ICT Fund reveals financing UAE Space Agency Scholarships at Gitex Technology Week 2015

20/10/2015

Gitex Technology Week 2015 witnessed the signing of a new financing contract between the General Authority for Regulating Telecommunications (TRA) represented by ICT Fund, and UAE space Agency. ICT Fund will finance 10 Bachelor and 5 Master Scholarships. Financing the scholarships comes in line with the restless efforts exerted by ICT Fund to support scientific research and innovation, in addition to building national caliber and positioning UAE on the International Space map.

In this context, H.E. Dr. Abdulqader Al Khayat, ICT Fund Chairman “Signing this contract comes as the embodiment of our wise leadership’s vision to lay a solid foundation of a sustainable society that is based on science and knowledge, a society that leads us to new space innovations and discoveries. It also comes in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, to build national scientific and cognitive capacities capable of exploring the outer space and contributing to provide valuable scientific contributions to human kind kind, in addition to positioning UAE as a pioneer in Space Science” 

“We believe that supporting the Space Sector is in our national interest and as this sector is a catalyst to the development of our economy, knowledge, technology, and human recourses. In light of its vital role in our development, ICT fund strives to build Emirati leaders in this field. Gitex Technology Week reflects UAEs challenging nature, commitment to innovation, and competitiveness, that is why, it marked the ideal platform for this signing” H.E. Al Khayat added.

“This signing highlights TRA’s commitment to the Space Agency Strategy that was launched by High Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and the Ruler of Dubai. The strategy aims at establishing a comprehensive Space Sector, in addition to empowering it by providing human-resources, infrastructure and scientific research. His highness also stressed on the key role that team work and unified efforts play in fortifying UAE’s leadership in this field and building advanced scientific capacities”.

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Naser Al Ahbabi, UAE Space Agency Director General: “Our strategic partnership with ICT Fund will enable us to provide 15 international and local scholarships to our students. The scholarships come in line with the Agency’s strategy that aims at developing and empowering human capacities. Moreover, UAE Space Agency cooperates with various academic and scientific entities to utilize the space concept in inspiring students and encouraging them to study sciences and technologies with the aim of contributing in UAE’s journey to space.”

H.E. Khalifa Mohamed Al Romaithi, UAE Space Agency Chairman said, “Empowering human capital and financing knowledge in the Space Sector contribute effectively in enhancing UAE global competitiveness. UAE Space Agency is sparing no effort in facilitating scientific research in space, astrophysics science in addition to encouraging scientific literacy, and the provision of educational outreach and public programs, as well as enriching researchers’ professional experience in the field of education and astronomy”.

It is noteworthy to mention that ICT Fund strives to promote an entrepreneurship culture in the UAE ICT sector and to improve ties and relations between industries and academia. Moreover, it exerts immense efforts to secure UAE nationals inclusion in scientific research with the aim of encouraging self –reliance in this field and promoting innovation and technology development.