Solving the biggest challenges through innovation

Original article published in “WAM” on April 20, 2022

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, attended the third Ramadan lecture organized by Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed, titled: “How to solve the biggest global challenges through innovation,” and hosted at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.The lecture was presented by Edward Jung, Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Intellectual Ventures, the largest invention fund in history.

Pre-recorded contributions by MBZUAI Chairman H.E. Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Khalfan Belhoul, CEO, Dubai Future Foundation; and Professor Eric Xing, MBZUAI President, were aired during the lecture. The speakers showcased how the UAE adopted and invested in different technologies and innovations and offered their perspectives on the importance of technology.

During the lecture, Jung addressed several main themes exploring different forms of technologies relevant to our modern world, what this could mean in the long-term, and envisioned the future after the world adapts to game-changing technologies.

Jung explained that the world needs a new model of innovation and a new system of incentives, technology development, finance and R&D to tackle today’s biggest global challenges like building efficient cities, aging, climate change and education. One of the top 12 inventors in history with over 1,200 issued US patents across diverse fields, Jung said the world had become very good at building smaller solutions.

The lecture is part of a series of lectures during the holy month of Ramadan, which discuss a number of vital issues of interest to individuals and societies by hosting a group of specialists and researchers in various fields.

The lecture was attended by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Deputy Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain; H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination; H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor for Special Affairs at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs; and a number of UAE officials.