In July 2024, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chaired the board meeting of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). At the meeting, ambitious plans were revealed for three innovative projects designed to cement the UAE’s leadership in the realms of research and development.
In addition to reviewing its progress creating an innovative R&D ecosystem, ATRC announced that its commercialization arm, VentureOne, is set to launch three new programs focusing on: smart autonomous mobility; agritech with robotic technologies; and data security in the quantum era. Aligned with Abu Dhabi’s economic priorities, the ventures are expected to launch later in 2024, each representing significant strides in transforming pioneering R&D into market-ready solutions.
UAE Research Map and ATRC’s Global Tech R&D fund
The ATRC meeting also highlighted the success of the UAE Research Map. Featuring 30 entities and more than 45T experts, the resource has attracted more than 2,000 visits as of this writing. The UAE Research Map was made to centralize national research resources and foster collaboration.
Benefiting from a colossal $200 million budget, ATRC’s Global Tech R&D Fund has attracted international proposals. This accelerated integration of the UAE’s Falcon large language model into government services and technological infrastructure all over the world. The Technology Innovation Institute’s Falcon large language model has been downloaded 85,000 times since its launch in May 2024, with a total of 45 million downloads across all Falcon large language models.
Sheikh Khaled emphasized the ever-increasing importance of ATRC’s initiatives and plans in the advancement of innovative AI solutions and technologies, both locally and around the world. Fostering nationwide research and coloration in technological innovation, particularly in developing large language models, the UAE Research Map initiative’s key objectives include improving industrial efficiency and supporting sustainable development, with the ultimate goal of enhancing quality of life.
The Launch of ATRC’s 3 New Ventures
The launch of ATRC’s three new ventures is an important milestone in the UAE’s journey towards establishing an identity as a global hub for technological innovation. Held in beautiful Masdar City, the launch marks the beginnings of a research program into viable services and products with global markets.
The first venture will pioneer advancements in data security by using quantum technologies to develop unbreakable encryption methods. Given the rising number of global cyberthreats, the initiative is particularly timely. It has the potential to position Abu Dhabi as a leader in cybersecurity during the quantum era.
Focusing on smart autonomous transport, the second venture was launched with the aim of developing self-driving vehicles tailored to the Middle Eastern market and its unique environmental and infrastructural challenges. The project promises to transform urban mobility while simultaneously improving road safety and reducing congestion, enhancing the quality of life of people across the region.
The third venture focuses on the agricultural sector, including the use of robotic technologies capable of revolutionizing modern agriculture. The initiative intends to increase productivity and sustainability in arid environments, a critical need for farmers across the MENA region. The venture’s goal is the efficient use of scarce water resources and food security throughout the Middle East and beyond.
Technological Advancements Will Transformed Farming
Over the past few years, technological advancements have transformed farming practices in the world and across the Middle East. From data-driven decision-making to precision farming techniques, agritech advancements are driving huge shifts in farming practices, making the sector more efficient, sustainable, and resilient.
The widespread implementation of technologies like machine learning, blockchain, and AI have become indispensable for farmers and agribusinesses all over the world. They have been able to tackle challenges such as market volatility, resource constraints, and climate change. As the global population continues to rise, safeguarding food sustainability and security has become a major concern for policymakers. The intersection of technology and agriculture is an increasingly important topic.
The ATRC and Knowledge Development Going Forward
By investing in knowledge development, Abu Dhabi’s ATRC hopes to enable its citizens and businesses to discover and innovate. From advanced agritech solutions to pioneering stem cell treatments, Abu Dhabi’s government is committed to solving tomorrow’s global challenges today. Established as a strategic incubator for this growing sector, ATRC evaluates and supports emerging fields of technology and research, fast-tracks breakthroughs, nurtures talent, and reinforces the nation’s position as a global center for R&D. By the end of 2024, ATRC plans to form all three of these high-profile tech ventures, according to plans shared by Sheikh Khaled, Board Chairman. At the ATRC meeting, the organization’s program management arm, ASPIRE, also discussed progress on projects supporting the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051. It was announced that ASPIRE would partner with XPRIZE in its Feed the Next Billion project to contribute to global food security.