UAE ranks ahead of India and China in Global Innovation Index survey

Kuwait is the only other GCC country on the list and is ranked at number 30 among the 107 countries. The results of the Global Innovation Index add further impetus to the Management Innovation Forum to be held from May 8 to 10, 2007, at the Dubai International Convention Centre.

According to INSEAD, the appearance of the United Arab Emirates at 14th in the global list is another sign of the shifting tectonic plates of the world economy. 'The brightest star in the Middle East - UAE has benefited from government leadership that sets it apart from its neighbours through policies explicitly designed and implemented to attract skilled workers and technology-intensive companies. The result, particularly in Dubai, has been growing clusters of innovative companies,' says the study.

The eight innovation 'pillars' in the Global Innovation Index framework are grouped in two separate categories: 'inputs', factors that underpin innovative capacity such as institutions and policies, human capacity, infrastructure, technological sophistication, and business markets and capital; and 'outputs', the benefits that a nation derives from the inputs in terms of knowledge creation, competitiveness and wealth generation.

'The United Arab Emirates has once again demonstrated the importance of integrating innovation into every aspect of strategic planning especially at the senior most level of leadership. As Leaders in Dubai readies to host the Management Innovation Forum in May, we are confident that our distinguished panel of speakers can offer valuable insights to middle and upper level management on how to push innovation to the very top of policy-making within their individual organisations,' says Alan Kelly, Event Director.

The Management Innovation Forum is the first time event for the organisers of Leaders In Dubai Business Forum, the largest annual meeting and networking occasion of successful like-minded individuals in the region. It will encourage regional directors and managers across all areas of business to innovate on a global scale, allowing companies to think differently, and bring their innovations and ideas to the world.

Delegates will focus on how innovation must become the core of business in areas including strategy, profit growth and marketing. Key topics at the forum include 'How disruptive change has become the new paradigm for business,' and 'Why companies often look for growth in the wrong areas.'