Arun ShankarDubai Internet City announced its participation in the Gitex Technology Week 2018, marking its 19th outing at the definitive industry event. In support of DIC’s mission to support the development of technology in the region and further the Smart Dubai 2021 Strategy, DIC’s theme, Home to Great Ideas, will leverage the power of its partners’ innovations, taking visitors on an immersive journey to experience the cutting-edge concepts that companies of all sizes have been developing, prototyping and bringing to market.
Bringing representatives from its vibrant community together under one roof, the spotlight will be on DIC’s innovative partners of all sizes: some of the most innovative companies including HTC, Google, Microsoft, Digirobotics and IBM, will rub shoulders with a diverse range of in5 incubated start-ups, including, Junkbot, Flamingo Skies, Wedo Media & Aviso Group and Elephant Live. By showcasing the seamless integration of solutions developed by start-ups and technology giants side by side within DIC’s community, visitors will get a glimpse into the DIC’s diverse ecosystem.
Visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a number of exciting experiences: from playing basketball with a robot powered by Digirobotics to jumping off the top of the Burj Khalifa courtesy to HTC’s virtual reality experience all the way to blending reality with the cyberworld through the Microsoft Hololens, Flamingo Skies and Blinkstudios. DIC will invite visitors to experience the future through these immersive experiences.
Futuristic adventures will be complemented by home grown content production and learning experiences: IBM and Google will be hosting knowledge sessions and workshops for developers and programmers, highlighting new solutions and discussing ways to engage with the platforms to further local content development. In5’s member Junkbot will be teaching visitors how to build and operate robots. In addition, a pop up studio will be welcoming and hosting several innovative content creators from within and beyond the DIC communities, including from Wedo Media & Aviso Group and Elephant Live.
In addition, DIC will be showcasing its latest addition to the community, the recently delivered phase one of the Innovation Hub and the progress made on the rest of the project. The Innovation Hub will span over 1.8 million sqft at the heart of Dubai, once completed the space will offer companies of all sizes including start-ups, SMEs and multinationals world class services, a robust and dynamic community and a vibrant working environment. In addition, the Innovation Hub’s 15,000-strong creative workforce, spread across 10 commercial buildings, will be given the opportunity to network, share knowledge as well as access to a comprehensive programme of industry events, activities and competitions running throughout the year.
Speaking on DIC’s role of enabling companies of all sizes to develop and explore new ideas, Ammar Al Malik, Managing Director of DIC, said: “All companies, large or small, must think courageously and act disruptively to stay ahead. They must never be content with what is, but rather crafting what could be – dreaming big and thinking ahead. DIC is home to many great ideas – concepts born and taken to the next level by our partners. We have had many home-grown success stories, including those we have chosen to showcase today. Ours is not just a hub for those who are already firmly established: it is a connecting point for the bold, for companies – new and old – who are dreamers advancing the frontiers of technology.”
Reflecting on Innovation Hub, he added: “The Innovation Hub represents a natural next step for Dubai Internet City, and will build on our successes over the past years in creating thriving business communities for local, regional and international companies. The hub is an enabler of ideas, real and future. It is as much a concept as a place: providing the environment, tools and community to inspire creation. It is a hub for the best to reach the next level. At Dubai Internet City, we pride ourselves in having a unique and enabling ecosystem, which encourages growth in technology sectors. As the success of DIC’s ecosystem scales, we are committed to working hand in hand with our partners to create an environment conducive for ideation, paving the way for future smart cities globally.”
