The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, in collaboration with defence conglomerate Edge, has launched a platform called ‘Talk 4.0’ to drive digital transformation and sustainable practices. The initiative aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and learning among industry leaders through talks, workshops, seminars, and other activities. The inaugural event took place at the Edge Learning & Innovation factory in Abu Dhabi, featuring keynote speakers from renowned global organizations like Unilever and Amazon Web Services.
The Talk 4.0 platform aligns with the Technology Transformation Programme’s objective of accelerating technological advancements in the UAE’s priority sectors. Tariq Al Hashmi, Director of Technology Adoption and Development at the Ministry, emphasized the importance of spreading awareness about advanced technologies and empowering industrial leaders to adopt them through capability-building initiatives.
Furthermore, this initiative contributes to the UAE’s net-zero plan, as technology plays a vital role in industrial decarbonization. The UAE has committed to investing Dh600 billion ($163 billion) in clean and renewable energy projects over the next three decades, with a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
The UAE is also focused on strengthening local manufacturing and positioning itself as a global industrial centre. Operation 300bn, the country’s industrial strategy launched in 2021, aims to increase the industrial sector’s contribution to GDP to Dh300 billion by 2031, compared to Dh133 billion in 2021. The industrial sector’s contribution to the national GDP has already seen significant growth, reaching Dh182 billion in 2020, a 38% increase from the previous year.
Ahmed Al Khoori, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Excellence at Edge, highlighted that Talk 4.0 will bring together innovative thought leaders to challenge conventional thinking, share best practices, and shape the future of the industry. The program encompasses various initiatives, including the Industrial Technology Transformation Index, Industry 4.0 Enablement Centers, advanced technology incentives, the Factory of the Future Award, and the Advanced Technology test bed initiative. Overall, the Talk 4.0 platform aims to promote digital transformation, foster a culture of learning and innovation, and drive the UAE’s industrial development.
