February 4, 2021
Abu Dhabi, UAE – 31 January 2021: Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, Hub71, has forged two new partnerships with leading academic institutions – The United Arab Emirates University’s Science and Innovation Park (UAEU SIP) and INSEAD Middle East Campus – to upskill talent in Abu Dhabi and attract new science and technological capabilities to its growing tech community.
Through Hub71’s new academic partnerships, each institution will benefit from the tech ecosystem’s network of partners and expert mentors to support students in addition to their start-ups receiving priority access to the Hub71 Incentive Program. The mutually beneficial partnerships also include innovation workshops, joint programs, events, hackathons and access to Hub71’s vibrant WeWork x Hub71 co-working space. Graduate recruitment and internship opportunities at Hub71 start-ups will also be facilitated, stimulating job creation and deepening Abu Dhabi’s talent pool.
The summit, co-hosted by Gulf News and TheMarker, heard how both countries are seeking mutual investment opportunities following the normalisation of bilateral ties after the Abraham Accord in August. The UAE has a multibillion-dollar accelerator programme for start-ups, with Hub 71 as its flagship project. Over two-thirds of start-ups in the Middle East and North Africa are based in the UAE. Israel meanwhile has had a record breaking year for its tech companies, seeing investments of $10 billion, said Uri Gabai, co–general manager and vice president of strategy at Start-Up Nation Central, Israel.
Netalie Nadivi, Partner, Triventures Venture Capital Fund, Israel, said the global health crisis of 2020 has shown tech-led solutions have become “must-have” instead of just “nice to have”. She added that remote care and tele health are ripe for funding now. “We are interested in the verticalisation of healthcare, seeing fintech solutions for healthcare, changing how and where