WELCOME TO OUR SIXTH ISSUE

Thanks to this strategic vision that enabled the adoption of smart systems, strategies, initiatives, and plans, the UAE has put investment in science and technology as a top priority and has contributed to making significant strides along the path of human advancement.The UAE’s successful control of Covid-19, and ensuring food security during a global crisis, are salient achievements, among others, during the last five years, which reflect the human progress achieved by the unprecedented focus on STEM disciplines. Put specifically, in 2015, the UAE launched the ‘UAE National Innovation Strategy (NIS)’ that aspires to establish an innovation-enabling environment in innovation-priority sectors such as renewable and clean energy, transportation, technology, education, health, space, and water. The strategy considers innovation in the fields of science and technology, achieved by unconventional ideas and novel products, services, and operations, as a synonym for the social and economic development of the country, represented by improving the quality of life, achieving economic growth, increasing competitiveness, providing new highskilled job opportunities, and promoting entrepreneurship. The strategy enables the UAE to occupy advanced positions regionally and globally in terms of innovation; namely, the UAE is ranked 1st regionally (the UAE tops MENA for over six consecutive years) , and 31st globally, according to the Global Innovation Index 2022. Innovation@UAE Magazine reflects and traces the innovationrelated activities of academic institutions in the UAE and is a direct reflection of the above-mentioned strategy. Our sixth issue of the magazine focuses on how we can advance humanity through investing in science and technology, and through the great efforts of a number of pre-eminent scholars affiliated with UAE-based scientific institutions such as New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Zayed University (ZU), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), and other leading institutions. This issue highlights several impactful projects, one of which is the research project of an NYUAD professor who is developing a tool to bring sense of touch to surgeries, using AI and machine learning technologies. It also covers a promising research project conducted by researchers at the University of Sharjah to develop prediction algorithms to stabilise power grids. Another exciting research is from UAEU that’s focusing on optimal fast charging stations planning for the future high penetration of electric vehicles (EV) in the UAE. I am in awe of how tirelessly these academics and researchers are working to advance not only our country, but humanity as a whole. I was absolutely inspired by the research highlighted in this issue, and I am positive you will be too.

Excellency

Dr. Mohammad Al-Mualla

Undersecretary for Academic Affairs Ministry of Education