Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched a diploma in government innovation.
“More than ever, the UAE needs to build and develop UAE cadres and leaders who specialise in innovation, in order to ensure the sustainability of UAE’s successes,” Shaikh Mohammad said as he launched the Government Innovation Diploma yesterday.
The diploma is offered by the Mohammad Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation in cooperation with the UK’s Cambridge University.
Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, was present.
The launch of the diploma is in line with the government’s approach to develop a generation of innovative executives in government bodies. A total of 50 executive officials from 36 federal and local government departments are part of the first batch undertaking the one-year diploma programme.
Shaikh Mohammad was keen on attending the first day of the launch of the diploma. “Innovation is the secret of human progress, and we are betting on innovation for the UAE’s continued development and progress,” said Shaikh Mohammad.
Shaikh Mohammad then spoke with the participants, and stressed the UAE’s keen interest in the field of innovation. He pointed out that President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announcing 2015 as the year of innovation stems from the nation’s strong belief that we are living in a world of rapid change and developments as well as massive opportunities that require the presence of specialised government leaders who can lead the UAE in the innovation sector.
In 2014, the Federal Government launched the national innovation strategy that aims to make the UAE among the most innovative nations in the world within seven years.
The strategy will stimulate innovation in seven sectors where innovation is key to excellence: renewable energy, transport, education, health, technology, water and space. Its first phase includes 30 national initiatives to be completed within three years. These include new legislation, innovation incubators, investment in specialised skills, private sector incentives, international research partnerships and an innovation drive within government.
The National Innovation Committee (NIC) was also formed last year to implement the National Innovation Strategy, to place the UAE among the most innovative nations in the world within seven years in the run up to the UAE’s Golden Jubilee in 2021.
The NIC is chaired by Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs. Its members include Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy; Hussain Ebrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education; Suhail Bin Mohammad Faraj Faris Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy; and Dr Sultan Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State.
