The President Issues a Decision to Establish the National Program for Advanced Science and Technology

.President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God protect him, has issued a decision establishing the "National Programme for Advanced Sciences and Technologies", in a step aimed at building an integrated national pathway that links education, research and development and talent building with the strategic and advanced industries in the country, and that strengthens the UAE's readiness for the future through an institutional system supporting innovation, competitiveness and national sovereignty in vital sectors of priority.

The establishment of the programme comes within a comprehensive national approach to developing an educational and research system capable of keeping pace with accelerating scientific and technological transformations, and directing the outcomes of education, research and development towards the fields that serve the country's needs and its developmental and industrial priorities. The programme focuses on investing in promising national competencies, developing a base of talent specialised in advanced sciences and technologies, and qualifying them within future specialisations and tracks that contribute to strengthening national industrial capabilities and the competitiveness of Emirati products in the strategic and vital sectors of national priority, and to supporting national sovereignty in them.

In accordance with the decision, the Higher Committee of the National Programme for Advanced Sciences and Technologies has been formed to undertake the strategic guidance and general supervision of the programme and its tracks, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and with His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, as Deputy Chairman. The Committee includes among its members Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs — Managing Director and Chairman of the Executive Committee; Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Dr Abdulrahman bin Abdulmannan Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Fadel Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs; Dr Ahmed Mubarak bin Nawi Al Mazrouei, Head of the Office of the UAE President for Strategic Affairs; and Faisal Abdulaziz Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs.

The tasks of the Higher Committee include approving the main directions, priorities, policies and initiatives, approving the programme's budget in accordance with the legislation and regulations in force, issuing the decisions and directives necessary to support the implementation of the programme, following up on the extent to which its objectives and its national impact are achieved, and submitting the results and development recommendations that enhance the programme's performance and sustainability to the President and the Prime Minister.

The programme aims to strengthen national industrial capabilities and the competitiveness of Emirati products in the strategic and vital sectors by linking research capabilities, educational institutions and innovation centres with the priorities of industry, in a way that allows the development of technological solutions that can be manufactured, developed and exported, and that have a direct impact on strengthening the country's standing in the fields of advanced sciences and technology. The programme comprises 6 main tracks in its first phase, comprising the Technical Education and National Talent track, the National Service track, the Flagship Initiative track, the Global Challenge track, the Global Talent Attraction track, in addition to the Technical Research and Innovation track. New tracks may also be added in accordance with the requirements of the programme's implementation and the directives issued by the President.

The decision also provides for the formation of an Executive Committee for the programme under the supervision of the Higher Committee, chaired by Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, which undertakes the tasks of reviewing and approving the plans, programmes, policies and initiatives proposed for the programme and its tracks and submitting them to the Higher Committee for approval, reviewing the budget of the programme and its tracks, supervising the implementation of what is approved of them, and following up on progress in the tracks in coordination with the concerned entities at the level of the country.

The decision also establishes an office for the National Programme for Advanced Sciences and Technologies, which undertakes coordination with the heads of the tracks in preparing the plans, programmes, policies and initiatives, ensuring their integration and consistency, following up on the implementation of the approved initiatives, and submitting periodic reports on the course of work, achievement and performance. The office also undertakes the building and management of relevant local and international partnerships, and the provision of administrative, technical, logistical and organisational support to the various committees and tracks.

Source: Emirates News Agency – WAM