Why Ireland is taking an interest in the UAE’s cleantech sector

Why Ireland is taking an interest in the UAE’s cleantech sector

The UAE government is determined to become a regional hub for clean energy development and production, encouraging the adoption and development of innovation in the cleantech field. In 2017, the government launched the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to boost the contribution of clean energy to the total energy mix from 25 per cent to 50 per cent by 2050, and increase the consumption efficiency of individuals and corporates by 40 per cent.

This has resulted in global companies setting up base in the country to explore ways to lower emissions, promote sustainable energy, and spur clean energy production. Among these companies is Enterprise Ireland, which uses Dubai as a foothold for Irish startups to start their businesses and expand regionally and globally.

Among the Irish cleantech companies operating in the UAE are NuLumenTek Ltd,  Automsoft, Suparule Systems, ESB International, and ResourceKraft. 

We spoke with Mike Hogan, senior market advisor at Enterprise Ireland to learn more about the government-led institution and the reasons why it is taking an interest in establishing a strong footprint in the Middle East.

Can you tell us more about Enterprise Ireland and its goal?

In Ireland, we don't have any kinds of indigenous energy resources, and we have high