Dubai Internet City (DIC), the Middle East’s leading technology business community, is exhibiting several immersive and cutting-edge solutions from its business partners at GITEX Technology Week, the region’s biggest tech trade show, from October 6 – 10. Its participation is testimony to its vision to contribute towards Dubai’s technological growth and evolution.

Under the theme of ‘Home to Great Ideas’, DIC is set to demonstrate how the community has fostered cross-collaboration and knowledge sharing; empowered start-ups through upskilling and incubation initiatives; attracted top talent; and facilitated the ideation and spread of technologies that are transforming the way we live, work, and interact with one another.

DIC will highlight a broad spectrum of innovative technologies by exhibiting regional technological firsts, from leading industry business partners including Google, HTC, IBM, Microsoft, and local start-ups JunkBot, Mirach Innovations, Viafone, Invoiz, Wondertree Magnus , AzaadHealth and Wakecap.

Visitors will experience the latest Cosmos VR headset from HTC that has no external base stations, the region’s first (and world’s second) multiplayer Virtual Reality Leadership lab experience proudly designed and developed in the UAE by Biz Group and AzaadHealth, an online platform that uses blockchain and military grade encryption, which allows healthcare providers and patients to securely share medical information using facial recognition and biometrics. Also, on the agenda are digital workshops by Google; talks, showcase of the evolution of gaming, and music streaming installations from Deezer among others.

Continuing the line-up of ‘first-time-ever showcases’, there will be technologies that help people of determination. The Xbox Adaptive, which makes gaming more inclusive will be featured along with the region’s first unique software developed by Wondertree Magnus Communications that uses Augmented Reality and Microsoft’s Kinect to assist autistic and down syndrome with exercising.

Acknowledging technology’s critical role across sectors, especially in education, is Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) that will be participating at DIC’s pavilion. Established to address the growing need for talented designers and innovators in the UAE and beyond, DIDI will showcase an AI Mirror and Shadow Caster, technology projects developed by its faculty and students.

Ammar Al Malik, Managing Director of Dubai Internet City said: “We are pleased to be the destination of choice for leading multinational tech firms, while serving as a launch pad for the region’s most innovative technologies through homegrown talent creating impact on a global level. This year we are showcasing brilliant local start-ups and their purposeful innovations right beside solutions from tech giants like Google, Microsoft and IBM – as a small-scale representation of our efforts to facilitate partnerships among tech businesses of all sizes. Since its inception, over two decades ago, DIC remains committed to driving the country’s cutting-edge innovative technological agenda enabling future-facing enterprises to achieve their ambition.”

in5: Fostering Home-grown Entrepreneurship

Startup incubator in5 launched in 2013, is an enabling platform for entrepreneurs that aims to develop aspiring talent and nurture a vibrant community of creators and innovators. Bringing the best of cutting-edge innovation to the fore, this year, multiple in5 Tech home-grown startups and members will captivate visitors and involve them in hands-on experiences, including real robot kits by Junkbot, and easily built customer service chatbots on Viafone’s Chat2AI platform. Startup Invoiz will showcase its cloud-based invoicing app moving retailers to issue digital receipts and save paper, while Mirach Innovations, another in5 startup, will display its drone-based smart farming system and smart utility meters. Startup Wakecap will demonstrate its live dashboard solution offering worker connectivity on construction sites to improve health and safety through smart helmets. Visitors will finally get the opportunity to try first-hand the immersive world of VR and AR learning through custom designed experiences and programs by Munfarid.

In line with its efforts to develop aspiring talent and to nurture a vibrant community for start-ups, in5 is participating at the Gitex Future Stars where they will also be hosting a ‘Tech for Good’ challenge during Gitex Technology Week. Open to public, the competition revolves around innovative business ideas aimed at tackling the world’s social, health, environmental and economic challenges. Qualified participants will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas during the event and winning proposals will receive cash prizes along with in5 membership and incubation packages.

Commenting on in5’s role in an innovation-led economy, Al Malik said: “Our incubation arm in5 serves as a springboard for local entrepreneurs and innovators, offering them an easily accessible platform to build and develop their ideas. More than 230 startups have been incubated in in5, including success stories such as Anghami and Wrappup, and they have contributed significantly to Dubai’s tech ecosystem raising hundreds of millions in funding and creating hundreds of jobs We are eager to see the ongoing growth of the in5 platform, and look forward to welcoming more such innovative entrepreneurs and professionals to our growing community.”

In the two decades since DIC was founded in the heart of new Dubai, the specialised tech business park has grown from strength to strength. Its partners have raised nearly Dh17 billion in investments collectively since 2000, asserting the reality of the city’s increasingly lucrative tech ecosystem, expected to continue growing at an average of 5 percent annually between 2017 and 2022 according to the International Data Corporation. Home to nearly 25,000 tech professionals and independent talent across 1,600 companies, DIC routinely organises networking and community outreach events that facilitate access to market leaders and Fortune 500 companies.

The business park expects to see an influx of talent and investment following the launch of its Innovation Hub, which is set to create 15,000 jobs, attract top international brands, and spur increased activity within the local tech industry.