A fundamental step in the international development of the MIND project

The Milan-based Arexpo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United Arab Emirates University s Science and Innovation Park (UAEU SIP) in Abu Dhabi, the innovation hub of one of the most important universities in the Arab world.

The MOU lays the collaborative framework for providing visibility and reciprocal access to innovative start-ups and businesses, including participation in acceleration programmes and investment plans.

The two parties will present shared projects to attract investment (for the Horizon Europe programme in particular), and periodic meetings will be organized to discuss projects, in addition to the creation of a joint Arexpo-UAEUSIP committee to implement and monitor initiatives arising from the collaboration between the Milano Innovation District (MIND) project and the Science and Innovation Park.

Arexpo is the owner of the 1 million square meter site in Milan, which hosted Expo 2015. Their mission is to transform the site into MIND Milano Innovation District, a world-leading innovation ecosystem.

MIND, is a science, knowledge and innovation district that aims to create a place open to the world that can promote territorial excellences, add value to both the investments already sustained, and to the Expo legacy. The innovation district aims to be a hub for excellence in the fields of life sciences, healthcare, biotech, pharma, agri-food, nutrition and data Science and big Data.

UAEU SIP is one of the key players in the strategic development programme of the UAE, aiming to become a global hub for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The Science Park offers opportunities to support innovation models, talents, start-ups, businesses and organizations through the development of international partnerships and networks, the exchange of best practices, and capital attraction.

The UAEU SIP is also the main partner of the UAEU Pavilion at the Expo2020 Dubai.

Igor De Biasio, Arexpo CEO said, This agreement represents a fundamental step in that it affirms the international scope of our project. The choice to work with Dubai and the Emirates was by no means random, not just because they represent one of the most dynamic areas in the world, but also because after the Expo 2020 Dubai, postponed to next year, they too will seek to create a district dedicated to innovation, similar to MIND.

It is clear that an extensive ecosystem of innovation such as MIND has to be incorporated into a setting of global excellence, as is certainly exemplified by the United Arab Emirates University Science and Innovation Park. Our objective is to create a network of connections and interchange with all continents, because MIND is also a major gateway connecting Italy to the world and the world to Italy.

Prof. Nihel Chabrak, CEO of the UAEU Science and Innovation Park said, To support achieving UAEU strategic goals, the UAE National agenda 2021, and the UAE National Innovation Strategy, UAEU SIP will serve as a landing pad to attract innovation-driven businesses from the industry - both national and international- to contribute to the regional development of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

Adding, Our partnership with MIND will help achieve this strategic goal by offering the tenants in this area of innovation the opportunity to expand their business not only to the UAE, but also to the GCC and Southern Asia considering our strategic location. We will also support by extending to MIND tenants the incentives that have been developed by the UAE to attract talents, businesses, investors and entrepreneurs to become the regional hub of choice for innovation