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The United Arab Emirates: Fostering a Unique Innovation Ecosystem for a Knowledge-Based Economy

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The United Arab Emirates: Fostering a Unique Innovation Ecosystem for a Knowledge-Based Economy CHAPTER 6 101 The United Arab Emirates: Fostering a Unique Innovation Ecosystem for a Knowledge-Based Economy AHMAD BIN BYAT and OSMAN SULTAN, du The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is The telecommunications sector into a melting pot that taps into quickly transforming itself from an in the UAE also has a key role to the experiences and perspectives of oil-based economy to an innovative, play in promoting innovation and people from more than 200 differ- knowledge-based economy. In fact, in supporting the country’s evolu- ent nations, and its population has knowledge-based industries and ser- tion towards a knowledge-based grown enormously from 1975 to 6: The United Arab Emirates: Fostering a Unique Innovation Ecosystem Unique Innovation a Fostering Emirates: Arab United The 6: vices now make up a greater part of economy. Telecommunications 2012—much more than the global the UAE’s GDP than oil revenues, infrastructure and services are the average growth rate. It currently having grown from 32.1% in 2001 to backbone of a knowledge-based boasts one of the most advanced 37.5% in 2012.1 By moving towards economy. The sector’s players are education systems in the Middle East a knowledge-based economy, the particularly well positioned to cham- and North Africa (MENA) region, UAE has diversified its economy pion the UAE’s national innovation thanks to continuous investments and positioned itself as a key player ecosystem development goals by across all education levels. Moreover, in real estate, renewable energy, and using their experience in commer- advancing women’s education and aviation; it has also become a global cializing innovation, their technical economic participation has resulted hub for trade and logistics, financial talent, and their institutionalized in women assuming leadership roles services, and tourism. It has done this diversification into the digital space. throughout the nation. A burgeon- by innovating and aspiring to game- ing culture of innovation—fostered changing developments: the UAE is by the collaborative efforts of gov- home to the world’s tallest tower and The UAE’s innovation ecosystem ernment, educational institutions, its most sustainable eco-city, one of The three pillars of the innovation entrepreneurial organizations, cor- the world’s largest airlines, and state- ecosystem are human capital, finan- porations, and the media—is bridg- of-the art infrastructure and smart cial capital, and technological capi- ing cultural barriers. Finally, support government services—all helping it tal (Figure 1). The UAE is actively systems for innovation in the form of to move away from simply localizing working to promote innovation mentors, incubators, and accelera- external innovation to developing through policies and targeted initia- tors are starting to emerge. its own intellectual property and tives aimed at developing the human creative outputs. element of the ecosystem while also Education system The country’s leadership aspires addressing the key enablers of the The UAE’s budget allocation to to create a knowledge-based econ- human factor: the requirements of education represents more than omy fueled by innovation. This is financial and technological capital. 20% of its total government budget, evident in the UAE’s Vision 2021, higher than the benchmark average which aims to build a nation where Human capital of 13% (see Figure 2). The country ‘knowledgeable and innovative Human capital is fundamental to all is investing in building local talent Emiratis will confidently build a innovative change: a well-educated by overhauling primary, second- competitive and resilient economy.’2 and highly skilled population and ary, and higher education systems Towards this end, the UAE has workforce are a necessary condition and offering various opportunities invested significantly in education for the potential of innovation to be for vocational training. As a result, and capacity development, set- realized. To this end, the UAE has the country’s rank on the Education ting the foundation for long-term advanced its human capital on sev- sub-pillar of the Global Innovation competitiveness. eral fronts. The country has evolved THE GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX 2014 102 Figure 1: The pillars of innovation in the UAE GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP Human capital Best-in-class education system Diverse global talent Innovation culture Entrepreneurship mentorship Telecomm infrastructure & services Innovation Financial capital Technological capital Government funds Focused research and Seed, venture and angel development 6: The United Arab Emirates: Fostering a Unique Innovation Ecosystem Unique