Davos: The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi's Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), and the World Economic Forum (WEF) have announced the launch of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Frontier Technologies, a new Centre within WEF's Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) Global Network. The signing took place in the presence of H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and Member of the World Economic Forum Leadership Council; B¸rge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, and Larry Fink, interim Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum and co-founder, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Centre is established with a mandate to lead breakthroughs in frontier research and development, advance global policy on emerging technologies, and foster international collaboration that moves innovation from the lab into real-world deployment. It builds on the UAE's position as a testbed for innovation, supported by a regulatory environment and a strong connection between research, policy, and execution.
The Centre positions Abu Dhabi as a global epicentre for pioneering research of advanced technologies, focusing on Quantum Computing, Robotics, Propulsion and Space systems, and AI applications. Through this strategic partnership, TII joins a globally connected innovation ecosystem designed to accelerate the responsible adoption of transformative technologies.
Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, stated that as frontier technologies accelerate, there is an imperative to guide their responsible adoption. The Centre combines research excellence, policy leadership, and global collaboration, pushing the boundaries of research and development while enabling breakthrough science to move beyond the lab into real-world application. The initiative aims to reinforce Abu Dhabi's role as a global hub for science, innovation, and impact.
Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, remarked that the addition of the Abu Dhabi Centre strengthens the C4IR Global Network's ability to shape the global technology agenda. By integrating world-class research capabilities into the Network, the Centre will support industries in translating innovation into practical, responsible solutions that advance inclusion, sustainability, and trust in technology.
With this announcement, Abu Dhabi enhances the UAE's presence within the World Economic Forum's global C4IR network, joining a distinguished group of Centres across countries such as the US, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and India.
The Centre aims to push the boundaries of research and development in critical frontier technologies, showcasing Abu Dhabi's thought leadership through proof-of-concept pilots, regulatory sandboxes, and global convenings. It will serve as an innovation engine and a strategic platform, advancing responsible technology adoption and reinforcing the UAE's global standing in science and innovation.