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Explore the Power of Open Innovation

The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is proud to present the second Open Innovation Event, a thought-provoking gathering that bridges industries, academia, and research to drive meaningful collaboration. This dynamic event showcases the impact of open innovation in addressing global challenges, fostering partnerships, and shaping the UAE’s knowledge economy.
TII Open Innovation
Event 2025
Date Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Time (Gulf Standard Time - GST) From 10 AM – 4:30 PM
Location Technology Innovation Institute, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Format Hybrid (In-person and Online)

What
Awaits You?

Inspiring Keynotes Thought leaders and innovation experts will share actionable insights and success stories, focusing on how innovation and collaboration can address real-world problems.
Interactive Panel Discussions Dive into impactful conversations on:
  • Building a sustainable knowledge economy.
  • Harnessing open innovation for advancements in key industries such as energy, defense, and technology.
  • Breaking down silos to foster cross-industry and cross-discipline collaboration.
Micro Challenges Showcase Discover the transformative solutions born from TII’s Micro Challenges, including advancements in AI, cryptography, aerospace, and more.
Hands-On Workshops Participate in interactive sessions led by innovation professionals, designed to explore:
  • Design thinking frameworks.
  • Practical applications of AI and emerging technologies.
  • Sustainable solutions for the future.
Networking Opportunities Connect with innovators, researchers, and decision-makers from across government, academia, and industry in dedicated networking sessions.

Why This
Event Matters

Collaboration Explore the power of partnerships in accelerating innovation and tackling pressing challenges.
Knowledge Sharing Engage with experts and thought leaders shaping the future of open innovation.
Practical Solutions See firsthand how innovation drives impactful change in industries and society.

Stay
Tuned

The final agenda will feature an exciting lineup of keynotes, panels, workshops, and interactive showcases. Highlights include:
01 Keynotes from leading experts in innovation and technology.
02 A Fireside Chat on The Future of the Knowledge Economy.
03 Case studies of successful collaborative projects.
04 Sessions exploring the latest advancements in AI, sustainability, and emerging technologies.

Agenda

9:30am – 10:00am

10:00am – 10:20am

Speaker
Jinan Warrayat Communications Manager, Technology Innovation Institute
Focus
  • The role of open innovation in solving global challenges and advancing technological progress.  
  • TII’s vision for empowering researchers and fostering collaborations to create real-world solutions.  
  • How initiatives like Micro Challenges drive impactful outcomes and position Abu Dhabi as a global leader in R&D.  
10:20am – 11:05am

Speaker
Matt Twilley Head of Innovation (MENAT), AWS
Focus
  • How Amazon’s Innovation Culture drives business and customer outcomes.  
  • This talk includes insights on the culture, mechanisms, architecture and organization set up to be able to innovate successfully.  
11:05am – 11:30am

Speaker
Ramesh Chander Head of Google for Startups & Developer Relations, Google (MENA-T)
Focus
  • The role of grassroots AI communities, developer groups, and startups in shaping AI adoption and innovation.
  • How knowledge-sharing within communities accelerates AI literacy and responsible development.
11:30am – 11:45am

Speaker
Dr. Horst Simon Director, ADIA Lab
Focus
  • How strategic investments in R&D and innovation are driving the UAE’s transformation into a global hub for knowledge and technology.  
11:45am – 12:00pm

12:00pm – 12:15pm

Speaker
Shibani Suri Senior Lead, Strategic Growth and Alliances, Global Engagement, Digital Data Design (D^3) Institute at Harvard
Focus
  • Exploring the connection between macroeconomic trends and corporate strategies to drive innovation and sustainable growth.
  • Highlighting the importance of talent development as a cornerstone for building competitive, future-ready ecosystems.
12:15pm – 12:40pm

Speaker
Christian Lindener Managing Partner (EMEA) and Board Members-in-Residence, Mach49
Focus
  • Stories from the corporate venturing frontlines that illustrate how to protect and renew the core of the business while embracing the chaos that is startup culture.
12:40pm - 1:05pm

Moderator
Dr. Chaouki Kasmi Chief Innovation Officer, Technology Innovation
Panelist
Kai Ling Ting Director of Innovation and R&D, ADQ
Focus
  • This fireside chat will explore the role of innovation and R&D in building a sustainable, knowledge-driven economy.  
  • Insights on fostering collaboration, empowering talent, and leveraging transformative technologies to drive impactful change.  
1:05pm - 1:45pm

1:45pm - 2:45pm

Session 1
Host
Wazoku
Topic
Using Design Thinking to Approach Open Innovation Challenges
Focus
  • A hands-on session guiding participants through design thinking frameworks. 
  • Collaborative brainstorming to identify and solve industry-specific challenges in tech, sustainability, and innovation. 
Session 2

Host
FKRA
Topic
Integrating innovation into organizational culture
Focus
  • This workshop will cover the foundations for fostering creativity and innovation:
  • Psychological Safety: Creating an environment where employees feel safe to take risks and share ideas that drive innovation
  • Healthy Workplace Culture: The role of trust, collaboration, and well-being in sustaining innovation
2:45pm - 3:10pm

Speakers
Dr. Hasan Mohammed Alhashimi, Acting Director of Innovation and Scientific Research Support Department,
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Hind Bellaachia and Yasmine Abdelfettah Portals Team, Advanced Technology Research Council
Focus
  • This session will introduce the UAE Research Map and ResearchHub, transformative platforms designed to foster collaboration and innovation across sectors.
  • These portals enable seamless information flow between researchers, government entities, and private sector organizations, breaking down silos and creating opportunities for co-innovation.
3:10pm – 3:30pm

Speakers
Hamad Al Rumaithi Strategic Projects & Transformation Unit Head, Office of the Support Services Executive Director, Department of Culture and Tourism
Dr. Ona Vileikis Documentation and Data Analytics Unit Head, Historic Environment Department, Department of Culture and Tourism
Focus
  • Harnessing innovation to safeguard culture heritage
3:30pm – 4:00pm

Speaker
Ignacio Gatell Vice President of Learning and Innovation Factory, EDGE
Focus
  • Open Innovation and Crowdsourcing: EDGE Success Stories
  • AI as a catalyst for Innovation in Operational Excellence
  • EDGE Learning and Innovation Factory journey to reshaping innovation in UAE
4:00pm – 4:20pm

Speaker
Schonning Eysturoy Senior Director Innovation Ecosystems, Wazoku
Focus
  • This session will explore how open innovation enables organizations to solve complex challenges by leveraging collective intelligence.
  • Through real-world examples and actionable insights, attendees will discover how innovation platforms empower collaboration, scale crowd challenges, and drive transformative outcomes across industries.
4:20pm – 4:30pm

Speaker
Jinan Warrayat Communications Manager, Technology Innovation Institute
4:20pm – 4:30pm

4:30pm – 5:00pm

Shaping the Future
Through Collaboration

The Open Innovation Event is your opportunity to explore cutting-edge ideas, forge meaningful connections, and contribute to impactful discussions that drive the UAE’s innovation ecosystem forward.
Join us in shaping solutions for a better tomorrow. Register Here

Innovation and Workshop Partner