DED selects 15-member team of assessors to evaluate DERA submissions

The team comprises renowned professionals representing the academic, public and private sectors.

The panel will announce the results of the evaluation and the winners in the three categories of DERA - Professional Category, Faculty members Category and Students Category - early next year.

Dr. Eesa Bastaki, Award Counsellor and Director of Education and Technology at Dubai Silicon Oasis, said:

"We were keen in our selection of the team of assessors to include experts from the academic, public and private sectors to ensure that all stakeholders of the UAE economy are adequately represented. This was important to ensure professional evaluation of the submitted research reports."

The submissions, to be judged on the basis of strict criteria, must have the potential to create a significant economic impact in the UAE in one or more areas. Submissions will be judged on their creativity and innovation, and to the extent to which they address the issues in the fields of economic and business development in the UAE.

Appropriate research design and methodology, valuable and relevant policy advice to government and well-developed methods for evaluating the impact on the U.A.E economy will also be taken into consideration while assessing the submission.

Dr. Magd El-Din Mohamed, Economic Development Advisor at the DED and member of DERA team, said: "DED regards DERA as a key tool that evaluates the economy of the emirate through recommendations, suggestions and in-depth study of promising sectors in the UAE economy. We believe that the Award would enrich both public and private sectors and provide recommendations that further support the Dubai Strategic Plan".

The award covers 10 economic sectors: tourism, oil & gas, health, education, communications & IT, finance & banking, industry, trade, real estate & construction, and transport & storage. The DERA competition is open to UAE nationals and other researchers residing in the UAE at the time of submission.

DED has joined hands with several leading companies and institutions to streamline the award process. The partners of the second cycle include Zayed University, which has been associated with DERA since the first cycle, Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority, Dubai Investments Company, Dubai Financial Market, Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Cable Company (DUCAB).