Sharjah's Research and Technology Park (SRTIP) houses the most cutting-edge 4th industrial manufacturing (4IM) machinery and is quickly developing itself as a gathering spot for global R&D heads.

The park is drawing businesses, communities, and researchers to work together to determine the future of crucial economic development areas and to address critical sustainability issues.

“The Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park are consistent with the UAE's 10-year strategic plan to place the country as a global market leader,” said SRTIP Chief Executive Hussain Al Mahmoudi.

The park's dynamic new phase will begin with the conversion of a 5,000 square foot space into one of the region's leading M2 printing machine facilities.  The central emphasis will be on metal printing, a domain that has gained interest due to increasing demand from companies around the world that recognize metal 3D printing's serial production capacity.

The building that will be integrated with existing 12,500 square foot 3D laboratories will use cutting-edge AI technology and will be mainly used for 3D printing metal components for the oil and gas and automobile industries.

“The Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park is a regional and global centre of R&D innovation, and we looking forward more to offer partners world-class 3D printing facilities incorporating cutting-edge technologies,” said Al Mahmoudi.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created considerable damage to global supply chains, and a broad variety of companies are now looking for 3D printing processing technologies that provide greatly increased durability and reliability over conventional production methods.

“We think the 3D printing facility we are developing will be well-positioned to satisfy this need while still providing tremendous value to the customer and partners.”

AI is heavily used in computer-integrated processes, showing no signs of easing down.  AI in manufacturing is projected to grow from a market value of 272.5 million in 2016 to a massive 4.8 billion by 2023.

Orders for robotics increased by 5.2 % in the 4th quarter of 2019, with 23,894 units ordered for a total sitting price of Dhs1.3 billion.

SRTIP, which was established in 2016, is a centre for advanced R&D and engineering environments, drawing leading scientists and engineers from all over the world to exchange expertise and develop innovative technologies of the future.

SRTIP, a Freezone of 100% international corporate ownership, supports research in clean energies, water management, environmental technology, transportation and logistics, manufacturing, design and architecture, and digital transformation solutions.

Fifty Sharjah government senior officials and key decision-makers recently stated that digital transition is no longer merely a necessity for the emirate, but rather an area fitted with strategic decision making, long-term investments, human capital training, and persistent efforts to enhance the emirate's economic performance, creativity, leadership, and sustainability.

They assembled for the first edition of “NexTech: The Formula for Digital Transformation Excellence,” a modern technology project designed by Sahab Smart Solutions to showcase promising new opportunities for digital transformation for the emirate's government departments. The event was organized at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre in Sharjah in collaboration with the Higher Committee for Digital Transformation (JRCC).

The officials examined Sharjah's present state of digital transformation, emphasizing problems and prospects, and discussing potential options for both Sharjah and the UAE. They emphasized that the right policies and regulatory structure for retraining the nation's human capital, a clear emphasis on making the nation's cybersecurity operations more resilient, and complete convergence of different sectors were pillars of effective digitization.

The discussions were mediated by Amin Al Zarouni, CEO of Sahab Smart Solutions, and were headed by Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah's Higher Committee for Digital Transformation; Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi; Asma Rashed Sultan Bin Tulaiah, Secretary-General of Sharjah's Executive Council; and Colonel Sami Khamis Al Naqbi, Director General of Sharjah Civil Defence.

Dr. Eng Khalifa Musabbah Al Tunaiji, Chairman of the Sharjah Directorate of Housing; Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq); and Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park (SRTIP) were also present.

The attendees made several proposals, including the necessity to increase collaborative investments between the public and private industries to improve projects, networks, and digital technologies to build stable and advanced public services, and thus make digital leadership a reality.