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Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee Inaugurates Region’s First Open-Access Makers Space to Encourage the UAE’s Creative Talent of Inventors, Entrepreneurs and Artists

22 Nov 2015

  • INNOVATOR Space open to all budding inventors and innovators age 13+
  •  Located in Al Zeina, Abu Dhabi, INNOVATOR Space is easily accessible to residents across UAE

22 November, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC) officially opened the INNOVATOR Space on November 22, 2015. The Space opened Innovation Week activities in the country’s capital, and was attended by H.E. Major General Mohammed Khalfan Matar Al Rumaithi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police and a member of the Executive Council, and H.E. Dr. Mugheer khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of Health Authority and a member of the Executive Council. 

Located in the popular Al Zeina development near the Sheikh Zayed Abu Dhabi-Dubai Highway, INNOVATOR Space is the region’s first open-access making space designed to enable the transformation of ideas into reality for the UAE’s budding inventors and innovators. Packed with professional grade equipment and staffed by trained professionals, the 1000 m2 Space creates an ‘innovation hub’ for professionals, amateurs, entrepreneurs, artists and start-ups to share, learn, make and create under the guidance of highly skilled experts.

Director General of TDC, HE Ahmed Saeed Al Calily commented, “Realising the UAE Vision 2021 is dependent on taking people on an ‘innovation journey’. In line with the directives of President HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announcing 2015 as the ‘Year of Innovation’, we are determined to inspire, engage and empower the local community with science, technology and innovation through four key stages: education, knowledge transfer, knowledge generation and knowledge utilization. By doing this, we can diversify our economy, increase our productivity and create a skilled workforce that drives our position among the most innovative nations in the world.  INNOVATOR Space, inaugurated on the first day of innovation week, brings together technology, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning to create a truly interactive ‘knowledge-exchange’ network set to catalyse innovation within our community.”

The Space is designed and operated in partnership with TechShop, the leading operator of “makers spaces” in the USA and globally. The facility provides affordable access to cutting edge technology such as 3D printers, laser cutters, welders, various computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines, and many more, in addition to CAD/CAM state of the art software – as well as specialized training programmes for all levels of skill and hands-on support and mentoring to transition ideas into prototypes and products.

The Innovator space adopts the “open innovation” philosophy and aims to become a platform for cooperation between individuals, companies and public institutions ushering new models of engagement. In the US and elsewhere, TechShop has been able to establish fruitful partnerships with leading government and industrial counterparts, including GE, Ford, NASA, BMW and DARPA – among others.

Commenting on this, Paul Duggan, CEO, TechShop Global said: “TechShop's mission is to help drive global innovation by engaging, enabling and empowering everyone to build their dreams. In establishing a TechShop here in Abu Dhabi we're furthering that global mission and I'm proud to see the maker movement - with its focus on innovation, accessibility and opportunity for all - embraced and executed with the great support of our partners at the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee."

Here in Abu Dhabi, Intel Corporation, the global leader in semiconductors, has partnered with TDC to provide technology and training in the space.

“For over a decade intel has been committed to supporting young innovators through investments in science & technology and entrepreneurship initiatives to build a more competitive workforce in the Arab world. By providing the adequate technologies and resources through entities like the TDC INNOVATOR Space we are helping to develop the ecosystem and contribute to transforming ideas into solutions,” said Nassir Nauthoa, Intel’s GCC Country Manager
INNOVATOR Space’s broad range of training programmes, extended opening times and membership options provide easy access for everyone, from first-time inventors to professionals, start-ups and companies.

During Innovation week, the space will be hosting an open house, where innovators can witness a taste of what the space has to offer.  The week-long activities will include workshops and talks by experts and professional mentors.

INNOVATOR Space lies at the heart of TDC’s INNOVATOR programme, which comprises a series of components designed to inspire, motivate and engage the local community to create and innovate. In addition to the Space, the INNOVATOR programme includes the yearly INNOVATOR Show, which took place already in 2014 and 2015, to showcase creations and innovations and the upcoming INNOVATOR Tour, an outreach initiative to engage schools and communities across the UAE and the soon to be published INNOVATOR magazine that will showcase the best-in-class ideas emerging from the local community and provide ‘how-to’ tips and resources.