Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2019

By facilitating dialogue and inspiring action, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) is the largest sustainable development gathering in the Middle East region. ADSW offers a dedicated platform for accelerating the clear understanding of the social, economic, & environmental trends that shape the world’s sustainable development while empowering the international community to realize effective, viable strategies to mitigate serious global challenges and expand the opportunities for business in UAE.

Significance of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week is the manifestation of forward-thinking approach, and pioneering spirit of the United Arab Emirates in delivering avant-garde solutions to address the global energy security, poverty eradication, water scarcity, climate change, and sustainable developments goals.

By bringing together a unique mix of industry specialists, policymakers, technology pioneers and the next generation of sustainability leaders from around the world Abu Dhabi sustainability week aspires to offer a global platform for the progression of world’s sustainable development. Furthermore, the second edition of the Abu Dhabi Climate Innovation Exchange (CLIX) conducted by the ministry’s global initiative for enabling innovation in youth and contributing effectively to solve problems with sustainable solutions. Currently, the CLIX has received more than 811 submissions from all around the world which is a 222 percent increase from the previous year of CLIX 2018.

It is important to realize that ADSW through its innovative initiatives and events, facilitates the drive to share crucial knowledge, implementation of sustainable strategies, and deployment of solutions that drive human progress. Furthermore, ADSW’s holistic approach to sustainability aligns perfectly with the UAE vision 2030 which envisions the long-term sustainable economic growth in the country, and actively contributes to the UN Sustainable development goals.

Why Sustainable Development help Businesses?

The Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week’s (ADSW) agenda is designed to explore the role of industry convergence in accelerating Sustainable development and its relationship with economic growth. After delivering the promise in 2018 to transform the global sustainable energy development by building solar parks in UAE the government is keen on encouraging the next level of sustainable goals that can be accomplished by integrating industries boosted by the digital transformation and innovative solutions.

Moreover, studies in UAE have revealed that tackling sustainability-related challenges could save the global economy up to $30 trillion and help prevent millions of people being displaced due to climate change all this while expanding the business opportunities across UAE.

Consequently, the businesses and companies who are at the forefront of innovation and technology are keen to use this chance at ADSW 2019 to align themselves with the common goals and form collaborative bonds to perform research, co-develop, share ideas and support each other in deploying ground-breaking sustainable solutions to global problems that arise from various parts of the world along with the support of government of UAE and other leaders of the state.

ADSW 9^th Edition “Industry Convergence: Accelerating Sustainable Development”

The ninth edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is conducted under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

While we stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will accelerate sustainable development through the convergence of physical and digital spaces. The ADSW 2019 is themed “Industry Convergence: Accelerating Sustainable Development” with focus on accelerating the sustainable development in UAE and how the convergence of industries at various levels shall contribute to the evolution of long-term sustainable goals set by the government of UAE and United Nations.

The event is conducted at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from January 12 to 19 while it is expected to attract participants from nearly 170 countries, comprising the heads of the state, government officials, senior ministers, business leaders, technology experts, and innovators.

Pillars of Sustainable Development

Energy and Climate Change

The transition to sustainable energy sources will transform the way we power our economies, cities, and businesses. To achieve this requires the global community to come together to build partnerships, share knowledge and deploy large scale projects. The global energy transformation presents a huge market opportunity with US$7.2 trillion expected to be invested in new wind and solar PV plants by 2040. While China and the US remain the world’s first and second-fastest growing renewables markets respectively, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that India will surpass the EU in renewable energy capacity growth by 2022 as it more than doubles its current renewable electricity capacity.

Business Opportunities in the Energy & Climate sector

Clean Technology research, product development & services
Smart grid power management system & tools
Solar panel manufacturing, sales & distribution
Power generation from recycled waste
Recycling and treatment plant
Cool roof installation, repair & maintenance
Generator manufacturing
Green energy investment consultancy
Solar power plant monitoring, control & predictive maintenance
Energy storage device manufacturing (Inverter & UPS)

Water

A growing world population is putting extreme pressure on water resources, with global demand expected to increase by 55% by 2050. According to the United Nations (UN), the world’s population will grow from 7 billion today to 9.7 billion by 2050. This is expected to result in a 55% increase in global water demand. In response, governments and industry are laying the foundations for efficient water use, while establishing new techniques to maximize the reuse of wastewater. In addition, innovative water desalination technologies promise to significantly reduce energy needs, while the latest R&D is moving us closer towards the development of the plant.

