Advanced Technology Research Council Meeting Led by Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed

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Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, presided over a pivotal meeting of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) board of directors. During the session, His Highness reviewed the council's plans to launch three new ventures and discussed its groundbreaking achievements and ambitious goals for both Abu Dhabi and the UAE, aiming to solidify their positions in the global research and development arena.

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Sheikh Khaled emphasized the importance of continuing to implement ATRC’s plans and initiatives both locally and globally. He stressed the need to advance research and development in innovative technologies and artificial intelligence solutions, reinforcing the UAE's role as a hub for innovation. His Highness encouraged the application of technology-based solutions across key sectors.

Promoting UAE Research Map and Talent

His Highness highlighted the significance of the UAE Research Map in enhancing research cooperation among relevant entities nationwide. The map also supports UAE national talent in technological innovation and the development of large language models. Sheikh Khaled underscored that improving quality of life and boosting efficiency in various industries through technological advancements will contribute to comprehensive and sustainable socio-economic development across the country.

Fostering STEM Talent

Sheikh Khaled reiterated the need to qualify and prepare UAE national talent in STEM fields. He pointed out that these disciplines are crucial for enhancing the UAE’s research landscape and fostering advanced innovations. These innovations are expected to positively impact key sectors such as education, research and development, advanced industries, healthcare, agriculture, environment, robotics, and emerging technologies.

Aligning with National Innovation Strategy

As the UAE pursues its National Innovation Strategy, ATRC is focused on shaping Abu Dhabi’s R&D ecosystem and promoting STEM careers. This aligns with the UAE Centennial Plan 2071, ensuring the development of a dynamic talent pool that meets current and future demands.

New Ventures and Research Map

The meeting covered ATRC’s progress in creating an innovative R&D ecosystem. ATRC's commercialization arm, VentureOne, is preparing to launch three ventures later this year, targeting advancements in data security for the quantum era, smart autonomous mobility, and Agritech with robotic technologies. These ventures align with Abu Dhabi’s economic priorities and mark a significant step in translating pioneering research into practical products and services.

The council also reviewed the UAE Research Map, a vital resource for the research community. Since its launch in May 2024, the portal has seen over 2,000 visits and includes 30 participating entities with more than 450 registered experts. The portal has successfully centralized access to national research resources and facilitated collaboration between academia, public, and private sectors. Recently, 10 additional entities have shown interest in joining.

Global Tech R&D Fund and Technology Innovation Institute

ATRC has attracted proposals from international entities interested in accessing the council’s $200 million Global Tech R&D Fund. The integration of the UAE’s Falcon large language model (LLM) into local and global tech infrastructure and government services is also progressing.

The meeting also highlighted the achievements of the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), ATRC’s applied research arm. TII recently unveiled the Abu Dhabi Quantum Optical Ground Station, the largest facility in the MENA region dedicated to secure free-space optical communications. In support of the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 agenda, TII’s Directed Energy Center received a prestigious award from the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP). Additionally, TII’s Falcon LLM, independently verified by Hugging Face, has garnered 85,000 downloads since May 2024, contributing to a total of over 45 million downloads across all Falcon LLM models.

ASPIRE’s Progress

The council also reviewed ASPIRE’s progress. ASPIRE, ATRC’s program management arm, is executing several key projects to support the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051 and contribute to global food security through its collaboration with XPRIZE Feed the Next Billion.

Board Members in Attendance

The ATRC meeting was attended by notable board members including His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the President’s Office for Strategic Affairs; His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority; His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment; His Excellency Faisal Abdulaziz Al Bannai, Secretary General of ATRC; His Excellency Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi; and His Excellency Ahmed Tamim Al Kuttab, Chairman of the Department of Government Enablement – Abu Dhabi.

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