MBZUAI signs agreement with World Economic Forum as Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR)

Mohammed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has signed an agreement with the World Economic Forum to establish a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) – part of a global expansion to establish six new centres in the UAE, United Kingdom, France and India.

C4IR intends to expand its global network supporting the responsible adoption of frontier technologies. The new centres will focus on artificial intelligence, the energy transition and cyber resilience, reflecting areas of growing interest and priority for governments and industry.

Hosted by MBZUAI, the UAE Centre will advance global AI excellence and strengthen national and regional competitiveness. Integrated into the C4IR Network, it will convene leaders across sectors to co-design and pilot initiatives supporting AI research, governance, adoption and innovation.

Eric Xing, MBZUAI President and University Professor said: “Through our partnership with the World Economic Forum, MBZUAI is launching the Centre for Intelligent Future as a global platform where frontier AI research is connected directly to the world’s most pressing economic, social, and human challenges. By focusing on how AI systems interact with people, institutions, and economies, the Centre will help translate algorithms into real-world impact – reinforcing the University’s role in shaping both science and technology advances but also the future of societal development.”

Børge Brende, President and CEO, World Economic Forum said: “The launch of six new Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution reflects the value of bringing governments, industry and experts together around shared technology challenges. By contributing local and regional insights, partners strengthen a global effort to advance emerging technologies responsibly.”

The upcoming centres will address regional priorities while contributing to shared international dialogue and cooperation. Together, they will contribute to the World Economic Forum’s global C4IR Network, which acts as a platform for translating innovation into practical policy solutions, as well as pilots and frameworks that can be adapted across borders.