UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with 12 industrial entities and the Departments of Economic Development of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ajman to kick-start the newly-announced Fourth Industrial Revolution Programme, known as “UAE Industry 4.0”.

Launched as part of Projects of the 50 earlier this month, “UAE Industry 4.0” will accelerate the integration of 4IR solutions and applications across the UAE’s industrial sector, enhancing UAE’s overall industrial competitiveness, driving down costs, increasing productivity and efficiency, enhancing quality, improving safety and creating new jobs.

The programme targets to increase industrial productivity by 30% and add Dh25 billion to the national GDP.

“In line with our leadership’s vision, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology focuses on increasing the industrial sector’s contribution to the national GDP, enabling economic diversification and transforming to a knowledge-based economy, said Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister for Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC CEO.

Champions 4.0 Network

The initiative includes the establishment of the ‘Champions 4.0 Network’ , in which leading local and international companies will unite to share best-practice in the deployment of 4IR technologies across the UAE’s industrial sector. Participating entities include the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, AVEVA, CISCO, EDGE, Emirates Global Aluminium, Ericsson, Honeywell, Microsoft, SAP, Schneider Electric, Siemens and Unilever.

The betwork will then support the creation of 100 “lighthouses”, or WEF-categorized I4.0 organisations, by year 2031, while also cultivating the optimum business environment to establish or attract 500 tech companies by the same year. These anchor companies will help drive productivity, innovation and efficiency in their respective sectors. Another key pillar of the network, is a programme that will identify, assess and then assist 200 companies ripe for Industry 4.0 transformation.

“UAE boasts a vibrant industrial sector, one that has made a significant contribution to our rapid economic development. And with the collaboration between our public, private and academic sectors, we have fostered an enabling industrial ecosystem” said Al Jaber.

“UAE Industry 4.0 will build on these competencies to accelerate the process of economic diversification already underway,” Al Jaber added.