Dubai has announced a new initiative to fund research and innovation, known as the ‘Dubai Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Grant Initiative.’ The announcement was made on Sunday by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, through a post on X.
“Research and development are fundamental to the success of cities, nations, and economies. Our vision is for Dubai to become one of the world’s top cities in supporting researchers and scientists by offering the necessary funding, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks to drive progress in the research field," Sheikh Hamdan said in the post.
Sheikh Hamdan also emphasized the broad scope of the initiative, which falls under the ‘Dubai Research and Development Program,’ spearheaded by the Dubai Future Foundation.
"Today, we are proud to announce a new initiative to fund and support research, development, and innovation under the ‘Dubai Research and Development Program,’ led by the Dubai Future Foundation,” he said.
“This initiative will provide grants and essential resources to bring groundbreaking projects and ambitious ideas to life in Dubai. We anticipate outstanding contributions from academics, researchers, national and international universities and research institutions from the UAE and across the globe.”
The Dubai RDI Grant Initiative will support up to 20 research projects in its next phase. The initiative will focus on two key sectors: Cognitive Cities and Health and Life Sciences, exploring advancements through cross-cutting technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics Systems.
For Cognitive Cities, research topics will include Smart Mobility, Traffic Management, Smart Grids and PropTech. In the Health and Life Sciences sector, research could address Precision Medicine, Preventive Genetic Sequencing, Cell-Cultured Foods and Crop Resilience. AI applications will concentrate on areas such as Fintech, Natural Language Processing and Computer Vision, while Robotics Systems will focus on innovative applications in Logistics, Construction, Aviation and Healthcare.
The initiative will be supported by the Dubai Future Foundation, which aims to collaborate with a wide array of local and international partners, including public and private sectors, universities and research institutions. This collaborative effort aims to provide the essential infrastructure and resources to bring the selected projects to fruition.
The Dubai Research and Development Program, also led by the Dubai Future Foundation, plays a crucial role in addressing key local and global challenges through innovation. The Program aims to strengthen Dubai’s economic sectors and create new growth opportunities, ensuring that the emirate remains at the forefront of technological advancement.