Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed attended a workshop with 45 Emiratis, who were selected to join a programme to nurture exceptional talent in the research and technology sector.
Sheikh Khalid, who is a member of the Executive Council, chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, and chairman of the board of Advanced Technology Research Council, met the first group of Emiratis invited to join the Advanced Technology Research Council’s ‘NexTech’ programme.
They will work on projects in partnership with more than 20 world-leading universities and research centres at the ATRC’s Technology Innovation Institute’s seven dedicated centres in quantum, autonomous robotics, cryptography, advanced materials, digital security, directed energy and secure systems.
On Saturday, Sheikh Khalid learned about the research being conducted and what it means for Abu Dhabi and the world.
Faisal Al Bannai, secretary general of the Advanced Technology Research Council, said the UAE is home to “extraordinary” home-grown talent.
“By launching NexTech, we are taking decisive steps to build national competencies and develop our knowledge-based economy at an accelerated pace."
The first phase of the programme will eventually feature 125 UAE nationals, who will compete for a position at TII, the applied research arm of ATRC.
TII will also partner with corporations, SMEs, and start-ups to develop “breakthrough technologies” that have a global impact, said ATRC.
