Tech SMEs get platform to innovate

Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum inaugurating the Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Centre in Dubai on Thursday. Also seen are Dr Mohammed Alzarooni and Shahla Abdul Razak, deputy CEO of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority. - Supplied photo

Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), on Thursday officially inaugurated the Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Centre (DTEC), the largest incubational centre in the Middle East wholly owned by DSOA.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Dr Mohammed Alzarooni, vice-chairman and chief executive officer of DSOA, senior executives from Intel, IBM, Microsoft, SAP and Thomson Reuters, and senior DSOA officials and representatives of various DTEC-based start-ups.
Shaikh Ahmed, also President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group, said: "We are proud to open this mega incubational centre and remain confident it will provide an ideal environment for start-ups and tech enterprises even while enhancing the status of entrepreneurship in the UAE and the wider region.
"The establishment of DTEC complements other initiatives undertaken by DSOA to support the directives of the government in building a sustainable economy and motivating young talent to adopt innovation, especially in the technology and digital economy sectors. At DSOA, we are keen to facilitate emerging entrepreneurs to transform their promising ideas into reality and support new and creative concepts in order to keep pace with the rapid developments in these dynamic areas."
Following the opening ceremony, Shaikh Ahmed toured the DTEC premises and met with senior officials from IBM and Microsoft who briefed him on their role in supporting entrepreneurs and start-ups at DTEC. He also visited DTEC-based Intel Internet of Things ignition lab.
Dr Alzarooni said: "Thanks to the directives and support of Shaikh Ahmed, Dubai Silicon Oasis has achieved great results in record time as reflected in the early accomplishments of DTEC. Just six months into operations, DTEC has attracted more than 350 start-ups and 500 entrepreneurs from over 59 countries.
"We seek to further support young talent and entrepreneurs in contributing to the national economy with their ambitious and innovative projects, especially in the technology and digital economy sectors. We believe these projects are a welcome value addition to help achieve the government's vision of economic diversification."
Nassir Nauthoa, general manager at Intel Corporation Gulf Countries, said: "Global market opportunities and solutions around the Internet of Things [IoT] continue to gain more prominence and larger interest. Similarly, we believe that the growth potential for IoT in the UAE market is immense given the move towards transitioning into a Smart City. We are confident that Intel's IoT Lab in DTEC will add great value for DTEC-based entrepreneurs and start-ups and help them launch their innovative ideas into real and successful businesses."
During his tour, Shaikh Ahmed met several entrepreneurs who have founded businesses at DTEC. During their interactions, the entrepreneurs commended Dubai Silicon Oasis for the advanced technological environment provided by the incubational centre, as well as the financial and consultation support and the mentorship programs offered.
The establishment of DTEC follows the success of the technology incubation centre Silicon Oasis Founders (SOF) that was launched in April 2012 to support local entrepreneurs in the IT sector. To date, SOF has supported more than 300 entrepreneurs with their business plans and invested financially in 18 businesses.
- business@khaleejtimes.com