ABU DHABI, 24th February, 2023 (WAM) — AD Ports Group's 'Innovation Week 2023' is an annual festival that aims to promote groundbreaking creativity and advanced technological capabilities.
The event is in line with the UAE's National Innovation Strategy and is part of the Group's ongoing efforts to position Abu Dhabi as a global innovation hub.
The Innovation Week activities were launched on 20th February 2023, under the themes of 'Environmental Sustainability,' 'Internationalisation,' and 'Operational Excellence.'
This year's programme was expanded to include activities for both internal staff and the public.
The agenda includes virtual metaverse events, the latest cutting-edge technology, and a series of enlightening talks delivered by the industry's top experts.
The week began with a fireside chat featuring specialists from AD Ports Group and Microsoft Corporation on 'The Future of Work – AI Agents.' The chat provided valuable insights into the opportunities and challenges that AI will pose to global organisations and their workforce. The conversation facilitated further understanding of key questions in the rapidly changing AI world.
For the second consecutive year, AD Ports Group's Innovation Week will host an Innovation Hackathon. This activity encourages employees to collaborate creatively to develop solutions to current and future business challenges, culminating in pitches presented to the Group's key decision-makers.
A significant highlight of Innovation Week is the launch of a first-of-its-kind AI modeling tool. Powered by AD Ports Innovation, the app enables architects, designers, and facility management professionals to take a much more sustainable approach to energy management in the construction and maintenance of buildings and warehouses.
The state-of-the-art application, available online to all global stakeholders, has been designed with an easy-to-use interface and will calculate the estimated energy savings resulting from utilizing advanced climate coatings.
Throughout Innovation Week, AI innovation experts delivered hands-on autonomous truck training for the Group's engineers and technicians to equip them with both theoretical and practical knowledge on the subject matter. These activities align with the AD Ports Group's innovation strategy, which aims to maximise the use of automation in port operations by increasing the adoption of self-driving technology.
Eiman Al Khalaqi, Vice President of Innovation at AD Ports Group, has stated that the company is proud to be leading the way in the innovation and technology revolution.
She emphasised the importance of consistently promoting a culture of innovation through various activities and initiatives, as the UAE celebrates "UAE Innovates 2023".
Al Khalaqi further noted that AD Ports Group is committed to leveraging its diverse portfolio of projects and expertise to shape a sustainable future, in alignment with the directives of the wise leadership. The company strives to pioneer innovation that will facilitate sustainable growth and enable expansion into competitive global markets. By mastering the art of innovation, AD Ports Group aims to set the industry standard and create lasting transformation for the future of trade.
The seven-day calendar of AD Ports Group's Innovation Week 2023 concludes on February 28th with an awards ceremony to honour the creative minds whose ideas were received through the IBTIKAR idea management platform. Since its inception, the creativity and innovation programme has witnessed over 12,800 inspiring ideas generated by innovators within AD Ports Group staff and stakeholders. Many innovators have been recognised and rewarded for their contributions.
In recent years, AD Ports Group has made tremendous strides in advancing sustainability strategies in the maritime and logistics industries. From research and development to successful implementation of projects, the group focuses on improving efficiency and utilising renewable energy sources to reduce emissions.
As we commemorate the Year of Sustainability, the group's efforts will be crucial in furthering sustainability goals while striving to ensure that these efforts are not only continued but amplified in the future.
Moreover, with the UAE hosting the UN's Climate Conference, 'COP 28', the Group is committed to working towards achieving the goals of sustainable development.