Abu Dhabi sets up research and development authority to guide the emirate into the future

Abu Dhabi announced the launch of an authority to make the emirate an international standard bearer in technology and innovation.

The Abu Dhabi Research and Development Authority hopes to attract leading researchers to boost the capital’s move to a new economy.

This new branch of government, to be managed by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, is part of Ghadan 21, a Dh50 billion package of reforms announced by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, last year.

The authority will oversee the construction of five virtual research institutes with a focus on biotechnology, food security, sustainability, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing and advanced materials.

These centres will provide a platform for national, regional and international industry and higher education organisations to collaborate on projects that will shape the future of the country.

“Tackling the significant challenges that the UAE and the rest of the world is facing requires us to innovate technological advancements and creative solutions in a new and progressive way,” said Sara Musallam, chair of the Department of Education and Knowledge.

“We need to be inventors and not just consumers. My hope is we achieve this aspiration with a world-class research and development authority, and share some of the incredible innovation coming out of Abu Dhabi with the rest of the world.”

The authority will distribute funds through initiatives such as the Abu Dhabi Award for Research Excellence, a programme for outstanding research proposals in certain sectors, and the Abu Dhabi Young Investigator Award, aimed at researchers who obtained their PhD within the past six years.