H.E. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori attends UAE ICT Research Forum

The forum is helping position the UAE as a center of excellence for research by establishing itself as the primary event for end-users of the recently announced ICT Fund and also, the development of Research Education Networks (REN). Other objectives of the forum include strengthening collaboration between academic institutions; promote interaction between industry and academy and to become a major conference in ICT Research.

The ICT Research Forum gathered together nine internationally and regionally renowned speakers, including six speakers from the United States, Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom. They focused on topics included the development of 'Research Education Networks', 'Funding Opportunities' and 'Research Opportunities'.

The forum was led by H.E. Mohammed Al-Ghanim, Director General of the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and Dr Arif Al-Hamadi, Manager of the Etisalat University College, co-organisers of this years' event. Amongst the influential body of speakers gathered for ICTR Forum 2007 included Chris Hancock, CEO, AARNet, Australia; Mr Dia Davies, General Manager, Dante, UK; Heather Boyles, Director in the Member and Partner Relations Department of Internet2, USA; Dr Horst Forster, Director, European Commission's Directorate General for Information Society and Media; Prof. William Harris, President and CEO of Science Foundation Arizona, UAE; Prof. Mark Keane, Chair of Computer Science at University College Dublin, Ireland and was concluded by Dr. Mohammed Al-Mualla, Postgraduate Studies Coordinator, Etisalat University College.

The ICTR Forum 2007 takes place under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs.