Abu Dhabi launches 'NexTech' scheme to develop next generation of Emirati talent

The Advanced Technology Research Council has already recruited 45 Emiratis to help the UAE cement its status as a global innovation hub

Abu Dhabi has signed on with 30 international universities for co-research and co-funding partnerships in advanced technology research. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Culture and Tourism

Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council has recruited dozens of Emirati students as part of a major drive to harness local talent.

The ATRC has filled 45 of 125 available slots for promising UAE citizens under its nationalisation programme, dubbed NexTech, to encourage youth to explore careers in advanced technology.

The council is building partnerships with universities and identifying key research projects to advance the capital's goal of becoming a hub for innovation in next-generation technology such as autonomous systems and quantum computing.

Thirty universities have signed co-research and co-funding agreements with ATRC spanning three to five years across 32 research projects.

“This is a paramount piece of moving to a knowledge-based economy,”  said Faisal Al Bannai, the secretary general of ATRC, at a press briefing on Tuesday where he outlined the council’s aims.

"By creating NexTech, we are taking decisive steps to develop our knowledge-based economy at an accelerated pace."

In May, President Sheikh Khalifa announced the creation of the ATRC to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a global research and development hub. Since then, the council has been working to establish its remit.

NextGen candidates are being identified in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), and local universities to begin building a bigger pipeline of the next generation of knowledge-based workers.

"We are not doing research for the sake of research, we are doing research to solve practical challenges clients have,” Mr Al Bannai, who is also the chief executive of defence conglomerate EDGE, said.

The council is focused on ensuring funds are channelled efficiently, so that research challenges and new technologies have a clear route to market, he added.

“The initial 32 research projects that are signed off are clearly mapped to a client, based on a statement of need or opportunity to translate that research into an industrial product."

While Mr Al Bannai declined to outline specifics of the projects or the level of funding, which he said would be made public in the coming weeks, he said they addressed challenges in quantum computing and new methods of navigation using quantum sensors; national security related to cloud computing and encryption; and new methods of autonomous way-finding and sea robotics.

The aim is for the UAE to be an exporter of technology and intellectual property in these domains.

“There will be a before and after with quantum computing and autonomous capabilities, and we [the UAE] need to be sure we are part of that future,” he said.

Mr Al Bannai said the council is guided by three objectives: championing research to strengthen Abu Dhabi's position in global rankings, nurturing talent to become a desired home for advanced technology and driving innovation to help the UAE become an exporter of technology products.

The council has seven research priorities to fulfill these aims including autonomy and robotics, advanced materials and quantum computing.

Mr Al Bannai emphasised that while the NextGen programme would recruit Emirati nationals, the aim is for ATRC to foster global co-operation.

“East, west, north south will find a home in Abu Dhabi," he said. "This will be a melting pot of nationals and diversified talent.”