Technology

The Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity initiative is advancing three international university ventures into pilot deployment and commercial expansion in the UAE, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and future technologies.

The programme, organised annually in Dubai, operates under the patronage and supervision of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

The initiative is delivered through a partnership between the Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Art Dubai, and the Hussain Sajwani – DAMAC Foundation.

Recognised as one of the world’s largest university innovation and entrepreneurship programmes, the initiative brings together 100 startups selected from thousands of submissions from leading global universities.

Three global ventures move into UAE deployment phase

The first cohort includes ventures from Switzerland, the United States, and Egypt, focusing on artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and sustainable construction technologies.

Oxara – Sustainable construction innovation

Swiss venture Oxara has developed technology that converts mineral and construction waste into low-carbon building materials using significantly lower energy requirements than traditional cement production.

Founded by Dr. Gnanli Landrou and Dr. Thibault Demoulin, the company is progressing towards commercial-scale deployment following a successful pilot project with a major Dubai-based concrete manufacturer.

The technology aims to support decarbonisation efforts within the construction industry while reducing environmental and financial waste management costs.

P-Vita – Agricultural biotechnology solutions

Egypt-based P-Vita specialises in biotechnology and AI-powered agricultural solutions designed to improve fertiliser production and food sustainability.

Founded by Mohamed Tarek Abdelzaher and Naglaa Mohamed, graduates of Zewail City of Science and Technology, the company develops natural and cost-effective agricultural raw materials aimed at addressing global supply chain disruptions.

The company plans to expand its UAE trials and farming applications this month, building on support already provided to more than 4,800 smallholder farmers.

Virufy – AI-powered respiratory screening

US-based Virufy is developing a smartphone application capable of detecting respiratory diseases through cough sound analysis using advanced artificial intelligence algorithms.

The venture was founded by Amil Khanzada, Assistant Professor at the University of Fukui in Japan, with academic experience from the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University.

Virufy is currently conducting a pilot clinical study with Dubai Health, with nearly 200 patients enrolled to date. The project is entering a specialised AI research and development phase aimed at creating accessible respiratory health screening tools for developing nations.

Supporting innovation commercialisation

Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, said the initiative is designed to help transform breakthrough academic research into scalable commercial ventures.

He noted that Dubai provides a unique ecosystem where government entities, private sector organisations, and investors collaborate to accelerate innovation deployment and commercial growth.

Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, said the programme reflects Dubai’s ability to attract and support global innovators through a strong ecosystem of institutions, investment, and public-private partnerships.

Expanding global partnerships

The programme also confirmed that its upcoming cycle includes ventures from leading global institutions such as Harvard University, Imperial College London, Petronas Technology University, and Duke University.

Several ventures are already in advanced discussions with UAE entities to launch projects beginning in the second half of 2026.

Dubai Future Solutions – Prototypes for Humanity supports startups through funding, business development, industry partnerships, and commercial validation programmes aimed at transforming scientific research into commercially viable solutions.

The initiative forms part of the wider Prototypes for Humanity ecosystem, which engages thousands of academic innovators globally each year.

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