• The collaboration will establish a fully compliant origin-to-destination pharma air corridor between Abu Dhabi and BrusselsÌę
• The collaboration enhances Abu Dhabi’s positioning as a world-class pharma logistics hub and a destination focused on global welfareÌę
• Led by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the Hope Consortium, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, and Abu Dhabi Airports Company collaborate to strengthen the emirate positioning as a life science hubÌę
• “Pharma Logistics Masterclass” hosted by Khalifa University to take place in Abu Dhabi in September 2022

Abu Dhabi has set its sights on Belgium, as a leading global pharmaceutical hub, to establish a global distribution corridor to serve the world in vaccine delivery and future life science needs. The collaboration builds on the capabilities of Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector as a leading life sciences hub and the efforts of the HOPE Consortium in providing vaccine solutions for the world.

This initiative entailed a delegation visit from Belgium to Abu Dhabi, hosted by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH). The visit saw the signing of two declarations of collaboration between Belgium and Abu Dhabi, Witnessed by H.E. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of DoH and H.E. Peter CLAES, Ambassador of Belgium in the UAE.

The first agreement was between the HOPE Consortium, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), Brussels Airport Company and Pharma.Aero. Led by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate, the collaboration aims to establish a fully compliant origin-to-destination pharma air corridor between Abu Dhabi and Brussels Airports. The dedicated pharma trade lane will unite key compliant and sector certified supply chain stakeholders, including forwarders and ground handling agents.

“Our goal is to enhance Abu Dhabi’s positioning as a world-class pharma logistics hub and a destination focused on global welfare by investing in strategic public and private sector collaborations, and the allocation of expertise and resources,” commented H.E. Dr. Jamal Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.

Earlier this year, a delegation from the HOPE Consortium met with pharmaceutical industry stakeholders in Brussels to showcase Abu Dhabi’s global vaccine distribution success. Thanks to its network of partners, the HOPE Consortium has handled over 200 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, contributing to vaccination programmes in over 40 global destinations.

Western Europe currently ranks as the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical export market with a total export value of nearly EUR 42 billion in 2020. “, Brussels Airport is the leading hub serving the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry in Europe with over 750 million vaccines handled at the airport, serving 60 destinations worldwide” said Nathan De Valck, head of cargo at Brussels Airport.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Chairman of the HOPE Consortium Executive Committee and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, added that the proactive sharing of knowledge and expertise among stakeholders remains vital to the partnership’s ongoing success. “The HOPE Consortium, along with our partners, has developed one of the most extensive end-to-end vaccine supply chains, capable of delivering millions of Covid-19 vaccines anywhere around the globe.”

“Working together, we have successfully resolved some of the major challenges associated with vaccine logistics, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase our capabilities and pass on our learnings to students attending the Masterclass. At the same time, we look forward to further strengthening the relationship between Abu Dhabi and Belgium through the establishment of a future pharma corridor, benefiting the region and the world,” said Capt. Al Shamsi.

The development of the dedicated Pharma Air Corridor will leverage API-IoT devices-webforms-internet shared with all relevant stakeholders to monitor pharma shipments closely. “Our relationship with Etihad Cargo and the HOPE Consortium sharing best practices makes us confident that the corridor will promote commitment for transparency with customers and stakeholders.” said Nathan De Valck who also serves as Chairman of Pharma.Aero.

The other declaration of collaboration was signed by the HOPE Consortium, Pharma.Aero, Khalifa University of Science and Technology and the University of Antwerp to host the second edition of the “Pharma Logistics Masterclass”, a course focused on critical challenges and developments in pharma supply chains and logistics, by Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi from 5th to 9th September 2022.

“We are excited to bring the second Masterclass to Abu Dhabi. The HOPE Consortium partners and Khalifa University have extended great support and offer a unique platform to be shared with the participants of the next Masterclass,” said Prof. Dr. Roel Gevaers, University of Antwerp and Chair of the organizing Committee.

Frank Van Gelder, Secretary General of Pharma.Aero and co-chair of the “Pharma Logistics Masterclass”, continues: “Pharma.Aero’s vision and mission underline fostering collaboration. By continuously giving insights and sharing the latest changes between pharmaceutical companies, industry stakeholders and the academic world, the overall knowledge and the quality of the pharma and MedTec supply chain improves. Bringing the 2nd edition of the masterclass to Abu Dhabi and bringing academics and business again together, contributes significantly in achieving this vision.”

