Abu Dhabi Investment Authority's Adia Lab aims to play a key role in contributing to the emirate's digital development. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority's Adia Lab aims to play a key role in contributing to the emirate's digital development. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority's Adia Lab aims to play a key role in contributing to the emirate's digital development. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority's Adia Lab aims to play a key role in contributing to the emirate's digital development. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National

Adia to set up centre for data and computational science research


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The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia), the emirate's sovereign wealth fund, plans to launch an independent centre for basic and applied research in data and computational sciences.

The move is expected to boost research and development in the UAE.

The Adia Lab will officially be launched in Abu Dhabi on December 2, 2022, the UAE's 51st National Day, Adia said on Tuesday.

It is expected to play a proactive role in contributing to the continued development of Abu Dhabi’s digital ecosystem, with a focus on projects that could lead to the creation of start-ups.

The centre will operate as stand-alone entity, with broad research goals that are not specific to investment-related applications, Adia said.

It will explore the latest trends and technology in data and computational sciences across all major fields of study, Adia said.

Horst Simon has been appointed as director of Adia Lab. Mr Simon was formerly with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he served for more than 10 years as deputy lab director for research and chief research officer.

The lab will appoint an advisory board made up of global thought leaders from various data and computationally intensive scientific disciplines, Adia said.

The board will be responsible for overseeing the development and carrying out of the lab's research agenda and programmes.

The scope of study includes research in data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance and quantum computing.

Adia Lab will also explore the application of research in areas such as climate change and energy transition, blockchain technology, financial inclusion and investing, decision making, automation, cyber security, health sciences, education, telecoms and space, Adia said.

The lab will enter into partnerships with global institutions to design educational programmes, sponsor research projects and fund reproducible research, offer fellowships and internships, host seminars, as well as run competitions and best paper awards.

Established in 1976, Adia, which invests on behalf of the Abu Dhabi government, makes direct and indirect investments across asset classes, including equities, fixed income, infrastructure, private equity and real estate.

The launch of Adia Lab is expected to provide Adia with the opportunity to connect and collaborate with global experts in the data and computational science community, while helping to embed a scientific mindset throughout its organisation, Adia said.

As part of the project, Adia will offer its employees the opportunity to attend seminars and academic programmes and conduct joint research projects at Adia Lab.

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Name: Brendalle Belaza

From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines

Arrived in the UAE: 2007

Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus

Favourite photography style: Street photography

Favourite book: Harry Potter

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

THE BIO

Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13 

Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier

Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife 

What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents. 

Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.

What is Diwali?

The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.

According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.

In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.  

 

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Super Saturday race card

4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m

While you're here
Salah in numbers

€39 million: Liverpool agreed a fee, including add-ons, in the region of 39m (nearly Dh176m) to sign Salah from Roma last year. The exchange rate at the time meant that cost the Reds £34.3m - a bargain given his performances since.

13: The 25-year-old player was not a complete stranger to the Premier League when he arrived at Liverpool this summer. However, during his previous stint at Chelsea, he made just 13 Premier League appearances, seven of which were off the bench, and scored only twice.

57: It was in the 57th minute of his Liverpool bow when Salah opened his account for the Reds in the 3-3 draw with Watford back in August. The Egyptian prodded the ball over the line from close range after latching onto Roberto Firmino's attempted lob.

7: Salah's best scoring streak of the season occurred between an FA Cup tie against West Brom on January 27 and a Premier League win over Newcastle on March 3. He scored for seven games running in all competitions and struck twice against Tottenham.

3: This season Salah became the first player in Premier League history to win the player of the month award three times during a term. He was voted as the division's best player in November, February and March.

40: Salah joined Roger Hunt and Ian Rush as the only players in Liverpool's history to have scored 40 times in a single season when he headed home against Bournemouth at Anfield earlier this month.

30: The goal against Bournemouth ensured the Egyptian achieved another milestone in becoming the first African player to score 30 times across one Premier League campaign.

8: As well as his fine form in England, Salah has also scored eight times in the tournament phase of this season's Champions League. Only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with 15 to his credit, has found the net more often in the group stages and knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition.

Updated: October 18, 2022, 11:56 AM`