Entrepreneurship Institute visits innovation hubs in UAE

Members of the Entrepreneurship Institute team travelled to Dubai and Abu Dhabi this month to learn about the entrepreneurial ecosystems of the cities and to share learning and experience. 

The trip was organised by KCLBC – King’s award-winning student business club - to give insight into the companies that have shaped the UAE into becoming a global hub for trade, finance and increasingly, innovation.

The Institute’s Learning Programme Manager Jeremy Shorter, Accelerator Manager, Ed Halliday, and 25 students from KCLBC visited organisations including the New York University Abu Dhabi and the National Bank of Abu Dhabi, and accelerators including Dubai 100, 1776, and Dubai Future Accelerators.

Dubai Future Accelerators is the world’s largest government-supported accelerator and pilots cutting-edge technologies. These include Hyperloop One, a company aiming to commercialise passenger and freight transportation by using Hyperloop – propelling a pod-like vehicle at airline speeds through a reduced-pressure tube - and Concensys, which offers software to app developers and Blockchain companies.

Innovations experienced on the trip include a visit to Masdar City which aimed to be the world’s first zero-carbon city, a journey in a self-driving car, and a shopping experience using virtual reality and robot assistant. 

Ed Halliday, Accelerator Manager said:

“Our trip demonstrated what we can aim for at the Entrepreneurship Institute. With their speed of progress in technologies in the areas of health, clean energy, transportation, education and water desalination, they are setting the standard in global innovation. We look forward to working even more closely with students and academic departments at King’s to maximise our own potential to innovate across the university.”

Jeremy Shorter, Learning Programme Manager said:

“Going to UAE was an amazing and insightful experience. Thanks to incredible organisation by KCLBC we were able to see first-hand the innovative ecosystem that’s growing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The focus on upskilling the individual was really impressive and something we aim for across our programmes, and we took away useful tips we can apply here.”

Rohan Arora, Vice President, KCLBC,said:

"At KCLBC we believe in discovering new opportunities for growth, innovation and sustainability. The trip was tailored to students from King's willing to seek such opportunities from both an educational and career perspective. Dubai's brilliant commercial landscape is warm, welcoming and hungry for promising talent from the UK."