Abu Dhabi top innovative Arab Capital

21/10/2014 06:29 AST

Data analysis from the website (PatentScope) of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), revealed that Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, occupies the first position among the Arab capitals as the top city, which registered international inventions from mid-2010 - to mid-2014, according to calculating patents/million of the population.

This result catapult Abu Dhabi to become the capital of Arab innovation.

The data for the mentioned period indicated that applicants and inventors from Abu Dhabi city registered 76 int. patents (82.5 patents/million), followed by the Saudi capital, Riyadh third with 233 int. patents but with 41 patents/million, and the Tunisian capital Tunisia fourth with 17 int. patents (17/million), and the Moroccan capital Rabat fifth with 24 int. patents (14.6 patents/ million).

The data show that the int. patents registered by Abu Dhabi during this period are more than those of 12 Arab capitals. Moreover, the top team of inventors in the Arab world is based in Abu Dhabi. One of the main inventors of the team is a UAE national lady from the capital city of Abu Dhabi, Eida Almuhairbi, a top inventor female in the world for the year 2013. She registered only for last year 15 int. patents.

The WIPO data show that the team of inventors Eng. Wasfi Alshdaifat, Eida Almuhairbi, and Farah Afif Kassab registered within the four years period 45 int. inventions under the name of the city of Abu Dhabi in particular, and the UAE in general. Thus, this self independent team has contributed to more than half of the inventions of Abu Dhabi, supporting it to occupy top position among the Arab capitals. This team also contributed to 35 per cent of the 128 int. inventions registered under the name of UAE, compared to 22.4 per cent contribution from UAE oil sector and private sector, and 18.6 per cent contribution to the academic sector.

Almuhairbi said in a statement that “the contribution of her team to these results is an unprecedented compared to any country in the world. It is an indication that the draft of the National strategy for Innovation accomplished by her team, and submitted to competent governmental departments in the country, is a strategy prepared by an experienced team born in the same environment of the UAE.” She appealed to the competent authorities to expedite the development and implementation of this strategy, putting her team expertise in the hands of everyone.”

WAM