Khalifa University showcases its innovative initiatives during "QS World Skills Week"
Washington, April 13 / WAM / Khalifa University of Science and Technology participated in the activities of “QS World Skills Week 2026”, the prominent international platform that focuses on the future of skills, employability and transformation in the higher education sector, and was held in Washington, DC.
The university has strengthened its global leadership in the field of applied research, innovation and technology transfer, in line with strengthening the national innovation agenda and economic diversification goals in the UAE.
His Excellency Professor Ibrahim Al-Hajri, President of Khalifa University, in his capacity as an invited member of a strategic dialogue session entitled “Applied Research Skills and Technology Transfer”: Aligning University Outputs with the Needs of the Industrial Sector,” stressed that applied research and the commercialization of technology remain among the basic pillars supporting the UAE’s long-term vision towards building a diversified economy based on innovation.
He highlighted some of the areas focused on by Khalifa University Projects Company, the integrated arm of the university in the commercial marketing and technology transfer sectors.
His Excellency said that applied research represents the intersection of knowledge and commitment, and universities must go beyond the scope of discovery to ensure that research achieves tangible value, especially through modern technologies, scalable solutions, and sustainable projects that address actual challenges. Khalifa University’s proactive approach relies on providing researchers with commercial expertise and linking them to the industrial sector, ensuring that discoveries contribute directly to supporting economic diversification and societal progress.
He added that this approach is in line with the UAE’s strategic direction towards transforming into a knowledge-based economy supported by advanced technology, innovation and competencies.
Khalifa University Projects Company is an essential hub in the applied research system at Khalifa University, as it provides an integrated platform to support intellectual property protection, establish projects, grant licenses, industrial cooperation, and disseminate innovations and products in the markets.
Through Khalifa University Projects, the university has demonstrated its ability to transform pioneering research into impact-focused technologies.
These technologies include advanced materials and energy solutions that were developed at the university and successfully licensed to industry partners at the regional level, contributing to improving efficiency and sustainability in the energy sector.
The university’s research laboratories have also made progress with regard to health and biomedical innovations through the proof-of-concept and early commercialization stages, opening horizons towards clinical validation and market adoption of these innovations.
In addition, Khalifa University Projects Company contributed to supporting startups specialized in the field of deep technology founded by members of the academic staff and researchers at Khalifa University through the project development framework of Khalifa University Projects Company, which allowed it to attract foreign investments and form strategic partnerships with international technology companies.
These initiatives are closely aligned with the university’s strategic pillars, such as human capital development, research excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship, and industry engagement.
The session concluded with a discussion of the importance of possessing multidisciplinary skills in both technology and business, as well as frameworks and best practices followed regarding the transfer of scalable technology, which strengthens Khalifa University’s position as a model for integration between the university and the industrial sector to support economic transformation.
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