Entrepreneurs to apply for Dubai Future Accelerators programme

Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the last day to apply for the Dubai Future Accelerators, an intensive 12-week programme hosted by the Dubai Future Foundation and the Government of Dubai.

The Dubai Future Accelerators programme seeks to bring together top international companies and entrepreneurs, whose solutions have the potential to address the world’s most pressing challenges, and support them in developing prototypes for rapid deployment across Dubai.

The first-of-its-kind programme was launched by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, earlier this year. It is part of the Dubai Future Agenda, a strategic framework for the Dubai Future Foundation to develop 21st century solutions and initiatives around the world, which was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in April.

The Government of Dubai previously announced that AED1 billion ($275 million) was set to be invested over 5 years in projects and companies taking part in this programme.

The programme encourages participants to propose innovative solutions for seven ‘future challenges’ identified by the following seven government entities:

• Road and Transport Authority (RTA) – Challenge: prototype automated transportation systems that cut congestion by 20 percent and reduce CO2 emissions by 30 percent across all modes.

• Dubai Police – Challenge: test integrated behavioural, genetic and biological systems for identifying, tracking and sharing information on criminals that are 10x more accurate and 10x more efficient.

• Dubai Municipality – Challenge: test automated, recycled, and nature-inspired building systems that use 3x less energy and CO2 and are 5x more effective.

• Dubai Health Authority - Challenge: harness Dubai's remarkable genetic diversity to enhance diagnostic speed and effectiveness by a factor of 10.

• Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority - Challenge: prototype 21st century assessment systems and personalised learning solutions that work across curriculums to offer 5x greater flexibility, 2x lower cost, and 10x better learning outcomes.

• Dubai Holding - Challenge: deploy digital solutions across the hospitality, food and beverage, and real estate sectors that reduce paperwork and the need for human intervention by a factor of 10, increase transaction speeds by a factor of 20 and increase customer engagement by an order of magnitude.

• Dubai Electricity and Water Authority - Challenge: reduce water and energy consumption by a factor of 10 and increase production and distribution efficiency through the use of renewables, intelligent and automated systems, biological solutions and other means.

To apply, companies, individuals and teams of any stage and size must have a working prototype or solution that can be tested in a real-world application.

Unlike other programmes, the Dubai Future Accelerators programme takes no equity from participating companies, and all intellectual property the participants develop during the programme remains theirs.

For more information, please visit: www.dubaifutureaccelerators.com