Abu Dhabi, 27 May 2024

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the catalyst for economic growth and diversification in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and EDGE, one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence groups, signed a cooperation agreement today to explore opportunities in strengthening the industrial capabilities of the UAE’s largest emirate.

H.E. Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, H.E. Faisal Abdulaziz Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs and Chairman of EDGE, H.E. Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, and H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADDED, witnessed the agreement signing ceremony.

Under the cooperation agreement, signed at the Make in the Emirates Forum 2024, the EDGE Learning & Innovation Factory, a pioneering Industry 4.0 skills and advanced technology development hub, will provide high-quality training programmes, Industry 4.0 use case demonstrations, innovation events, and advisory services. As part of their efforts to achieve the objectives of the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy (ADIS), ADDED and EDGE will also explore opportunities to enhance Abu Dhabi’s industrial competitiveness and capabilities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and facilitate localised research in the field of sustainable manufacturing.

The cooperation agreement is the latest development in EDGE’s Industry 4.0 roadmap, and in line with the UAE Ministry of Industry & Advanced Technology’s ‘UAE Industry 4.0’ initiative, which aims to transform the UAE's industrial base into a globally competitive, productive, and sustainable sector at the cutting-edge of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.