Dubai: Winners of the $1 million (Dh3.67m) Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Knowledge Award were honoured during the opening ceremony of the fourth Knowledge Summit on Tuesday.
In the presence of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai awarded the three winners.
The much-anticipated award, went to Hiroshi Komiyama, Chairman, Mitsubishi Research Instititute, Wendy Kopp, Founder of Teach For America and CEO/Co-founder of Teach for All, and MiSK Foundation, which specialises in developing educational institutions and supporting scientific research.
The award aims to raise awareness of the importance of knowledge, all the while shedding light on the most notable achievements of individuals and institutions around the world that promote knowledge-centric societies.
“The Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award is a world-class event bearing the name of a great leader. It has been instrumental in amplifying Dubai’s efforts and cementing its pioneering role in developing the knowledge industry, not only in the emirate, but also in the region and the world,” said Jamal Bin Huwaireb, CEO of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) and Secretary General of the Award.
The only winner from the Middle East region, MiSK Foundation — also known as the Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Foundation — is a non-profit devoted to promoting education and leadership among young Saudis to shape a bright future for the kingdom.
Meanwhile, winner, Japanese scientist Hiroshi Komiyama, is a leading and highly accomplished scientific figure in many disciplines. He has had significant contributions in innovation, developing educational institutions and scientific research.
A seasoned veteran in optical and transformational engineering, Komiyama has put forth theories and insight into human and social sciences — particularly, science-based social sustainability — which were elemental to a great deal of discoveries and solutions.
Komiyama has taken the lead in building a “network of networks” and enabling “knowledge innovation” for a sustainable society. This network now extends to Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania and America.
Wendy Kopp was honoured for her Teach for America initiative, which, for the past 25 years, has been working to give American children of all backgrounds the education they deserve. Kopp’s mission has since evolved into a global movement — Teach for All — which has brought together 45 like-minded institutions to help children around the world access education to reach their full potential.
Last year’s award winners were Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Masdar - Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, and The Arab Thought Foundation.
