UAE Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated Dubai Future Labs (DFL), the first applied research and development (R&D) lab specializing in future technology research, prototyping, business modeling and deploying technological solutions in the UAE and the region.
Future Labs is also a platform that unifies and attracts national and international experts to AREA 2071 in Dubai Future District and ensures the successful transition of deployment and technology solutions in a real-world setting, benefiting industries and societies as a whole.
Sheikh Mohammed said given UAE’s talented youth and determination of its society, the nation now has an optimistic and positive outlook for the near future which will focus on designing integrated and future-oriented strategies, anticipating changes, and ensuring readiness to achieve tangible leaps in major sectors.
“Today, we have launched Dubai Future Labs as part of our belief in the importance of investing in the applied R&D sector in Dubai and the UAE the labs specialized in future tech R&D will build national capacities and shape solutions in Fourth Industrial Revolution sectors such as robotics, AI, and automation,” he said.
Under the supervision of the Dubai Future Foundation, DFL aims to strengthen the national knowledge-based economy through forging partnerships with global R&D institutions to shape new markets and create job opportunities.
DFL connects industries and relevant stakeholders through facilitating technology transfer.
The DFL is currently developing a project that leverages drone technology, autonomous ground vehicles, and the latest shipping and storage solutions in the delivery services sector amid the growing reliance on online shopping and social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phase one of this project includes building a prototype of the product, working with the relevant legislative entities to ensure adherence to the highest standards of safety and security, and collection of data necessary to transition to the next stage that focuses on building the technical development of commercially scalable solutions, according to WAM.
The following stage will include implementing the project and developing broader solutions and applications for UAV technology and autonomous driving, to achieve a preferred and cost-effective solution to delivering products in the UAE.
The DFL team plans to test products in collaboration with respiratory specialists and clinicians to ensure that the ventilator system complies with established standards and meets international requirements.