- Crown Prince: Initiative aims to enhance Dubai’s position on the global innovation map and accelerate the implementation of emerging technologies in designing its future
- With a total prizemoney of US$10 million, Dubai Future Foundation’s global initiative seeks to develop innovative solutions to create a better future for humanity
- Dubai Future Solutions builds on the success of Foundation’s accelerator programmes and innovation projects; focus sectors include energy, transportation, health, education, AI, data
- Initiative open to inventors, designers, scientists, entrepreneurs, startups, universities, research centres, companies
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), announced today the launch of the Dubai Future Solutions, a global initiative featuring a series of challenges that will bring together scientists, designers, inventors, universities, research centres, companies and startups from around the world to create innovative solutions for improving people’s lives.
His Highness said: “Dubai Future Solutions aims to accelerate the implementation of emerging technologies in designing its future. The launch of the initiative reflects the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to scale up Dubai Future Foundation’s successful experience in acceleration programmes, innovative projects, and embedding a testing and innovative mindset, and transition this from a local to a global level.”
He added: “Dubai always has been and continues to be a place that nurtures innovation, and we seek to constantly explore ways to further enhance the emirate's position on the global innovation map.”
His Highness said Dubai is committed to empower and support talent with the resources needed to transform their ideas into global success stories. “The world of technology and innovation is growing at a tremendous speed, and we want to be among the pioneers of future industries. We are always ready to leverage new opportunities and deal with any challenges that the evolving world of technology may bring.”
Khalfan Juma Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, said: “Guided by the forward-looking vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the city is emerging as a leading global destination for innovation where talent, entrepreneurs and investors from around the world can connect with each other to solve future challenges and implement ideas for creating a better life for humanity.”
Since its establishment, the Dubai Future Foundation, has always fostered innovation and adopted a testing and risk-taking mindset to provide solutions to better serve humanity; and we demonstrate this though many of our initiatives, including our accelerator programmes. The Dubai Future Solutions initiative is yet another unique programme that offers a platform for innovators to showcase their ideas for solving some of the world’s critical challenges. Dubai will continue to constantly enhance its innovation ecosystem and launch unique initiatives to provide a supportive environment for innovators to test and implement ideas with the potential to positively transform our world.”
Global reach
Dubai Future Solutions aspires to consolidate Dubai’s status as a leading city of the future by using advanced technology to serve humanity. Aimed at developing solutions to the most pressing challenges facing vital sectors with a focus on energy, transportation, health, education, AI and data, the initiative allows innovators to test their pioneering ideas within Dubai’s integrated innovation ecosystem.
DFF has allocated prizes totaling US$10 million to selected projects. The successful ideas will be a starting point for creating new sectors, economies and markets, developing sustainable solutions that serve humanity, and building global partnerships based on the exchange of experience and knowledge transfer in the field of technology. In recent years, Dubai has evolved into a leading global hub for testing, developing and implementing emerging technologies, making the city an ideal platform for the initiative.
More efficient batteries
The first round of Dubai Future Solutions is the “Extreme Weatherproof Batteries Challenge” that focuses on improving the performance and durability of batteries in harsh weather, thus enhancing their use in sectors such as space or oil and gas, and areas with extreme weather conditions. The challenge responds to the world’s increasing dependence on batteries, whether in drones, portable devices, electric cars or spacecraft, which has created the need to come up with new sustainable solutions to generate and store clean energy. Companies and research centres across the globe are racing to develop cheaper, denser, lighter and more powerful batteries.
Selection committee
A specialised committee comprising experts in various sectors will evaluate the entries according to a set of criteria, including quality, scalability for development and practical application, economic feasibility and adaptability to changing requirements.
Invitation to innovators
Interested participants can submit their ideas online at www.dubaifuture.ae/Dubai-future-solutions. The proposed solutions must be efficient, cost-effective, versatile and ready for immediate implementation.
