Emirates Scientists Council, ESC, announced today the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with Abu Dhabi Polymers Company, Borouge, which aims to support scientists in the UAE and promote scientific research. The agreement comes within the framework of strengthening cooperation between the government, the private sector and the country’s scientific and academic communities.

This partnership will open doors for fruitful collaboration in the field of scientific research and further activates the role of Open Labs - a pioneering initiative that provides UAE scientists with access to the country’s cutting-edge scientific research centres. The platform enables scientists and researchers to utilise the latest equipment to conduct advanced experiments that serve the development of science and which enhance the science sector’s contribution to sustainable development.

The agreement was signed by Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, President of ESC and Ahmed Omar Abdulla, CEO of Borouge.

"The UAE Open Labs initiative reflects the leadership's vision to support the scientific community in the UAE and to advance research in the country by providing the necessary resources and capabilities for scientists to develop solutions to meet existing and future challenges. Effective partnerships between the government sector, the private sector and the scientific and academic communities within the state is a fundamental pillar for achieving these goals," Sara Al Amiri said.

Under the partnership agreement, Borouge will lend support to the Open Labs initiative by providing advanced scientific research tools at the Borouge Research and Innovation Centre in Abu Dhabi for researchers from across the UAE, enabling them to conduct leading scientific experiments and studies. UAE researchers can also use the company's facility to conduct experiments that enhance the use of advanced science in finding practical solutions to challenges. Equipment provided by Borouge for researchers will include infra-red spectroscopy, thermal analysis and light microscopy devices.

"As a leading national company in the field of science and research, it makes us proud to contribute to the scientific development of the UAE by supporting local scientists and researchers and enabling them to access our scientific laboratories and use the advanced equipment in our Research & Innovation Centre," said Ahmed Omar Abdulla, CEO of Borouge.

The Open Labs initiative is a consortium of leading research institutions in the UAE. It aims to provide an advanced research environment and infrastructure to enhance the country's scientific and specialised sectors by reducing research and development costs by 30 percent.

Through the Open Labs platform, more than 510 pieces of equipment from ten of the largest research institutions in the country will be available for the researchers’ use. The Open Labs’ institutions include Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, Khalifa University, UAE University, American University of Sharjah, Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, ICBA, NYU Abu Dhabi, Emirates Global Aluminum, Borouge and Zayed University.

Source WAM