Innovation Within the UAE's Space Sector
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Innovation within the UAE’s Space Sector – past, present and future A thesis submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Business Administration in the Faculty of Humanities DBA Academic Year: 2012-2018 Khaled Ali Al Hashmi Manchester Business School Manchester Enterprise Centre, Division of Innovation, Management and Policy ABSTRACT This research builds on three projects that aim to investigate and explore innovation patterns adopted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the past 15 years. The research proposes solutions to overcome observed issues, challenges and barriers facing emerging space countries, such as the UAE, in the development of its space sector and in particular its high technology manufacturing satellite sector. The proposed solution is articulated within the context of an integrated management system called Space Management Innovation System (SMIS) for the UAE. The SMIS was built by integrating the results and outcomes obtained from the three research projects here and aims to propose solutions for building indigenous capabilities in the high manufacturing technological satellite sector and research & development (R&D) capabilities in science, technology and innovation (ST&I) areas related to space at local universities, research centres and related manufacturing firms. The results from the first project reveal the past and present innovation patterns and developments adopted by the UAE in the expansion of its capabilities in the space sector. It reveals the shortfall in engaging local universities and research centres in the transfer of technology and know-how on design and manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing (MAIT) of satellites, and more importantly in the development of local R&D capabilities on space related ST&I areas, which is a critical requirement to sustain future development of the UAE’s space sector. The analysis reveals the importance of having a national ST&I roadmap for the purpose of aligning relevant actors and stakeholders on common visions and objectives, and prioritising and directing R&D activities towards upscaling existing capabilities and development of space related key and critical ST&I areas. In the second project, a country space-specific ST&I roadmap is proposed. An initial proposal is aimed to develop a conceptual model framework that integrates foresight methodology and technology roadmapping to scan and identify future technologies and opportunities, and to prioritise ST&I areas. In addition, it aims to guide the space sector on which R&D activities the main stakeholders, i.e. satellite operators, universities and relevant space or aerospace manufacturing firms in the UAE, need to focus their efforts on for the short and long term. An initial technology transfer model framework is proposed in the third project that can be applied in a future space technology transfer programme. It is aimed to provide a framework that can be utilised to sustain the development of indigenous capabilities on areas that an I emerging space country such as the UAE desires to achieve over the short and the long term to meet national requirements and other strategic objectives. It capitalises and aligns existing and future satellite programmes with the capability development of R&D on prioritised ST&I areas, across local institutions, inclusive of universities, research centres and related manufacturing firms. The thesis consists of literature reviews, multiple case studies on a single country, i.e. the UAE, and a research synthesis of data sources, including secondary data from journals, market reports, technology roadmaps from various sources, and/or strategies of space agencies and the UAE’s strategies and policies, as well as primary data from surveys and workshops. This research attempts to provide solutions, methods and techniques that have not yet been sufficiently exploited within a geographical area and in an emerging space country such as the UAE. It is a novel and valuable contribution to academia and has considerable implications on management practices. II ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am very grateful to my first supervisor Dr Khaleel Malik, my second supervisor Dr Veronica Sanchez Ramguera and my advisory panel leader Dr Ronnie Ramloga for their insightful guidance and invaluable input throughout this research project. During the DBA programme and while I conducted the research work, I changed jobs three times. As result I changed my research topic once, so I particularly wish to thank Dr Khaleel Malik, for without his careful, focused direction and prompt responses to my queries I would not be able to complete the DBA programme. As result of this research project, my wife Shefa, my son, Mohammed, and my daughters, Fatima, Mariam, Alyaa and Sheymaa, watched me while I worked, even on weekends and holidays. Their eyes were asking when I would complete this work, but they were patient and motivated me to get through this challenge which required balance between family, work and research. I look forward to spending more quality time with them. III DECLARATION No portion of the work referred to in the thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification of this or any other university or other institute of learning. COPYRIGHT STATEMENT i. The author of this thesis (including any appendices and/or schedules to this thesis) owns certain copyright or related rights in it (the “Copyright”) and s/he has given The University of Manchester certain rights to use such Copyright, including for administrative purposes. ii. Copies of this thesis, either in full or in extracts and whether in hard or electronic copy, may be made only in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) and regulations issued under it or, where appropriate, in accordance with licensing agreements which the University has from time to time. This page must form part of any such copies made. iii. The ownership of certain Copyright, patents, designs, trademarks and other intellectual property (the “Intellectual Property”) and any reproductions of copyright works in the thesis, for example graphs and tables (“Reproductions”), which may be described in this thesis, may not be owned by the author and may be owned by third parties. Such Intellectual Property and Reproductions cannot and must not be made available for use without the prior written permission of the owner(s) of the relevant Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions. iv. Further information on the conditions under which disclosure, publication and commercialisation of this thesis, the Copyright and any Intellectual Property and/or Reproductions described in it may take place is available in the University IP Policy (see http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/DocuInfo.aspx?DocID=24420), in any relevant Thesis restriction declarations deposited in the University Library, The University Library’s regulations (see http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/about/regulations/) and in The University’s policy on Presentation of Theses IV LIST OF CONTENT ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................... I ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................ III DECLARATION ............................................................................................................... IV COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ........................................................................................... IV LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... IX LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ XI LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................ XIII LIST OF NOTATIONS.................................................................................................... XV Why this research is important? ................................................................................... XVIII CHAPTER 1 Innovation within the UAE’S Satellite Sector – past, present and future 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Thesis structure ....................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Summary of research strategy and design ................................................................ 5 1.3.1 Research methodologies .................................................................................... 10 1.3.2 Data collection .................................................................................................. 11 1.3.3 Research investigation and analysis ................................................................... 12 1.4 Summary of research project findings ................................................................... 13 1.4.1 Project 1 overview: Innovation Patterns of the UAE’s Satellite MAIT Sector..... 13 1.4.2 Project 2 overview: Towards UAE’s Space Technology Foresight: Scanning and Prioritising Opportunities ............................................................................................. 17 1.4.3 Project 3 overview: Technology transfer challenges and barriers: UAE’s Satellite MAIT 26 1.5 Significance, originality and value of the research ................................................