Dubai Innovation Index 2018 Report
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DUBAI INNOVATION INDEX 2018 REPORT “Innovation as an enabler... in easy and difficult times” CONTENTS FOREWORDS 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 DUBAI INNOVATION INDEX FRAMEWORK 10 MACROECONOMIC: ANALYSIS OF INNOVATION IN GLOBAL CITIES 12 MICROECONOMIC: ANALYSIS OF INNOVATION IN DUBAI’S PRIVATE SECTOR 34 RECOMMENDATIONS 78 APPENDIX 88 Dubai Innovation Index 2018 1 FOREWORDS This year’s edition of the Dubai Innovation There are lessons learned, some obvious Index, now in its fourth year, is likely and others not, from the leader board the most interesting one thus far. While of the Innovation Index. Why have With the Fourth Industrial Revolution The innovation score of Dubai’s private Dubai’s ranking has dropped by 4, it is cities like New York, Hong Kong, and upon us, it is clear that innovation is sector saw a 4.7% increase between still in the same range, and has kept its London consistently been at the top? playing a major role in reshaping the 2017 and 2018, signalling a stronger place amongst some well-known and The data and the interviews suggest global economy. Digital disruption is commitment on the part of businesses competitive cities around the world. that this is possibly shaped by 4 key leading organisations to rethink their in the emirate to develop their own What is really interesting is the clear drivers – the existence of a strong approach to fostering innovation and innovation processes. recognition that Dubai is at an inflexion customer base; ongoing collaboration competing in a business environment point (as are several other cities and amongst entrepreneurs, large companies, driven by rapid technological change. The theme of the index - enabling economies). Given the recent slowdown academia, and investors; the availability innovation in easy and difficult times in the economy on one hand and the of public sector as well as risk capital for It is crucial that companies do more to - is particularly relevant to Dubai as tsunami of tech-enabled disruptions on R&D and new ventures; and last but not create an organisational culture that the emirate’s government continues the other, can Dubai’s public and private the least being simply the fact that these encourages new ideas and innovative to adopt forward-looking policies that sectors adapt to deliver on the ambitious cities are a strong draw for people. thinking and processes. In an era of drive innovation in the public and private promise? continuous change, companies must sectors, and pave the way for sustainable The Dubai government’s policy adapt, define their core competitive economic growth. I personally feel optimistic and confident enhancement roadmap will need to advantage and innovate towards it. in Dubai’s responses shaped by both the move forward at a much faster rate in H.E. Majid Saif Al Ghurair Business communities around the world Dr. Anil Khurana government and the private sector. Policy coming years, while addressing some The Dubai Innovation Index Report can utilise this report as a reference changes – such as long term visas and of the recent challenges such as the 2018 reveals several key trends that are and development tool to improve their allowing 100 percent foreign ownership rise in Dubai’s cost of living. The private Chairman of the Dubai Chamber driving innovation in Dubai and other PwC Partner, Strategy & Innovation innovation performance and work among others – and investments into the sector needs to quickly become leaders of Commerce and Industry global cities, as well as valuable insights Global Head of Industrials, towards a brighter future. future such as Dubai Future Foundation’s in innovation by really speeding up that companies in the emirate can Manufacturing & Automotive various initiatives and ventures. The adoption and embracing an innovation benefit from. recent World Government Summit culture – recognizing that technology- spotlighted the Dubai government as an The report highlights the findings of driven business disruption will require innovation leader. This year also showed the fourth Dubai Innovation Index and companies to rapidly transform their the private sector stepping up things assesses indicators that are enabling organization and their innovation culture. a bit, with still another uptick in the innovation across 32 cities, while it The comment in the Executive Summary innovation scores for the private sector also analyses feedback of over 1,500 – that the “perfect storm” is here, and a despite a difficult economy. businesses in Dubai. “brave new world” around the corner – is spot on! The results of the Dubai Innovation Index Dubai Chamber of Commerce and The 2018 Dubai Innovation Index pro- The fluctuation in Dubai’s ranking in Report 2018 have shown that major cities Industry launched the Dubai Innovation vides a substantial and accessible report the top 20 global cities is not a major around the world are now prioritising and Index in 2015 with the aim of recognising of Dubai’s Macro position as a global concern, given the fierce competi- embracing innovation across all segments and evaluating innovation-related city, together with Micro analysis of pri- tion, significant investment and level of society. progress on a city and industry level. The vate sector activities. of commitment to innovation found in award-winning index, an integral pillar of other major cities. Dubai, nevertheless, Within Dubai, we have observed a major our innovation strategy, measures and A number of refinements have en- will need to increase its efforts to drive improvement in the performance of compares innovation output across 32 hanced the Index which is published innovation if it is to meet its aspirations large companies which have become global cities. for the fourth year, providing indication as a global city. increasingly proactive in integrating of trends over the period. In particular, innovation within their organisations. The Index has become an important the global benchmark case-studies and Whilst the private sector innovation tool for benchmarking efforts within global trends analysis help to spotlight score has continued to improve, evi- At the same time, businesses in Dubai Dubai’s private sector. Most importantly, ideas and opportunities some of which dence in DII 2018 shows that the private are raising their expectations for greater it enables us to look at the areas are of direct relevance for Dubai. sector is not yet providing the leadership product and service innovation. We are where businesses can improve, while and investment required to benefit sub- very encouraged by these positive trends it also provides us with practical The Dubai Government is to be con- stantially from innovation. There appears as they signal growing awareness of these recommendations for enhancing gratulated for its continued leadership, to be a gap between ambition and deliv- concepts within the private sector. Prof. David Gann, CBE investment and support for innovation. H.E. Hamad Buamim performance in the future. ery, this is in part explained by the need The public sector stands-out in driving for an innovation culture to evolve. The fourth edition of the Index points Fostering closer cooperation between the innovation agenda. It is gaining glob- to an urgent need for public and private Vice President, Innovation & President & CEO Dubai’s public and private sectors has al recognition for being one of the most Expo 2020 provides an ideal opportunity sector players in Dubai to better prepare Development Dubai Chamber of Commerce always been a top priority of Dubai tech-savvy governments and is creating to showcase private sector innovation themselves for major changes in business and Industry Chamber. By continuing on this path, I am Imperial College London, United the conditions for long-term prosperity activities and I look forward to seeing models and competitiveness. confident that we can build an innovation Kingdom and economic growth. how this emerges in the coming year. culture in Dubai that enhances the emirate’s global competitiveness. Dubai Innovation Index 2018 3 The Dubai Innovation Index (DII) was conceptualized in This year suggests an inflection point, when digital 2015 in line with Dubai’s vision to become the world’s disruptions are both allowing organisations to “Building capability most innovative city by 2021. The Index is a collaboration reimagine different possibilities, while dealing with the 2015 for the future” between PwC and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce need to adapt and think ahead in a world transforming which aims to holistically quantify innovation in Dubai. with exponential speed. To achieve this, the DII measures and reflects on As such, we have refocused our discussion to innovation at both the macro level (city-wide indicators provide real insights about the challenges faced by “Strengthening public and private for Dubai and leading cities around the world), and at all stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem; from 2016 sector collaboration” the micro level (private sector inputs based on a survey entrepreneurs to large businesses to investors to of more than 1,500 businesses in Dubai). government entities. We have also shared benchmarks and case study examples from around the world, For the macro study, we measure innovation levels for 32 demonstrating how other businesses and cities have leading global cities, including Dubai, using established driven innovative ideas to overcome all types of social, “Developing skills & talent for data indicators from a variety of trusted sources. For the economic and political pressures. 2017 sustainable innovation” micro study, we measure the innovation levels of Dubai- based private sector companies across 12 industries We want to redefine innovation in the minds of both the through a structured survey. public and private sectors - innovation is not a luxury. In the world of emerging technologies and disruptive At both the macro and the micro levels, the DII business models, it is essential to innovate and recreate “Innovation as an enabler… framework assesses indicators that enable innovation, in order to remain competitive and relevant.