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, said: “We are pleased to bring the next Pharma.Aero Logistics Masterclass to Abu Dhabi in September 2022, in collaboration with our partners. Khalifa University has the necessary expertise, especially through our Digital Supply Chain and Operations Management (DSOM) research center, which provides real-world, cutting edge work on the digital transactions, management, and optimization in multiple domains such as maritime logistics, production lines, and healthcare delivery systems. We believe the Masterclass in Abu Dhabi will further affirm our strong commitment to delivering top quality academic and professional programs that benefit students and youth interested in charting their future career in this area.”

The agreement was welcomed by Dr.ÌęGhaliaÌęAliÌęAl Humaidan, ChargĂ© d’affaires of theÌęUAEÌęMission to Belgium, who said: “The strategic ties between the UAE and Belgium are vital in supporting trade routes between the Middle East and Europe. This commitment further expands the effectiveness of a collaborative approach to addressing pharmaceutical demand flows between the two regions.”

H.E. Peter Claes, Belgium’s Ambassador to the UAE, added: “Abu Dhabi has developed into a world hub for the distribution of pharmaceuticals. The emirate has done so in close cooperation and synergy with Brussels Airport. I am therefore pleased to know that at the invitation of Pharma.Aero and its partners, distinguished executives of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, Etihad and Rafed participated in the 1st International Masterclass on Pharma Logistics, held in Antwerp in September.”

Staff Report
8 December 2021

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Lockheed Martin, a U.S.-based global aerospace, security and technology leader, and Khalifa University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on research and academic initiatives that will advance technology and human capital development in the United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Steven H. Walker, vice president and Chief Technology Officer of Lockheed Martin, and Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, signed the agreement virtually, which identifies areas of mutual interest in support of Lockheed Martin’s research endeavors and the development of a knowledge-based economy as outlined by UAE Vision 2021. It is the first of several planned formal agreements between Lockheed Martin and Khalifa University to increase the pipeline of highly skilled aerospace, defense, technology and security engineers in the region.

“At Lockheed Martin, we are committed to working together with colleges and universities to advance the strategic priorities of our customers,” said Dr. Walker, who recently joined the Khalifa University Board of Trustees, succeeding Lockheed Martin’s Executive Chairman Marillyn A. Hewson. “As a well-respected research institution and a leading contributor to the UAE’s vision to shape a knowledge-based economy, Khalifa University is an obvious partner. We are confident that our collaboration will help advance STEM careers, evolve the country’s research ecosystem and provide unique opportunities for research and development activities.” Ìę Ìę

Under the agreement, Lockheed Martin and Khalifa University will explore opportunities for cooperation, led by the university’s faculty, in areas including machine intelligence, autonomy, microelectronics, structural and thermal materials, and air vehicle research. The publication of research, along with development and assessment of academic course material, will also add to knowledge sharing through the MOU.

Dr. Al Hammadi said: “As a research-intensive educational institution that seeks to produce world leaders and critical thinkers in applied science and engineering, we are delighted to partner with Lockheed Martin to focus more on advanced research areas. The MoU with a globally leading aerospace and advanced technologies company will not only help develop talent locally through STEM collaborations, but also offer us access to Lockheed Martin’s technological capabilities. We believe equipping the youth in the UAE and building new capacities in areas including aerospace will benefit the country, contributing to catalyzing the growth of the rapidly developing knowledge-economy of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.”

Lockheed Martin works with leading universities worldwide to sponsor research and perform collaborative research for government customers. The company’s Center for Innovation and Security Solutions (CISS), based in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, has hosted merit-based summer internship programs for top-performing UAE engineering students every year since 2017. This summer, 16 talented students from leading institutions, including Khalifa University, are interning virtually at the CISS to comply with distance learning measures aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19.

With 19 research centers focusing on various economic sectors that are considered strategic to the UAE, Khalifa University drives innovation and scientific exploration in advanced technology areas such as aerospace, nuclear engineering, advanced materials, oil and gas, and clean energy. Each year, the University adds a sizable number of patents to the intellectual property (IP) basket of the UAE. At present, Khalifa University has 126 issued patents, with 343 patent applications pending, and more than 400 invention disclosures.

