RAK based scientific firm puts UAE on global research map

The complex electronic system, developed in the CSEM- UAE laboratory in Ras Al Khaimah, will be used to control the CSU (Configurable Slit Mask Unit) of the instrument to be implemented in the telescope which would provide faint object imaging and spectroscopic capabilities to advance its probe into the remotest regions of the Universe.

"The project was very challenging as we had a customer from the US on a space project, which is very unique in the UAE," said Dr. Hakim Bederr, CEO Of CSEM- UAE.

CSEM- UAE is a joint venture between the Government of Ras Al Khaimah and the Swiss research centre CSEM (Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology, Inc.) located in Neuchatel and Zurich. It was launched in February 2005 following the decision of H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, to create a high technology platform that will support the dynamic economic development of the Emirate. The research centre aims to advance innovation and incubation of technologies and process improvement for industrial and entrepreneurial partners in the UAE and in the region.

"The most important point about the telescope project was that it helped us become part of an international project which is indeed an appreciation of our research and development capabilities," Dr. Hakim said.

"The project in itself was very complex as we needed to design controls for a powerful optical system used in space observation. The spectrometer under development is able to provide detailed information on the physical parameters corresponding to the simultaneous analysis of multiple objects. The purpose of the configurable slit mask is to stop the light of the sky objects at the exception of the ones we want to study. So the controls, which manage the opening and closing of the optical system, must be perfectly reliable, of an extreme precision (micrometer range) and able to work in extreme temperature conditions," added Dr. Lisowski technical manager of the project.

Dr. Hakim said that the work done in the RAK facility was part of the larger project undertaken by the CSEM lab at Switzerland. "The work here would be completed by the end of June and we expect to ship the product by October," he said.

CSEM- UAE Innovation Centre, during its two years of operations in RAK, has been able to develop other cutting- edge technologies in various fields like GPS solutions, real time systems, robotics, intelligent sensors, solar energy application, water treatment etc.
The Centre which employs around 30 researchers coming from top universities in Switzerland, France and India, has also made notable innovations in developing a GPS solution for vehicle tracking suitable for logistics applications, enabling for better management of truck fleets.

It has also developed and installed a chemical- free water treatment system in Al Hamra Fort Hotel in RAK that uses diamond electrodes to generate disinfectant. The new system, based on Adamant technology, uses an electrochemical module- DiaCell developed by CSEM and allows for direct electrolysis for different kinds of water treatment applications. It eliminates the negative effects of chlorine used to clean water and provides a chemical free electrolytic treatment.

With an idea of fostering innovation and developing research in the country, the firm is working closely with UAE educational institutions like Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE Univeristy in Al Ain and American University in Dubai. "We are also having ongoing collaborations with industrial majors like RAK Ceramics for developing fluorescent tiles and with many other companies," he said.

Dr. Hakim said that the UAE facility would be able to file its first patent soon on a breakthrough solar water heating system which would have better efficiency and reduced heat loss.

He thanked Dr. Khater Massaad, Advisor to RAK Crown Prince and CEO of RAK Investment Authority, for the support provided for the development of CSEM- UAE as a developer of technologies for industrial partners engaged in new product development and technology acquisition.