UAE: SMEs incentive programme, smart manufacturing competence centre launched

UAE: SMEs incentive programme, smart manufacturing competence centre launched

Region’s first-of-its-kind Smart Manufacturing Competence Centre (SMCC) and an incentive programme for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have been launched during the Make it in the Emirates forum held in Abu Dhabi.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) made the announcements which are aimed to facilitate transition to smart manufacturing and industry 4.0. The initiatives come as part of the 34 initiatives mapped out by ADDED’s Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) to achieve the objectives of Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy.

The smart centre will act as a catalyst for local and global industrial stakeholders to establish an innovative and sustainable ecosystem. Expected to commence operations in the first quarter of 2024, it will act as a one-stop-shop, focusing on industry 4.0 technologies to help manufacturers in their digitisation journey. Meanwhile, the smart programme seeks to transform 30 per cent of existing industrial SMEs to industry 4.0 methods in five years. The programme is supported by a Dh500 million fund, to drive productivity, technology adoption and increase Abu Dhabi’s global competitiveness. It will be implemented in collaboration with Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development. It will enable successful implementation of six transformational programmes of Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy: industry 4.0, circular economy,