DAFZA brings winners of first-ever EXPO 2015 Innovation Challenge from Milan, Italy to Dubai during UAE Innovation Week

UAE, November 26, 2015- During EXPO 2015 in Italy, Milan, the Grand Champion of the EXPO Innovation Challenge, ‘INFOOSO,’ developed a solution that focused on smart and innovative warehouse designs. As a continuation of their journey, ‘INFOOSO’ was invited to Dubai by DAFZA to participate in the UAE’s celebration of Innovation Week—presenting their winning solution at The D-Lab (DAFZA Lab), an accelerated Innovation for Global Growth programme. Innovation Week is in line with H.H. President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s declaration of 2015 as the ‘Year of Innovation’ and is a pioneering initiative launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Amna Lootah, Assistant Director General – Finance and Commercial, DAFZA, shared that DAFZA’s participation in the EXPO Innovation Challenge provided a valuable blueprint for Dubai as it prepares to host the next World Expo and invite people from all over the world in lending their expertise and skills to address the planet’s most pressing problems during the next edition of the Innovation Challenge.

DAFZA’s D-Lab Accelerated Innovation for Global Growth programme was endorsed and supported by Microsoft and IBM, and aimed at expanding the strategic, operational and innovative capacity of Dubai’s SME’s to ensure rapid growth and scale of their commercial potential in the global marketplace. The programme featured skill sessions that focused on increasing productivity, advance leadership skills, enhance creativity and create innovation and growth within the SMEs.

During the seminar, participants of the programme were able to explore their existing skills, while the exercises helped in enhancing their abilities to develop new and innovative solutions. In addition, participants will now have the skills and tools needed to identify new solutions to emerging problems in the rapidly changing business industry environment and to provide more value to their company and customers. Attendees received a joint certificate from DAFZA, IBM and Microsoft, which illustrates their commitment to continuing professional development.

Inviting the INFOOSO team to Dubai was part of a broader strategy of fostering innovation to create new commercial opportunities for Dubai’s SMEs—further reinforcing the freezone’s position as Dubai’s leading centre of economic activity and business opportunity. DAFZA is collaborating with some of the world’s leading innovation and commercialization experts, to create many future initiatives and programmes to support the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed of positioning Dubai as the capital of Islamic Economy and a world leading knowledge hub.