Government officials and participants explore practical application of innovation projects in UAE

UAE government officials and participants in the Diploma in Government Innovation, organised by Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, met together in a session during the second course of the diploma to discuss the projects they are working on and look at ways to develop them into viable projects.

During the interactive session, the participants showcased their innovative projects in front of their managers and local and federal officials, highlighting the positive effects of the development of work mechanisms and customer service. The officials and specialists offered their recommendations to the participants on the best ways to develop their projects.

Huda Al Hashimi, Executive Director at Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, commended the government officials for their active participation in the sessions of the diploma and for showing keen interest in discussing the projects in line with the objectives of the Centre to engage government entities in innovative projects and involve them in the development process effectively.

Al Hashimi said the participants in the diploma programme have completed the second course of the diploma, which included visits and interactive sessions with leaders, experts and specialists in innovation from government and private sectors as well as major international companies. It gave them the opportunity to interact directly with experts and gave them access to the best experiences, practices and skills to help them generate innovative ideas and turn them into a viable models.

Practical application of innovative projects
As many as 55 executives from 39 federal and local government entities participated in the second course of the Diploma in Government Innovation. They had completed the first course in April, which aimed to set the theoretical frameworks and concepts of government innovation.

The second course included lectures and workshops on how to choose the best opportunities for innovation. It also covered topics such as expected influences, economic feasibility, risk assessment in projects, tools and platforms for developing prototypes for services, analysing problems, and experimental design. The participants received training on the mechanisms of innovation culture in terms of strategy, processes and catalysts.

The session hosted Professor Christoph Loch, Dean of Cambridge Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge, Professor Stelios Kavadias, Professor of Enterprise Studies in Innovation and Director of Research at the University of Cambridge, Dr. Kishore Sengupta, Professor of Innovation Projects in Networks Management at the University of Cambridge.

Stefan Lindegaard, Strategic Advisor on Open Innovation, Innovation Management and Culture, and founder of 15inno.com, which aims to spread the culture of open innovation, presented a lecture on the concept of Open Innovation and how to promote it taking into account the needs of the UAE government sector. Lindegaard is also the author of several books, including 7 Steps to Open Innovation.

The diploma course focuses on the principles of innovation in the public sector, mechanisms of access to ideas and innovation, strategic innovation and implementation mechanisms, innovation and project management, innovation in the development of services, the creation of innovation culture and innovative leadership, practical applications and innovation laboratories.
The first course of the Diploma in Government Innovation was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

The participants in the Diploma stated that the great attention given by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to promote innovation has been a motivation for all government entities to adopt innovation and has encouraged innovators to create viable projects.

Sheikha Al Maskari, Chief Corporate Officer at UAE Space Agency, said the agency works in one of the most important innovation fields, aiming to strengthen the UAEs role in space sciences. This requires launching initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of space, and adopting innovating means to encourage the new generation to take up the study of science.

Gharib Al Mutawa, Director of Services for the Central Region in the Ministry of Environment and Water, said the diploma offered a distinctive approach to presenting scientific materials and implementing activities and practical applications. He pointed out that the diploma was an opportunity to employ innovation in developing operations and strategic planning.

Walid Al Rahmani, Director of Safety Policy Regulation and Planning in General Civil Aviation Authority, said the programme uses effective tools to transform innovation from a theoretical concept to practical levels through training, applications and team work on innovation projects. He said this programme is essential for the development of government work environments for the full adoption of innovation.

Fatima Al Naqbi, Internal Auditor at Ministry of Finance, said the Diploma enhanced her awareness of government innovation, and enabled her to use practical tools along with theoretical concepts in an integrated process.

The Diploma in Government Innovation is offered by the Mohammad Bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation in cooperation with the UKs Cambridge University. It aims to build national capacities, and prepare the next generation of the innovation CEOs to establish a new culture adopts innovation on daily basis, which enhances the transformation to future government, and stimulates the governments to make a quantum leap on the levels of services provided to customers in order to achieve highest levels of happiness.