GEC NEWS WIREGE unveiled the UAE results of its 2016 Global Innovation Barometer, which explores how business leaders and members of the public perceive the opportunities for and barriers to innovation in a changing complex global environment.
Now in its fifth year, the research surveyed 2,748 senior business executives and 1,346 informed publics across 23 countries. In the UAE, the survey covered 100 C-level business executives.
Rania Rostom, Chief Innovation Officer for GE in the Middle East, North Africa & Turkey said, “The UAE Innovation Barometer findings showcase the success of the UAE government’s National Innovation Strategy, which is focused on accelerating innovation to become one of the world’s leading knowledge economies. There is a strong readiness amongst leading business executives in organizations across the country to invest and collaborate on innovation initiatives.”
Several questions in the latest survey discussed the importance of digital technologies. UAE executives are ‘digital ready,’ with 58% of the respondents, 11% higher than the global average, recognizing the strategic value of data and analytics. Additionally, 82% have already increased their ability to analyze large amounts of data – up from only 50% in 2014.
Nearly 85% share their concern on the impact of the fast-paced growth of digital technology on businesses, stating they are mindful that more and more businesses face the challenge of ‘Digital Darwinism’ – the risk of becoming obsolete if they fail to adapt and embrace technological changes.
