The Fourth Industrial Revolution Programme, known as ‘UAE Industry 4.0,’ recently announced by the UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), will help encourage innovations in 4IR technologies, placing the UAE at the heart of the global Fourth Industrial Revolution, according to top officials and industry executives.
The MoIAT signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 12 industrial entities, who will form the Champions 4.0 Network, and the Departments of Economic Development of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ajman to kick-start the ‘UAE Industry 4.0.’
Commenting on the initiative, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, minister of economy, pointed out that the UAE is a leading country in adopting future legislation and creating an environment that encourages the development of innovative ideas.
"4IR technologies are critical to the sustainable development of the UAE’s economy. We are entering a new era of technological innovation that will transform our knowledge-driven economy forever," he noted.
"From blockchain and artificial intelligence to additive manufacturing and agri-tech, the velocity of change will be unprecedented, and the UAE can be at the heart of this transformation through pioneering programmes like Industry 4.0," Al Marri said.
Launched as part of Projects of the 50 earlier this month, MoIAT explained that the "UAE Industry 4.0" is designed to accelerate the integration of 4IR solutions and applications across the UAE’s industrial sector, enhancing the UAE’s overall industrial competitiveness, driving down costs, increasing productivity and efficiency, enhancing quality, improving safety and creating new jobs.
As a key pillar of the UAE’s Operation 300Bn, which aims to increase the contribution of industry to national GDP to AED300 billion in ten years, "UAE Industry 4.0" aims to increase industrial productivity by 30%.
It will do so through a number of core elements, including the establishment of the Champions 4.0 Network, in which leading local and international companies will unite to share best-practice in the deployment of 4IR technologies across the UAE’s industrial sector. Participating entities include the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), EDGE, Honeywell, Unilever, Ericsson, Schneider Electric, Emirates Global Aluminium, Microsoft, CISCO, SAP, AVEVA and Siemens, said the MoIAT.