Clarence Michael
Senior English Editor
1 September 2020

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Memorandum Paves Way to Facilitate Research Collaboration

Khalifa University and the Institute of Energy Economics of Japan (IEEJ) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the development of and the support to future industry-academia collaborations covering a wide range of activities, and further strengthening their previous relationship.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, and Prof. Dr. Masakazu Toyoda, Chairman and CEO of IEEJ in Abu Dhabi. The signing ceremony followed a bilateral meeting between H.E. Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber, Minister of State, Chief Executive Officer, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and Member of the Khalifa University Board of Trustees, and H. E. Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade and, Industry, from Japan.

Dr. Steve. Griffiths, Senior Vice-President, Research and Development, Khalifa University, and IEEJ’s Masakazu Toyoda, Chairman and CEO, will serve as a secretariat to facilitate collaboration among universities, organizations and industries to conduct research and potential business development in mutually beneficial areas.

Dr. Al Hammadi said: “The MoU paves way for facilitating research collaboration between universities and organizations in both countries and we are delighted to be part of this initiative. Japan is rated as one of the top economies in terms of science and technology innovations based on consistent decades-long research. And as a leading research-based academic institution driving innovation and technology solutions, we believe this MoU will help not only research but also facilitate business development in areas that will benefit the academia, industry and government sectors in both the countries.”

Prof. Toyoda said: “I sincerely hope this memorandum of understanding is only the beginning for the success of the industry-academia collaboration initiative between our two countries. It should contribute to further diversify the development of the UAE economy as well as strengthening the energy security of Japan. It is more than words, it is about people from our two countries meeting and collaborating to make the world a better place.”

The MoU will enable identifying of opportunities for both countries for fruitful exchanges and collaboration between industry and/or academia while assisting each other in the organization of seminars, conferences, and workshops. The two partners will also facilitate visits from each other in order to develop cooperative mechanisms and to expand areas of cooperation.

The UAE and Japan have been working together on miscellaneous projects not limited to energy projects for many years. Building upon such successful experiences and recognizing the importance of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Initiative (CSPI) between Japan and the UAE, Khalifa University of Science and Technology and the IEEJ felt the need to develop a program with a wider range of activities.

Clarence Michael

News Writer

29 January 2019

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Collaboration Also Offers Opportunity of Industrial Partnership, and Development of Internship Programs for Talented Emirati Students

As commercial airliners become more technologically advanced, so too must the skills of the pilots who will fly them. But while aircraft continue to evolve, training methods have not only lagged – they have become increasingly irrelevant to today’s trainee pilots, who have grown up in the digital age.

Today, at the 2019 Dubai International Air Show, Etihad Aviation Training and Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa University of Science and Technology announced a three-year study to develop innovative and more engaging training procedures, drawing upon neuro-cognition, for the next generation of airline pilots.

Captain Fabrizio Interlandi, NEXTGEN Project Manager for Etihad Aviation Training, said: “The pilots of tomorrow are millennials, and increasingly post-millennials. They have grown up with apps, tablet devices, electronic games and virtual reality. Research already shows that they process information differently to previous generations and they have a different attitude to learning. The purpose of this study is to identify new ways to train young pilots, using technology with which they can easily engage, rather than textbooks and traditional classroom learning.”

The study will be conducted by Khalifa University’s College of Engineering (Aerospace Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering) and Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE) and its Cognitive-Neuro Imaging Unit, both based in Abu Dhabi. Etihad Aviation Training will provide trainees and instructors to participate in the study, access to data, and use of sophisticated full-motion flight training simulators.

The co-principal investigators, Dr. Nelson King, Associate Professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Khalifa University, and Dr. Claudine Habak, (ECAE), said current training programs for airline pilots often do not take into consideration the experience gaps between highly experienced pilots and cadets with minimal flying hours.

Dr King said: “Everyone is equal in a conventional training program. Our study will take into account the generational and brain development differences between younger and older pilots and compare the ways in which they learn. We want to identify the most effective ways not only to educate new pilots, but also to ensure that they retain vital information.”

Dr Habak said: “Our objective is to create an innovative training experience which matches the abilities and confidence of upcoming generations. That may include apps. It may include virtual reality. And it may include gamification and micro-learning techniques. We are about to find out.”