Innovation a Fostering Emirates: Arab United The 6: capital Conducive intellectual Crowd investment property structure GOV IP ERNMENT LEADERSH Source: Strategy& analysis. Index has improved in two years, effort has been driven by national • The Masdar Institute, estab- from 65th in 2011 to 15th in 2013. policies to develop adequate higher lished in 2007 in close coop- Keeping its national education education and research facilities eration with the Massachusetts strategy first rate is a continual effort. targeted at different sectors. A few Institute of Technology (MIT), The UAE is constantly improving recent successes include: is the world’s first graduate-level its educational strategy to ensure research institute dedicated to • The Khalifa University of Sci- that the programmes developed in alternative energy and sustain- ence, Technology, and Research its schools comply with interna- ability. has begun to offer various engi- tional standards. The Abu Dhabi neering degrees (including aero- • NYUAD, a joint venture Educational Council, for example, space, biomedical and indus- between New York University has developed a new curriculum to trial engineering) in its aim to and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi build the 21st-century skills needed become an internationally rec- launched in 2010, offers liberal to foster innovation; these skills ognized research university. arts and science programmes include critical thinking, creativity, Several international universi- and hosts a centre for advanced communication, and collaboration. ties with a focus on post-grad- research. This curriculum is beginning to uate degrees (which also attract teach these skills when students are The development of UAE practiced professionals to the young. nationals’ capabilities is a top prior- country)—including INSEAD, In the UAE, higher education ity for the government. This place Paris-Sorbonne, and the London institutes are expanding by estab- in the government’s agenda is evi- Business School—have opened lishing world-class local universities, denced by its investment in continu- branches in the UAE in the attracting top universities to open ing education and career guidance past few years. Dubai alone has branches in the UAE, and striking for its nationals through multiple attracted 26 international uni- international partnerships. This initiatives. The government’s key versities from over 10 countries. THE GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX 2014 103 Figure 2: Budget allocation for education as percent of total government budget 2a: UAE education budget, US$ billions (2012–14)* 2b: Benchmark education budget, various countries (2010–12) 23% +13% 16% 2.68 13% 2.42 13% 12% 12% 2.11 10% 11% 11% US$ billions US$ Percent total gov’t budget gov’t total Percent 6: The United Arab Emirates: Fostering a Unique Innovation Ecosystem Unique Innovation a Fostering Emirates: Arab United The 6: 18% 20% 21% Spain France Sweden Belgium Percent total gov’t budget Germany Singapore Switzerland Netherlands United Kingdom United Source: World Bank, 2013; UAE Ministry of Finance. * Note: Data are the latest available. imperative going forward is to high school students aimed at creat- Diverse talent develop the deep technical skills that ing future leaders in mathematics, The representation of more than are required for disruptive innova- science, technology, and engineer- 200 nationalities within the coun- tions, as opposed to generalist skills. ing. AlNokhba, another ATIC pro- try has made the UAE a melting Almost 30% of students in higher gramme, provides internships and pot that is fertile ground for inno- education institutions in the UAE scholarships for bright Emirati grad- vation. Immigrants constituted are studying business and econom- uates across a broad range of advanced 96% of the total UAE workforce ics; 14% are studying engineering technology-driven industries. in 2013 and 99.5% of the nation’s and 8% are in the sciences. The private sector also con- 4 million private-sector employees. The National Human Resource tributes to the talent development Traditionally, the local popula- and Development Authority (Tan- of UAE nationals. In the UAE, tion has been more drawn towards mia) was established in 1999 to sup- telecommunications operators con- working in the public sector but port UAE nationals by linking them tribute 1% of their revenues to the this is now beginning to change; with potential employers and pro- ICT Fund of the TRA (a govern- the UAE government is encourag- viding them with career guidance. ment entity); one of the ICT Fund’s ing the local population to join In another example, Advanced mandates is to grant scholarships to the private sector to develop their Technology Investment Company UAE nationals to study engineer- skill sets. This is a boon for the (ATIC)—a wholly owned subsid- ing within the UAE or abroad. The UAE: multicultural teams help fuel iary of the Mubadala
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