ADQ Growth Lab aims to support UAE’s transformation into a knowledge-based economy. Shutterstock
ADQ Growth Lab aims to support UAE’s transformation into a knowledge-based economy. Shutterstock
ADQ Growth Lab aims to support UAE’s transformation into a knowledge-based economy. Shutterstock
ADQ Growth Lab aims to support UAE’s transformation into a knowledge-based economy. Shutterstock

ADQ launches Growth Lab to support R&D with $27.2m planned investment


Aarti Nagraj
  • English
  • Arabic

ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, launched the ADQ Growth Lab, a community of innovators from its portfolio, to support research and development in the country.

As part of the new venture, ADQ will invest Dh100 million ($27.2m) to fund R&D testbed projects, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

The company will also allocate further funds to fast-track the trial and adoption of AI and automation through proof-of-concepts and pilots, it said.

"By facilitating and fostering collaboration across ADQ’s portfolio and the wider innovation ecosystem, we are confident that ADQ Growth Lab will unlock growth opportunities that can accelerate value creation and further support UAE’s transformation into a knowledge-based economy," said Louay Chanab, chief strategy officer at ADQ.

Established in 2018, ADQ has a broad portfolio of investment spanning sectors including energy and utilities, food and agriculture, mobility and logistics, health care and life sciences, and transport and logistics.

The Growth Lab will foster cross-sector collaboration to facilitate knowledge exchange and strategic partnerships between industry and academia that can leverage research capabilities, the statement said.

Working with regulators, it will also promote development of emerging trends across ADQ’s core sector clusters and support partnerships with start-ups, scale-ups and other technology partners to accelerate growth.

To inaugurate the Growth Lab, ADQ brought together innovation and R&D leads from more than 20 of its portfolio companies.

The companies explored priorities, themes and opportunities to collaborate on R&D efforts to further boost the UAE’s economic growth and innovation ecosystem, the statement said.

To inaugurate the ADQ Growth Lab, ADQ brought together innovation and R&D leads from more than 20 of its portfolio companies. Photo: ADQ
To inaugurate the ADQ Growth Lab, ADQ brought together innovation and R&D leads from more than 20 of its portfolio companies. Photo: ADQ

ADQ has launched several projects and funds focused on technology in recent months.

It set up the UAE’s first special purpose acquisition company, or Spac, in partnership with private investment firm Chimera Investments last December with the aim of investing in tech-focused businesses.

The company, named ADC Acquisition Corporation, began trading on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange last month after it raised Dh367m through an initial public offering.

In March, ADQ partnered with Turkey Wealth Fund to form a new $300m technology fund that will focus on investing in start-ups in Turkey.

This month it launched a $100m technology-focused venture capital fund in collaboration with the Jordanian Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship.

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm) 
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm) 
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm) 
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn  (4.30pm) 
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm) 
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)

Sunday, May 17

Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)

Monday, May 18

Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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The lowdown

Badla

Rating: 2.5/5

Produced by: Red Chillies, Azure Entertainment 

Director: Sujoy Ghosh

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Amrita Singh, Tony Luke

THE SPECS

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm

Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Top speed: 250kph

Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: Dh146,999

The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre

The most expensive investment mistake you will ever make

When is the best time to start saving in a pension? The answer is simple – at the earliest possible moment. The first pound, euro, dollar or dirham you invest is the most valuable, as it has so much longer to grow in value. If you start in your twenties, it could be invested for 40 years or more, which means you have decades for compound interest to work its magic.

“You get growth upon growth upon growth, followed by more growth. The earlier you start the process, the more it will all roll up,” says Chris Davies, chartered financial planner at The Fry Group in Dubai.

This table shows how much you would have in your pension at age 65, depending on when you start and how much you pay in (it assumes your investments grow 7 per cent a year after charges and you have no other savings).

Age

$250 a month

$500 a month

$1,000 a month

25

$640,829

$1,281,657

$2,563,315

35

$303,219

$606,439

$1,212,877

45

$131,596

$263,191

$526,382

55

$44,351

$88,702

$177,403

 

Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

What is cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.

Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.

Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.

When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety

The 10 Questions
  • Is there a God?
  • How did it all begin?
  • What is inside a black hole?
  • Can we predict the future?
  • Is time travel possible?
  • Will we survive on Earth?
  • Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
  • Should we colonise space?
  • Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
  • How do we shape the future?
Updated: June 23, 2022, 7:10 AM