, and ensuring the UAE holds a prominent place in the world of science.
“We work today to develop a generation of UAE scientists able to compete for Nobel Prize in the next decades,” Shaikh Mohammed said while chairing a meeting in Dubai.
Sara Al Amiri, Chairperson of the Emirates Scientists Council, praised Shaikh Mohammed’s support and said that the initiative will come up with a scientific programme that
prepares talented students to compete for Nobel Prizes, as well as set up a national agenda for research that will be launched in 2017.
In addition, UAE Scientific Challenges forums will serve to identify the challenges faced by government entities working in various fields, such as the environment, health, energy and industrial activity, as well as gather scientists, researchers and academics to answer the questions posed by these challenges. They will also contribute to the provision of government costs associated with infrastructure projects, such as water desalinisation and electronic data.
Further, interactive national laboratories will seek to build partnerships between universities, industry entities and the private sector to exchange scientific knowledge, expertise, and cooperation to help find solutions.
Shaikh Mohammed also announced the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Honor, which will be awarded every two years to outstanding university students involved in scientific research, and to outstanding scientists and researchers.
Lastly, Shaikh Mohammed announced a national programme for discovering and developing research spirit in the UAE, which is designed to promote the spirit of exploration in UAE society and raise awareness on the importance of science, research and innovation. Among the features of the programme will be an annual day to celebrate science in the UAE, as well as the organisation of various community-based initiatives.
Shaikh Mohammed chaired the meeting with the members of Emirates Scientists Council, in presence of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Lt. General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation; and Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Cabinet Member and Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future.
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