Etihad Aviation Training currently provides two initial training programs for the Airbus A320 aircraft – the Multi-Crew Pilot Licence – Evidence-Based training, and the A320 Standard Transition Course for trainees from external companies.

To be effective, these courses need a significant and often different number of sessions per trainee. The research will start with observation of and interviews with trainees to evaluate effectiveness of programs and identify gaps.

It will then move to game-based learning, development of device simulators and finally the introduction of appropriate software to deliver a ‘learning system’ for evaluation. The collaboration between Etihad Aviation Training and Khalifa University also offers the opportunity of an industrial partnership, and development of internship programs for talented Emirati students.

Captain Paolo La Cava, Vice President, Etihad Aviation Training, said: “This research is exciting and ground-breaking, and further evidence of the strong innovation credentials of Abu Dhabi. Our eventual objective is to ensure that future pilots are trained in the most relevant, effective and efficient way, not only for Etihad but potentially for many other operators who come to us for training.”

News Writer
19 November 2019

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• Aerospace Research and Innovation Center (ARIC) is expanding on its strong foundation to leverage the possibilities of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)
• ARIC to continue accelerating the development of the UAE’s aerospace industry

Khalifa University and Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor, have signed an agreement to expand their industry-leading aerospace R&D collaboration on the Aerospace Research and Innovation Center (ARIC). The collaboration aims to support the UAE’s ambitions for developing a global and competitive aerospace hub to address the implications of 4IR.

The agreement was signed by Badr Al-Olama, Head of Aerospace, Mubadala Investment Company, and Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President of Khalifa University at the Dubai Airshow 2019, the premier global aviation event that is being held at the Dubai World Central (DWC).

The latest phase of ARIC will promote the adoption of advanced aerospace manufacturing applications such as 3D printing and industrial internet of things (IIoT), at Strata Manufacturing and Sanad Aerotech, both wholly-owned Mubadala companies. Strata Manufacturing is an advanced composite aircraft parts manufacturing company, whereas Sanad Aerotech is a leading maintenance, repair, and operationsÌę(MRO) company. As a leading research center focused on advanced manufacturing and robotics, ARIC helps to develop innovative techniques for manufacturing through automation.

Badr Al-Olama, Head of Aerospace, Mubadala commented, “In the five years since we began our collaboration with Khalifa University on ARIC, we have witnessed significant progress to transform and advance the UAE’s aerospace industry. The jointly funded program is the first of its kind for aerospace in the region and, enables research teams from academia and industry leaders to join forces for a shared goal – strengthening the UAE’s position on the global aerospace map. The program also provides an opportunity for Emirati students to solve challenges facing the aerospace industry using practical approaches and helps us build a pool of homegrown talent who are deeply focused in building future-centric solutions. We look forward to continuing our successful journey, by enhancing our capacity building ambitions and accelerating our focus on R&D to enable new paths for growth for the UAE.”

Dr. Al Hammadi said: “Building on our successful first phase, the new four-year agreement with Mubadala on ARIC’s second phase will enable us to further intensify cutting-edge research in aerospace manufacturing techniques and solutions. In the first phase, three joint patents related to composite processing technology have already been filed and more will be filed shortly. Our research expertise has resulted in creating not only intellectual capital but human capital as well by exposing undergraduate and graduate students to latest technologies in advanced manufacturing. We expect credible and productive outcome from this agreement that will additionally enhance the UAE’s pioneering status in aerospace research, while developing talented youth into full-fledged professionals in this strategic sector.”

The first phase incorporated ARIC’s world-class capabilities to execute projects within the areas of advanced composite manufacturing and automated assembly to support Strata, which recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Ismail Abdulla, CEO of Strata commented, “ARIC is a unique model for R&D collaboration between industry and academia in the region. It provides a key link in our innovation pipeline as an emerging industry that relies on latest technologies to stay competitive. It’s refreshing to see our engineers working closely with university researchers and students in integrated fashion to solve real problems”

Mansoor Janahi, CEO of Sanad Aerotech reaffirmed the role of ARIC, commenting, “ARIC has played a critical role in helping build talent to support the UAE’s aerospace industry and we are very proud of the progress achieved so far. This new phase of the partnership, builds on our relationship to date and is indicative of our commitment to ensure world-class R&D capabilities within the UAE. Along with Khalifa University, we are looking to harness our strong network of customers and partners in order to advance the ambitions of ARIC – ultimately, growing the capabilities of UAE nationals and unlock global economic impact for the UAE’s national MRO industry.”

