emirates7 - In line with Abu Dhabi University’s (ADU) innovation strategy (ADUi), ADU has announced the launch of its Sustainable Development Venture Lab in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED).

The lab, open to students, researchers, external entrepreneurs and innovators, seeks to grow sustainability-oriented entrepreneurial and innovation skills through tackling complex challenges in the industry, services, primary sector and the government.

The new Sustainable Development Venture Lab was inaugurated in the presence of Professor Waqar Ahmad, Chancellor of ADU, Dr. Alberto Peralta, Director of Innovation at ADU, other senior leaders from ADU and Hala Al Ameri, Executive Director of Competitiveness Office of Abu Dhabi, part of ADDED.

The lab will comprise five different zones, located on each of ADU’s campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al-Dhafra and Dubai. The Networking Zones will help connect innovators with the local community as well as investors, companies and agencies in both the private and public sectors. The Market Study Zones will support conducting market and competitors’ analysis and studying business terms as well as the financial aspects of the business, including a Bloomberg room and business modelling labs. The Design/Prototyping/Fabrication Zones will offer training, technical guidance and tools to develop hardware, service, software, process prototypes and solutions in top-technology engineering and visual labs.

The Incubation zones will provide innovators with spaces equipped with business phones and internet access, in addition to dedicated areas where they can present their businesses and prototypes to potential investors. Lastly, the Venture Lab assigned a team of experts in business registration to provide guidance to students willing to register their businesses in the lab.

Dr. Alberto Peralta said, "At ADU, we contribute to the socio-economic agenda through creative solutions that address our community's needs and promote research and innovation. Through this incubator that we call Sustainable Development Venture Lab, we aim to nurture our innovators with the needed methods and tools that strengthen their entrepreneurial skills and prepare them to address complex and significant market and societal challenges."

Hala Al Ameri said, "Innovation is an integral part of the Abu Dhabi story and our commitment to becoming a leading innovation hub is unmatched. Building on our achievements, we recently launched "Abu Dhabi Innovates", a framework for an innovation ecosystem to ensure supporting and developing ideas and innovations into thriving projects and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s status as a destination for businesses and investments. This is in line with the emirate’s plans to build a diversified, knowledge-based economy that will be driven by innovation."

The initiatives within ADUi include programmes, stand-alone events and relevant opportunities which will be accessible and available to all students, faculty and staff, and will include ADU communities of reference.