In partnership with University of Dubai and University of United Arab Emirates University
UAE, Dubai, September 2022: NASA Space Apps Hackathon will be launched in
United Arab Emirates on October 1st and 2nd, organized by Global Innovation &
Entrepreneurship (GIE), in collaboration with key partners, University of Dubai
and United Arab Emirates University. The Hackathon will be held in 6 emirates:
Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Ajman.
United Arab Emirates is hosting the Challenge for the third year in a row comes in
line with the efforts made by the state to consolidate the pillars of space science
and based on achievements to support the endeavor of giving in the field of Earth
and space science such as the Hope Probe project and the agreement to send the
first Arab astronaut for a long 180-day mission to the International Space Station.
This September is scheduled to have a number of activities in support of
participating teams from different emirates, where a training camp will include a
number of workshops and training sessions related to the challenges presented in
the hackathon in addition to skill refinement activities such as formulating ideas
and presentation methods, followed by the completion of registration stage for
participating teams on the evening of October 2nd via the
https://2022.spaceappschallenge.org/locations/dubai/event NASA Space Apps
hackathon, which devotes a country-specific page to registration and information,
with the teams eligible for international arbitration to be announced by October
10 and ready to participate in the World Arbitration Event.
His Excellency Professor Dr. Eesa Al Bastaki, President of University of Dubai,
Highlighted the importance of hosting NASA Space Apps Hackathon in United
ARab Emirates, and the accompanying activities and events related to the
challenges presented in this field, which contribute to refining the skills of
students and youth, and come within the framework of the country’s multiple
successes in the fields of Earth and space sciences.
He pointed out that the University welcomes and sponsors these events and
spares no effort in assisting creators and innovators from all over the country to
develop their scientific and practical skills and expertise in order to develop new
solutions and technologies that contribute to the progress and well-being of
nations and peoples in line with the University's fundamental goal of founding
and role in the fields of scientific research and community service.
He noted that the achievements of the UAE in these areas are part of the State's
innovation strategy launched by the late H. H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
in 2014, which aims at achieving innovation in seven sectors, and the space sector
is one of the most important of these sectors. and based on the vision of H. H.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE To achieve the
objectives of this strategy, the wise political leadership has taken care of
innovative ideas to enhance the quality of life of the UAE society and the human
society, which are based on key elements of innovation, the most important of
which are Human Capital and Research, Knowledge and Technology, Funding and
Investment, Infrastructure, Competitive Environment, Institutions and Regulatory
Environment, and Innovative Products and Services.
Eng. Mohamed Aboud, CEO of GIE, declared: “We seek to effectively contribute to
building an integrated society in space sciences by organizing the hackathon for
the third year in a row, in line with the UAE’s direction to support the strategic
directions of space science and technology policy, qualify Emirati cadres and
develop national companies that contribute to the growth of the sector,
explaining that Emirati cadres have been able during Last year’s hackathon is to
qualify and reach the stage of international arbitration in a step that reflects the
correctness of the vision and that we are on the right path”.
It is worth mentioning that the hackathon, which is being held for the eleventh
year worldwide, is supported and sponsored by more than 15 international space
agencies as the largest technological community specialized in the exploration of
Earth and space sciences.
Backwards to the 2021 Hackathon, the finals witnessed the qualification of an
Emirati team with a project idea in the field of food security based on data
analysis through AI techniques, after it reached the international arbitration stage
among the top 24 teams in the world after qualifying among 400 teams out of a
total of 4800 teams from all over the world.
