Sharjah 24: The second edition of the MENA Innovation Technology Transfer Summit (MITT Summit), the region's largest specialised event in technology transfer and innovation, began, on Wednesday, at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park (SRTI Park), the UAE's premier research and innovation hub.

This came in the presence of Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations in Sharjah, His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates. In addition to a number of government department heads and directors, as well as a great number of researchers, thinkers, investors, government officials, specialists, entrepreneurs, and academics from across the world.

The summit takes place at a time when the world is undergoing a fourth industrial revolution marked by high technology in robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, quantum computing, biotechnology, the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, and autonomous cars.

Hussain Mohamed Al Mahmoudi, CEO of Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, expressed his delight at hosting the MITT Summit, stating that "the summit keeps pace with His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah's vision for the future, and that the Middle East has become the world's fastest growing market in business and technology transformation."

He mentioned that the Summit enhances the Emirate of Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates' position in the Middle East as a centre for innovation and technology transfer, as well as the Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park's position as an ideal platform for technology development and transfer.

His Excellency Thani Al Zeyoudi delivered a speech in which he emphasised the significance of convening this conference specialising in innovation and technology transfer.

His Excellency Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Teleworking Applications, gave a speech addressing knowledge transfer and the necessity of technology transfer and job applications.

Manahel Thabet, President of the Economic Forum for Sustainable Development, attended the opening session of the summit and thanked Sharjah for hosting such conferences that promote knowledge transfer.

The summit helps to unite visions by exchanging knowledge and presenting works in order to develop recommendations that will accelerate the pace of innovation, technology transfer, and digital transformation in the region, as well as strengthen the partnership between the government, private, and academic sectors in developing the country's vision for the next fifty years.

The seminars cover a wide range of subjects, including the region's start-ups' contributions to science and innovation, intellectual property in the Middle East, the role of government in technology transfer, best practices and use cases in technology transfer, and other pertinent issues.