Under the aegis of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), a group of high-profile experts in research and development (R&D) announced the ‘Cities for Knowledge Creation’ initiative, in collaboration with global assurance, tax, and consulting services provider PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), on day two of the sixth annual Knowledge Summit.

The experts selected Dubai as the City of Knowledge for the 2020 edition of the initiative, where one city will be named every year at the Knowledge Summit in Dubai.

The 2019 Summit is held at the Dubai World Trade Centre under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, on November 19-20, and organised by MBRF. The new initiative is in line with the Foundation’s commitment to promote knowledge worldwide, launching a series of initiatives and knowledge reports.

Laurent Probst, Partner at PwC – Luxembourg and Global Network Leader of the Regional Innovation Ecosystem, said: “Dubai is an international city, and given the prominent initiatives the emirate implements in an effort to create knowledge, we launched this initiative in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, as well as our public and private-sector partners.”

“Guided by the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the emirate is working to develop knowledge and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” Probst added, calling on other countries to also put further focus and resources on knowledge.

Prof. Laurent Probst underlined the importance of the Knowledge Summit as a platform for discussing pressing knowledge-related issues, and focusing on elements such as innovation, sustainable development, eradicating poverty, and upskilling People of Determination. In 2020, Dubai will be the centre of the world’s attention as it hosts the Expo 2020, he asserted.

Probst drew attention to the initiatives being launched from Dubai, such as the Global Knowledge Index, the Future of Knowledge: A Foresight Report, and the Mohammed bin Rashid University for Knowledge and Sustainable Development, which was announced on day one of the Knowledge Summit 2019.