Hamdan bin Mohammed launches ‘UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good’
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Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum affirmed today that we, in UAE, function as one team to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, who announced 2015 as the Year of Innovation.
Sheikh Hamdan further stated that the country is united in its efforts to fulfill the work plan aimed at achieving the vision of UAE president in tuning the UAE into an innovation hub, a work plan that is laid out by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Sheikh Hamdan’s statement came while announcing the ‘UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good’ during the Government Summit 2015, offering a prize money of AED1 million, on the national level and US$1 million at the international level of the competition.
“The UAE’s journey to achieve innovation is gaining national momentum by each day. We are confident of our abilities and the vision of our leaders to achieving a leading position in the world in the field of innovation. Our goal is to harness science and technology to promote a better life for the people and enhance happiness in the communities,” Sheikh Hamdan added.
Dubai Crown Prince announced the award to generate the best ideas for the invention of robots that can serve humanity. The competition for the award is open to companies, universities and creative individuals and professionals working in the field of this technology.
Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of the Government Summit Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi stated that the announcement of the ‘UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good as being in line with the declaration of 2015 as Year of Innovation by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the launch of the National Innovation Strategy by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as well as the personal initiative of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
“The award aims to honour the best application of robotics and artificial intelligence in the service of humanity with a focus on three key areas: Education, Health and Social Services,” Al Gergawi said.
He further explained that Sheikh Hamdan initiative comes as part of efforts to consolidate government support for innovation, as well as encourage inventors and scientists, thereby attracting the best ideas from around the world for harnessing the robotics and artificial intelligence technology to benefit people.
Al Gergawi said that the competition will be managed by a committee comprising specialists in robotics and artificial intelligence technology to assess the ideas and projects for the techniques used, efficiency and added value in saving time and effort for humanitarian and community services.
“The competing robots must be compliant with safety standards, incorporate latest technologies, and characterized by high reliability while assuring value-added services. The participants will propose the type of services that these technologies will provide, for instance in helping people with disabilities, treatment of patients, encouraging children in education, as well as complex tasks such as fire-fighting, construction work and social care” Al Gergawi added.
The procedural and technical details of the national and international competition of the award will be announced shortly, he explained, adding that “the winners of the award will be announced during the next Government Summit in February 2016. Registration can be done via the official website of the award: www.roboticsforgood.ae.
Present during the announcement of the award were Deputy Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
