Arab World

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid: Our Investment in Youth is the Spirit of Our Renaissance and the Driver to Keep Up with Developments Around Us

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid: Our Investment in Youth is the Spirit of Our Renaissance and the Driver to Keep Up with Developments Around Us

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, attended the graduation of a group of entrepreneurs as part of the first cohort of the “Startup Development Program” at the Higher Colleges of Technology. This initiative responds to the call to transform higher education institutions into business incubators that enable students to engage in economic and creative activities, contributing to the graduation of qualified businesses and entrepreneurs according to the best standards, aimed at supporting the national economy in the coming phase with innovative ideas and advanced visions that meet future needs.

His Highness emphasized that "equipping students and youth with the skills and tools for entrepreneurship is of great importance in the country's priorities, as they represent a national asset and investment for the future." He added, "Our investment in youth is the spirit of our renaissance... the foundation for our future... and the driver to keep up with the developments around us."

He also noted that the UAE is making continuous efforts to enhance entrepreneurship at all levels, particularly in higher education institutions, which form the final stage before students enter the job market, stating: "Our universities are platforms for developing youth and qualifying them... what is required from them is to graduate entrepreneurs and integrate that into their strategies and daily plans."

His Highness reviewed several key projects and companies within the program and listened to the graduates and entrepreneurs about these companies’ achievements across various sectors, which included technology, health, education, and other vital sectors.

During the past period, the Higher Colleges of Technology established three creative business incubators to address students' needs and launched the Startup Development Program in 2019. Since then, the program has achieved significant successes, involving 2,316 male and female students and launching 108 startups, with noteworthy participation from female students, as they led 50% of these companies.

These startups operate in various economic sectors, including e-commerce, cybersecurity, agricultural technology, 3D printing health solutions, automated delivery systems, and professional services. The Startup Development Program is a vital and important component of the creative business incubators initiative in higher education institutions, crafted through a comprehensive methodology by the UAE government to shape the future of vital sectors in the country. This aims to set frameworks and strategic plans to keep pace with national and global economic changes, adopting a forward-looking vision to elevate the role of young talents, prepare them, provide necessary tools to empower them, enhance their contributions to development, and encourage them to adopt a culture of entrepreneurship.

The initiatives aim to achieve a set of strategic goals focused on supporting entrepreneurship among students in higher education institutions through innovative methods that integrate educational outcomes with business establishment and management skills, with an emphasis on utilizing modern technologies to ensure students engage in the national and global economic landscape based on solid foundations that guarantee their presence and sustainability.

### Promising Startups

Since 2019, 108 companies have been launched under the Startup Development Program, with a significant number specializing in promising fields that support the state's endeavors to adopt economic models in specialized areas largely reliant on modern technology. Among these companies is "3D Printing and Design," the first company in the UAE to provide consulting services on energy consumption in buildings designed using 3D printing technology.

In the same context, "Additive Health Solutions" specializes in healthcare, aiming to make a qualitative leap by providing 3D printed models, prosthetics, splints, and various rehabilitation devices.

Meanwhile, "Cyber Hero" offers a range of services related to cybersecurity and information and communication technology, aimed at educating users about potential threats and risks to information and data in any organization and how to avoid them.

"Drone Solutions" provides solutions for smart unmanned aerial vehicles, widely used by many sectors in various fields. The company developed a firefighting drone capable of reaching hazardous locations to assist in firefighting and rescue operations.

"eFit" specializes in managing and collecting electronic waste by building a connection between electronic waste consumers and recyclers, contributing to environmental sustainability.

Additionally, "The Hive" provides educational and training services for students, operating as a training institute that collaborates with several specialized training companies to meet the training and guidance needs of students in various disciplines.

"Tutor Me" specializes as a digital learning platform linking students with specialists, aiming to assist students wishing to improve their academic performance across various subjects, by searching for study materials, selecting qualified experts, booking appointments, and offering other services.

Lastly, "EMN K" is an intelligent platform that consolidates various emergency services in the country, such as police, fire service, ambulance, and "Saad," enabling users to report any emergency situation at the push of a button and share their location through the platform to expedite service delivery.

Our readers are reading too