Business Opportunities in the Water sector

Desalination plant
Wastewater treatment & recycling
Efficient water management system installation
Water management software & analytics
Industrial waste treatment

Future Mobility

A major global shift is underway which will transform the way people travel and goods are transported, especially in towns and cities, making it easier, faster and safer. Emerging technologies like autonomous cars, zero-emissions vehicles, and Hyperloop, are expected to become mainstream within the next 5 to 10 years. The UAE is on track to be the first country in the world to implement Hyperloop technology, which magnetically levitates and propels pods through a near-vacuum tube at speeds of up to 1,200 kilometres an hour. According to research, the rapid transition to advanced mobility systems by 50 metropolitan areas worldwide could yield US$600 billion in societal benefits by 2030.

Business Opportunities in the Future Mobility sector

E vehicle manufacturing
E-vehicle distribution & maintenance
Drone delivery services
Drone manufacturing, service & maintenance
Electric vehicle charging station
Power train design & manufacturing
Light-weight material production for automobiles
Electric vehicle design and development
Autonomous vehicle development
Electric vehicle fleet management solutions

Digitalization

Today the convergence of advanced digital technologies like big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IOT) are not only improving business operations, but also unlocking entirely new business paradigms, transforming nations, and driving real socioeconomic change. UAE has Embraced Artificial Intelligence and started harnessing this technology revolution over the coming decades will present opportunities to significantly improve the society and accelerates sustainable development.

Business Opportunities in Digitalization

Internet of Things
Ecommerce
Big data
Cybersecurity
Cloud Computing
Machine learning using Data Science
Digital and Information security
Integrating innovative Artificial Intelligence into businesses
Digital ecosystem optimization

Space Exploration

What do solar panels, implantable heart monitors, cancer therapies, light-weight materials, water-purification systems, and improved computing systems have in common? They are all critical innovations
that directly resulted from the field of space exploration. These technologies – all of which are supporting a more sustainable and prosperous planet – reveal how more than fifty years of human activity in space has produced societal benefits that improved the quality of life on Earth. Our desire to venture outside our own planet’s orbit has allowed the human race to study the space environment and contributed critical knowledge and capabilities to improve sustainability, including satellite telecommunications, global positioning, and advances in weather forecasting.

Biotechnology

Modern biotechnology is accelerating the development of breakthrough products and technologies, which are helping to reduce fatality rates, feed the hungry, reduce our environmental footprint and deliver more efficient industrial manufacturing processes. By harnessing cellular and biomolecular processes, the demands of agriculture, medicine, the environment, and society could be met. Biotechnology is currently being applied across four major areas, including healthcare, agriculture, non-food industrial applications and environmental uses, such as biofuels and biodegradable materials.

Business Opportunities in the Biotechnology sector

Bio-fertilizer production
Bio-degradable plastic production
Bio-gas production
Bio-gas equipment manufacturing & selling
Seed processing services
Bio-pesticide manufacturing
Stem cell processing lab
Minimally invasive surgical equipment
Vegetable processing plant
Innovative equipment for the visually impaired
Smart wheelchairs for physically challenged
Food supplements manufacturing, sales & distribution
Plant tissue culture
Biotechnology business incubator

Technology for good

The positive impacts that technology can have on society is monumental. Access to power, food and safe drinking water are essential to safeguarding the underprivileged. Having access to electricity allows a person to light up their homes, charge their phone and chill their food. The convergence of digital technologies, brought on through the 4^thIndustrial Revolution, the tech start-ups in UAE are playing a critical role in transforming disadvantaged communities, as it creates an interconnected infrastructure that provides access to information, education, health, finance and better access to aid during disaster response.

Business Opportunities in the Technology sector

As one of the largest and most impactful sustainability gathering, ADSW acts as a catalyst for change and development. The ADSW’s significance as a leading global platform for sharing ideas, policies, and as a place for innovation. With a significant hand in accelerating the innovative business ideas and expanding business opportunities in UAE, the forum has offered a wide range of policies, grants, and support that has positively improved the business environment in the country.

As a developing market in the Middle East region, with excellent innovation ecosystem with tremendous governmental support, UAE is the favorite destination for companies and business to start their business operations in the GCC. If you are planning to start your business activity in UAE, we at Commitbiz can help you to execute your business dreams. To initiate the first step, contact us- we’d be glad to assist you in your endeavor.