Over the past five years, ARIC has completed nine main industry-focused projects, 28 student-led projects involving 65 UAE national students, the emergence of several patented innovations, and more than 30 academic publications in reputed research journals.

News Writer
20 November 2019

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• Three Partners Sign Agreement to Locate Lab at Khalifa University’s AI Institute; MoU Also Signed on Exchange of Doctoral Students
• A Similar Second Lab Facility Expected to Open in Future at University of Milan

Khalifa University of Science and Technology, the University of Milan and the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa have signed an agreement to set up a Joint Lab for Embodied Artificial Intelligence that will be physically located inside Khalifa University’s Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent System Institute (AI Institute) in Abu Dhabi.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President, Khalifa University, and Professor Elio Franzini, Rector, University of Milan, in Milan. Officials from the two Italian universities including Prof. Antonella Baldi, Vice Rector for Internationalization of the University of Milan, attended the signing ceremony. Dr Ernesto Damiani, Senior Director, AI Institute, Khalifa University, was also present. Separately, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed for international mobility of doctoral students under the common supervision of two professors, one per university.

The Joint Lab for Embodied AI, which also involves the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa, will represent the first operational Unimi Laboratory outside Italy. The Lab stems from the long-lasting collaboration between Khalifa University and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, and will represent the physical hub of the cooperative relationship among the three Universities, each contributing their different but complementary expertise – Khalifa University in artificial Intelligence, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa in bio-robotics, and University of Milan in life sciences.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi said: “Khalifa University is honoured to collaborate with two top institutions in Italy. This agreement is part of our internationalization strategy. We hope establishing this relation will result in exchanges of faculty, researchers and students between the three institutions. Khalifa University has just started its College of Medicine and Health Sciences and has a strong expertise in AI applications to medical research. The strength of Milan in life sciences and of SSSA in bio-robotics will ensure world-leading research.”

Embodied Artificial Intelligence is an interdisciplinary research area that deals with the application of artificial intelligence to highly complex biological and artificial systems, using computational learning to identify their structure and behaviour. These findings are used to forecast future system evolution and determine the actions required to meet therapeutic or optimization targets.

Khalifa University ranks first in the UAE and second in the Gulf region in leading international university rankings. The AI Institute established at Khalifa University brings together seven distinct research centres specialising in robotics, computational learning, high-performance computing architectures, cyber-physical systems, computer security and data analysis.

Dr. Damiani said: “The Lab at AI Institute at Khalifa University will focus on the integration of artificial intelligence models and bio-inspired computational paradigms to make decisions that can be understood and assessed by humans, especially when they concern human health and safety.”

The Lab will be aimed at developing computational models of human cognition and quantum computing, bio-robotic and bio-hybrid systems for neural bioengineering, with potential application to neuro-rehabilitation.ÌęDr. Arianna Menciassi, Vice Rector, SSSA, and Professor of Biomedical Robotics at the BioRobotics Institute, said: “The proposed Joint Lab has a strong potential to perform world-class research in the area of embodied artificial intelligence and to attract resources and talents, facilitating scientific exchange between the UAE and Italy.”

The Joint Lab for Embodied Artificial Intelligence within at Khalifa University’s AI Institute is expected to be followed by a second facility at the University of Milan.

According to the agreement, the laboratories will host equipment and technology platforms of the three institutions, as well as visiting members of the University of Milan and Sant’Anna of Pisa. Khalifa University scientists will be provided with remote access as-a-service to the Italian partners’ facilities and technological platforms.

“The Joint Lab will enhance international competitiveness and encourage participation in research programs,” said Dr. Maria Pia Abbracchio, Unimi Deputy Rector and Vice Rector for Research. “Furthermore, it will provide high-level multidisciplinary technical assistance and services, accessible both from inside and outside the University, to stimulate innovation and cross-fertilization between diverse research fields.”

The Joint Lab for Embodied Artificial Intelligence will also provide international exchange opportunities for both researchers and trainees, particularly doctoral students, according to the MoU.

News Writer
29 November 2019

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