We spend a good amount of time thinking, debating and forecasting the role of innovation in society. From the spark that science education can ignite in a young child’s mind to the dedication evident in an attempt to set a private business, the innovative spirit is clear across society. As this is an economy that grew out of hydrocarbon resources, a healthy appreciation for and elevation of innovation is critical for the creation of a non-oil economy.
As part of the society-wide innovation, the movement of workers from the public to private sectors is necessary. The success of the future knowledge economy that we are creating partially lies in the appeal of the private sector. The public sector is the largest employer in the country for good reason. The security of employment is unparalleled and the remuneration is often higher than in private enterprise. But it is the private sector in which one can combine civic duty with exciting exploration and the innovative spirit.
Take the insight of Saeed Al Nofali, a 33-year-old entrepreneur from Abu Dhabi who is positive about his future in the private sector. Speaking with The National, Mr Al Nofali said that “having your own business or working in the private sector is an incredible experience that every young Emirati should go through”. Critically, he noted that the private sector offers a diversity of job opportunities that don’t exist in the public sector. “We live in a different age where what used to be normal isn’t any more, and it’s important for us to be able to work in different situations to be more adaptive to any situation in the future.”
It is no small task for any society to embolden its private sector. It takes a certain form of dedication and confidence to venture into the unknown and start a project or join a company where the future is anything but certain. But in taking that step, society as a whole benefits. If more young people, assured of their skills and ready to use them, boldly take on risk in starting a business, we will see the outflowing of innovation in all sectors. The more people attempt new and exciting projects in the private sphere, the more that others will want to join them. We have argued before that innovation is not one thing or one initiative or one product. True innovation arises because of a number of factors and enlivens society to test the boundaries of what is possible. Embracing the private sector is part of that basket.
