DED and Zayed University join hands to launch Dubai Economic Research Award

The award, which was announced at a press conference today, has been instituted in accordance with the mission of the DED and Zayed University to put the UAE on par with the developed economies of the world. It is open to all researchers and students resident in the UAE at the time of submission, including both nationals and expatriates.

Three prizes of AED 50,000, AED 20,000 and AED 10,000 will be awarded to winners in the category of General Researcher while winners in the Student Researcher category will be eligible to receive three prizes of AED 10,000, AED 3,000 and AED 1,000.

"The creation of a dynamic and multi-disciplinary research-enabled knowledge base capable of integrating technology, management and labour is essential to sustain the competitive and fast growing economic development in the UAE," said Mr. Ali Ibrahim, Deputy Director General, Executive Affairs, DED. "Investment in national intellectual capital and the establishment of an environment conducive to scientific research is the first step to creating this base," he added.

"In today's knowledge-based economy, investment in research presents new opportunities for sustaining long-tern economic growth," said Mr. Khalid Al Kassim, Deputy Director General, Planning and Development, DED. "The future depends on innovation-based activity and the DED's main objective in setting up this award is to encourage UAE nationals to develop an enquiring mindset and conduct scientific research, which will provide value-added information for the business community," he added.

"True economic growth of a nation takes place when the academic sector complements and strengthens the private sector and provides a robust research -enabled information base for it to grow," said Mr. Larry Wilson Provost and Deputy Vice President, Academic Affairs, Zayed University. "We are working closely with the DED to set up this award, which will go a long way towards ensuring that academic and scientific research is directed towards meeting the realistic requirements of the business community in the country," he added.

The award spans eight economic sectors including tourism, oil and gas, health, education, finance and banking, industry and trade, real estate and construction and transport and storage.

Ideal subjects for research could include a wide variety of topics ranging from the investment climate in the UAE, Dubai's competitiveness edge, and the economics of the free zones in the country to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), ways and means of diversifying income sources in the UAE or re-engineering the Dubai Government.

The deadline for submissions has been set for October 1, 2005 while the awards will be presented by mid December 2005.