Abu Dhabi University plans biotechnology centre

The Abu Dhabi University is set to launch the UAE’s first biotechnology incubation initiative to support research commercialisation to transform Arab patents into marketable products. The plans were announced on Tuesday after an agreement was reached by the university and medical research and product development company, AccuVis Bio – financed by the Khalifa fund. “ADU is building a full eco-system for innovation and entrepreneurship through ADU Enterprise,” said Dr Nabil Ebrahim, Chancellor of ADU. “Its objective is to incubate and  commercialise research outcomes and establish technology based enterprises.” He added that the initiative aims to raise awareness about the importance of technology incubators in higher education throughout the UAE and the region as they contribute to nurturing creativity. “Both ADU and Accuvis Bio will work together on developing joint publications,  collaborative research and student training,” said Dr Ebrahim. AccuVis Bio is supported by the Arab Science and Technology Foundation and is one of the first regional companies to develop and manufacture diagnostic kits and equipment. It is a medical research and development company targeting innovative research from within the Arab world. The essential idea of the agreement between the two entities is to incubate the UAE and Middle East developed medical research products and market them internationally – resulting in the exportation of knowledge.