Curtain came down on the UAE Innovation in Sharjah celebrations Wednesday night following a colourful closing ceremony, with Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Ruler’s Office honouring the heads and representatives of participating Sharjah government entities, federal institutions, universities, media as well as members of the organising committee. The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development, HE Sultan Ali bin Butti Al Muhairi, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Executive Council, HE Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) and HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority among others.
The UAE Innovation Month, being celebrated throughout February as part of the UAE government’s concerted push to position the country as a global hub of innovation and pioneering ideas, has seen hundreds of events and activities held in the Emirate of Sharjah, renowned as the Cultural Capital of the Arab and Islamic world.
Held from February 15 to 21 at Al Majaz Waterfront and Sharjah Centre for Astronomy and Space Sciences,, the Innovation Month celebrations attracted more than 40,000 people. More than 28 Sharjah government entities and federal institutions besides six universities took part in the week-long activities.
As part of the celebration, Sharjah hosted 86 workshops and presentations by top innovation experts, academics and motivational speakers who advised parents on grooming their children as future innovators, underscoring the importance of identifying their wards’ talents, special aptitudes and orientation in early years.
Excited schoolchildren and college students have studiously attended dozens of workshops and become part of the assorted fun activities and events showcasing hundreds of innovative solutions, services and even inventions by various government entities, federal bodies and students and teachers of various universities based in the Emirate, known for its world-class universities, libraries, museums and patronage of knowledge and excellence.
Most of the innovative solutions presented have been aimed at increasing productivity, saving energy, reducing human element and dependence on fossil fuels or oil and conserving precious natural resources for future generations.
Through the Innovation Month, Sharjah aims to transform innovation into an institutional culture that reflects its positive impact on society, establishes a working curriculum for all government and academic institutions in the Emirate, and encourages the private sector and community institutions to form a unified business system based on innovation as a basis for development.
