Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Tuesday inaugurated EDGE, a company set to re-position the UAE as a notable global player in advanced technology. With the digital era creating unprecedented challenges and opportunities, EDGE is positioned to disrupt capabilities across a wide breadth of industries. Starting with break-through innovations in the high investment defense sector, and with a priority on national security, EDGE is consolidating more than 25 entities, including subsidiaries from the Emirates Defense Industries Company (EDIC), Emirates Advanced Investments Group (EAIG), Tawazun Holding, and other independent organizations. Faisal Al Bannai, CEO and Managing Director, EDGE said, "EDGE will invest extensively across R&D, working closely with front-line operators to design and deploy practical solutions that address real world challenges." He added: "The solution to address hybrid warfare, lies at the convergence of innovations from the commercial world and the military industry. Established with a core mandate to disrupt an antiquated military industry generally stifled by red tape, EDGE is set to bring products to market faster and at more cost-effective price points." Al Bannai has been appointed to lead EDGE, based on his start-up background and proven track record in leveraging emerging technologies to expand business opportunities at home and abroad. In contributing to innovation and advanced technology growth, EDGE will develop deeper partnerships with world-leading industry OEMs and defense contractors, the SME sector and academia alike. Accelerating the rate of innovation, it will also be attracting elite industry experts and talent from around the globe, to help on a wide spectrum of modern product development, ranging from ideation to building cross domain capabilities over its five core business clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Cyber Defense, Electronic Warfare & Intelligence, and Mission Support. The company is set to implement advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials, with a focus on artificial intelligence across all its products and services. Commenting on EDGE, Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, Chief Executive Officer of Tawazun Economic Council (the UAE's Defense Enabler) said: "We are invested in managing the uncertainty that technology brings by adapting our focus and capabilities towards a sustainable defense and security industry. EDGE will help us transform our domestic capabilities, while growing our engagements on defense and security exports." In 2018, the UAE topped the Global Innovation Index for the Arab world. EDGE aims to help the UAE to retain and expand that foremost position. — SG
