Sharjah24: A group of 25 Marketing students from the prestigious business school, the Ivy College of Business from Iowa State University, were the latest to be dazzled by the innovation-driven ecosystem of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP), one of the region’s most dynamic incubation hubs for startups.
Accompanied by faculty members from the college, the students were visiting the UAE to find out how a global innovation hub develops, promotes, and markets itself. The group evinced keen interest in the UAE in general and Sharjah in particular, and asked questions about setting up a business, the overall business environment and the support offered to start ups and those new to the region.
They were impressed by the facilities and incentives offered to innovators at SRTIP, and hailed the innovations showcased and the exceptional levels of support offered to connect startups with the right people to grow their business and to build their network.
Mr. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SRTIP, said: “SRTIP has been encouraging students from across the world to see at first hand the amazing new innovations being created at this vibrant incubation hub. This visit and the result feedback from the students from the reputed Ivy College of Business is yet another endorsement of SRTIP’s business model and thriving ecosystem that boosts the creativity of innovative minds. Additionally, our close collaboration with the American University of Sharjah attracts many universities to study our model.”
SRTIP is focused on sparking new innovations by fostering R&D activities through a “triple helix collaboration" of industry, government and academia. The American University of Sharjah with 47,000 students is a key partner in this mission.
Some of the hottest ideas in making life better for humanity are taking center-stage at SRTIP. The suspended skypods for smart transportation are developing fast, 3-D and additive manufacturing are making headlines and soon the onsite testing of the world’s first electric car from Dutch startup Lightyear will take place.
Driving the forward-looking companies is SRTI Park’s Sharjah Open Innovation Lab (SOILAB), the first applied incubator for start-ups and innovative companies to create prototypes, in addition to the Middle East Center for Additive Manufacturing, which was launched to advance the UAE's goal of becoming a global hub for 3D printing.
The Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business prides itself in molding students for a future of progress — giving them the vision and skills to go out and make a difference in the world. It combines quality curriculum, internationally-known faculty, and a welcoming atmosphere to create an unmatched business education, whether students are seeking degrees at the bachelor, masters, or PhD level.