UAE teams up with IBM to boost Industry 4.0

US technology company will help to accelerate the pace of digital transformation in the Emirates

IBM aims to bring its expertise and technology to the UAE to boost the country's economic growth. Bloomberg

The UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology has joined forces with US technology company IBM to boost the pace of digital transformation in the Emirates.

The agreement will allow the ministry to develop its network of Industry 4.0 champions, authorities said on Tuesday.

Under the network, local and global companies partner to share best practices in the deployment of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies across the UAE’s industrial sector.

“The UAE’s industrial sector is making a significant contribution to the rapid economic development of the UAE,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.

“The expertise of technology partners like IBM is essential in demonstrating the transformational power of Fourth Industrial Revolution solutions in an already thriving segment.”

The Industry 4.0 champions network aims to support the creation of 100 “lighthouses" — categorised by the World Economic Forum as the 4IR organisations — by 2031 and attract 500 tech companies by the end of the same year. These companies will help drive productivity, innovation and efficiency in their respective sectors.

The UAE is already a leader when it comes to embracing the power of new technologies, Arvind Krishna, IBM’s chairman and chief executive, said.

“At a time when digital innovation is reshaping every industry and profession, we are excited to help bring to life the UAE’s vision of taking the most advanced technologies available and deploying them across the country’s industrial sector,” he added.

Launched as part of Projects of the 50 last year, Industry 4.0 initiative is designed to accelerate the integration of 4IR solutions and applications across the country’s industrial sector. The technology is expected to improve the UAE’s overall industrial competitiveness, drive down costs, increase productivity and efficiency, and create new jobs.