Reaffirming its commitment to support Dubai in becoming a knowledge economy and leading hub for R&D activities, Economic Zones World’s R&D arm, Dubai Institute of Technology (DIT) took part in WAITRO’s first Executive Committee and Regional Focal Point meeting in 2011 held in Malaysia recently.
Dr. Eng. Hamad Al Hashemi, Managing Director of DIT attended the 4-day event which included a WAITRO Constitution Amendment meeting and a Networking Session. Dr. Al Hashemi is a WAITRO Executive Committee member, and DIT currently serves as WAITRO’s Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region.
Dr. Al Hashemi highlighted at the meeting the distinctive achievements of the Congress and General Assembly that was held in Dubai in 2010. He also presented a paper, “Creating Opportunities in the Middle East – Case: Dubai” at the WAITRO Networking Session. He spoke at length about Economic Zones World’s evolution – charting its growth from Jafza to the development of science and technology facilitators, TechnoPark and DIT and the growth prospects for technology led-businesses and the R&D industry based there.
Speaking at the WAITRO networking session he said:
“We are pleased to say that in the last few years we have made considerable strides towards building Dubai as a hub for R&D activities in the region. WAITRO has been a supportive partner in our efforts to shore up our country’s technological capabilities, and we have been proud to serve as the organisation’s RFP (Regional Focal Point)-MENA over the past two years. Today our role has expanded to cover the capacity as a Regional Representative (RR) for the MENA Region and the Executive Board Member. Our meetings this year were quite positive, particularly the one that addressed updating amendments in the WAITRO Constitution, By-Laws and Rules of Procedures of the General Assembly. We believe that this will further bring down barriers, encourage innovation and technological cooperation that will benefit not just member nations but the industry as a whole.”
This year WAITRO member organisations sought to amend the WAITRO Constitution to widen its membership, making it more inclusive and proactive. Currently, full membership with voting rights at WAITRO has been opened up to the organisations and laboratories engaged in industrial and technological R&D from both public and private sector. Associate membership will now be open to end-users and other beneficiaries of industrial and technological R&D including SMEs.
DIT and WAITRO enjoy a long standing strategic partnership and have collaborated on numerous industry initiatives. Last year DIT successfully hosted the 20th Biennial Congress and General Assembly, which saw the gathering of elite technology leaders, researchers and scholars in Dubai.
WAITRO is an independent, non governmental and not-for-profit association established in 1970 to promote and encourage co-operation among industrial and technological research and development organizations (RTOs). The Association currently has 174 members in 80 countries and co-operates with over 500 other institutes and international agencies worldwide.