Dubai: Dubai will play host to the world’s most diverse academic talent and innovation gathering at ‘Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity.’
Held under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the UAE, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), the initiative is organized in partnership with the Dubai Future Foundation.
From 18 to 21 November, alongside the Dubai Future Forum, the event will feature professors and students from leading institutions worldwide showcasing the top 100 projects that provide tangible solutions to the pressing challenges faced by our planet and society.
The initiative aims to identify and empower projects that can effectively address complex challenges while fostering collaboration with top graduates and distinguished professors from over 800 global universities across various fields.
It focuses on innovations tackling issues in agriculture, healthcare, energy, civil society, mobility, water, and the environment, expecting participants to present ideas and solutions that can significantly impact the future.
Enduring impact
Notably, the Prototypes for Humanity initiative, launched and overseen by Sheikha Latifa, is celebrating a decade of innovation, effectively addressing global challenges through creative solutions.
The recent launch of the ‘Dubai Future Solutions’ initiative underscores its enduring impact and success. Sheikha Latifa emphasized Sheikh Hamdan’s support for innovation and his commitment to empowering those shaping the future.
Her Highness stated that Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity advances impactful innovations from Dubai to the world, solidifying the city’s role as a global innovation hub.
Key partners
Key partners in the initiative include Dubai Culture, DIFC, and the Hussain Sajwani – DAMAC Foundation (HSDF), which has pledged AED100mn ($27mn) to drive innovation and technological breakthroughs.
This collaboration aims to tackle complex global challenges while leveraging Dubai’s position as a hub for impactful innovation. Led by the Art Dubai Group, the Prototypes for Humanity initiative provides a global platform for academics and research.
Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity enables innovators to scale their ideas and secure essential industry partnerships through a dedicated program for Dubai-based technology and commercial pilot projects.
Of the 2,700 global applications received, 100 standout projects will be showcased during the four-day event at AREA 2071, Boulevard, Emirates Towers. On 19 November, the initiative will announce the top five innovators, who will share an AED360,000 ($97,920) prize pool to further their critical research.
Global hub
The initiative has established a vast network of over 20,000 professors from 800 universities across six continents, emphasizing academia’s crucial role in driving progress.
In 2023, the top five awarded projects showcased groundbreaking innovations from the USA, UK, Switzerland, and Kenya, including advancements in carbon-negative materials, eco-friendly bioplastics, bio-engineered yeast, satellite monitoring for disaster-prone structures, and low-cost carbon separation techniques.