The Intelak Incubator – founded by the Emirates Group, GE and Etisalat Digital – has today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai SME, the agency of Dubai Economy mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, to host and foster ‘Intelak Idea Lab,’ a three-week training program focused on giving entrepreneurial-minded Emirati youth the tools they need to turn ideas into businesses.
The MoU outlines the founding partners’ commitment and common goal to enhance Dubai’s stance as a centre for entrepreneurship and innovation. Through the partnership, Dubai SME will host an ideation lab in Hamdan’s Innovation Incubator, helping participants gain experience in business and entrepreneurship.
The agreement was signed by Abdul Baset Al Janahi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai SME, Abdulaziz Al Ali, Emirates’ Executive Vice President HR; Rania Rostom, GE’s Chief Innovation Officer for the Middle East, North Africa & Turkey; Abeer Nijmeh, Etisalat’s Senior Director, Business Strategy and Open Innovation.
“The Hamdan Innovation Incubator (Hi2) in itself is an ecosystem where entrepreneurs evolve and their ideas progress into feasible projects. The ‘Intelak Idea Lab’ is a significant addition to the entrepreneurial talent pool and sector expertise at the Hamdan Innovation Incubator. Dubai SME also see it as an enabler of our SME2021 Plan, particularly in terms of the Plan’s emphasis on sector-based capability development as well as partnership with regional and international stakeholders,” said Abdul Baset Al Janahi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai SME
“In today’s fast moving world, it’s important to recognise that creative ideas cannot stand without a well-developed plan of implementation. To turn abstract thought into a real and tangible reality is a feat that requires fortitude and hard work. The partnership with Dubai SME is the perfect approach to support young aspiring UAE National entrepreneurs by giving them a proper foundation to turn their aviation-related ideas into businesses,” said Abdulaziz Al Ali, Emirates’ Executive Vice President HR .
Intelak Idea Lab, which opens today, consists of five modules that bring travel and aviation ideas to life. Including training on value creation, market research, audience acquisition, prototyping and creating the perfect pitch, among others, the workshops are being led by an international facilitation team, and will give participants access to work class mentors from the founding partners. The end goal of the three-week programme is to have participants develop a clear and tangible business plan based on their aviation or travel related idea.
The Intelak Incubator, founded by the Emirates Group, GE, and Etisalat Digital in September 2016, gives innovators, entrepreneurs, and students from across the UAE the opportunity to submit their business concepts, and receive capital funding and incubator support. The second intake of Intelak will start in October 2017.
