Dubai: H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), has issued a directive for the establishment of the Dubai RDI Ecosystem. This initiative aims to foster research, development, and innovation throughout Dubai.

According to Emirates News Agency, the Dubai RDI Ecosystem, overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation, will expedite the city's innovation goals, reinforcing its status as a global hub for future economies. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed has also appointed Khalifa Al Qama as the Chief of Research, Development and Innovation at DFF to lead the initiative and ensure its implementation across key sectors.

The Dubai RDI Ecosystem will act as a comprehensive platform, consolidating both existing and upcoming innovation projects in Dubai. It will enable government and private entities to create groundbreaking solutions utilizing advanced technologies and future-oriented applications. The framework will guide the work of notable research institutions such as Dubai Future Labs and the MIT Senseable City Lab in Dubai. It will further promote national initiatives like Dubai Research, Development and Innovation, and the Dubai Robotics and Automation Program. Additionally, it will drive regulatory innovation through Sandbox Dubai, in collaboration with government entities, legislators, and leading international companies.

The ecosystem will incorporate the Dubai Research, Development and Innovation Grant Initiative, designed to support pioneering projects, encourage scientific discoveries, and expedite solutions to future challenges. By unifying research, regulation, and innovation within a single platform, the Dubai RDI Ecosystem aims to bolster Dubai's collaborations with universities, research centers, and academic institutions worldwide.