Play video
Mohamed bin Zayed, Inaugurates EDGE, an Advanced Technology Conglomerate, poised to Transform Defence Industrial Capabilities
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces today inaugurated EDGE, a company set to reposition 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 defence sector, and with a priority on national security, EDGE is consolidating more than 25 entities, including subsidiaries from the Emirates Defence Industries Company (EDIC), Emirates Advanced Investments Group (EAIG), Tawazun Holding, and other independent organisations.
His Excellency 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 defence 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 Defence, 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, His Excellency Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, Chief Executive Officer of Tawazun Economic Council (the UAE’s Defence Enabler) said: “We are invested in managing the uncertainty that technology brings by adapting our focus and capabilities towards a sustainable defence and security industry. EDGE will help us transform our domestic capabilities, while growing our engagements on defence 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.
Footage:
Loosely edited rushes material shot to broadcast news standards will be available on the download link below from 1200 GMT on Tuesday November 5th
It is free of charge, with no copyright restrictions except for the following. Restrictions - Strictly No Access Or Use In Qatar.
https://markettierscloud.egnyte.com/fl/J8sXZkMuY9
It includes the following;
- GVs of artillery firing, ammunition , and military vehicles
- Manufacturing of military and shipbuilding technology
- GVs of this morning’s press conference
- Soundbites: His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, CEO and MD, EDGE
- Soundbites: His Excellency Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, CEO, Tawazun Economic Council
- Soundbites: Bob Harward, CEO, Lockheed Martin, Middle East (TBC)
Additional Information
EDGE is an advanced technology group established to develop disruptive solutions for defence and beyond. Solving real world challenges, it is dedicated to bringing innovative technologies and services to market with greater speed and efficiency.
Starting with breakthrough innovations in the high investment sector of defence, EDGE places a priority on national security. Consolidating over 25 entities and employing more than 12,000 brilliant minds, it offers expertise in five core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Cyber Defence, Electronic Warfare & Intelligence and Mission Support.
With the adoption of advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials, and a focus on artificial intelligence across all products and services, EDGE is creating interoperability and developing cross domain expertise – responding to an era where adaptability is everything.
EDGE is developing deeper international and local partnerships across the defence and technology spectrum. It is a magnet for global expertise and exceptional talent, reimaging capabilities with research and development at its core.
ENDS
B-roll and other materials including images will also be made available on Red Robots MediaGRAB: https://mediagrab.press/presskit/EDGE
THIS IS A VIDEO NEWS RELEASE - RED ROBOT LTD ACCEPT NO EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENTIRE CONTENT OR INFORMATION RELATING TO THIS VIDEO NEWS B-ROLL, INCLUDING ALL CLAIMS, NAMES, DATES, SCRIPTS, ADVISORIES AND COPYRIGHTS.
THE END USER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IN CONTINUING TO VIEW THIS CONTENT THE END USER ACCEPTS THAT RED ROBOT LTD EXPRESSLY EXCLUDES ALL LIABILITY FOR AND SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY FOR THE CONTENT INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
* EDITORIAL CONTENT
* ACCURACY OF REPORTING
* ANY BREACH OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
* TECHNICAL QUALITY
* ANY POST DISTRIBUTION MANIPULATION OF THE CONTENT
* ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE USE OF THE CONTENT FOR ANY PURPOSES NOT INTENDED BY THE DISTRIBUTOR
Transcripts
His Excellency Faisal Al Bannai, CEO and Managing Director, EDGE
Advanced technologies cut across all parts of our life. Whether it’s our civilian life or technology life that we have. We will be investing in everything from autonomous capabilities to quantum computing to robotics to artificial intelligence that cuts across everything. With one clear simple purpose. How can we deliver all of this to our customers in a way that they can see the immediate results in a very efficient manner for them.
EDGE was set up with a purpose to be able to deliver a different mind-set to how the defence industry supports. A mind-set that is bringing practicality, a mind-set that is bringing speed, and a mind-set that is bringing efficiency in terms of the defence industry.
And today as the UAE, the UAE deserves to have a large industrial partner, a modern defence player to be playing and that’s one of the key reasons why EGDE was set up.
Bob Harward, CEO, Lockheed Martin Middle East
Today’s announcement on EDGE is indicative of the growth and future of the aerospace and defence industry in the UAE and for us it has allowed us to partner in ways we’ve never had before, leveraging our technology and our people to realise the full potential for UAE in the future.
The UAE has brought all of their assets together under the leadership and management of EDGE and we’re going to do the same with our technology ensuring we answer all those national security threats that UAE is focused on for the future.
His Excellency Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, Chief Executive Officer of Tawazun Economic Council (UAE’s Defence Enabler)
To have a company like EDGE with a forward looking potential and understanding what is available and how can they support the defence industry and at the same time the commercial world. It’s very important for both Tawazun, EDGE and the country as a whole.
In UAE we are at a transition stage, we are going from a country that was just producing into an industrial country. We want to have more engineering activities, we want to have more development activity, we want to be able to have our own unique products developed within UAE and in partnership with international players. That’s what EDGE can bring to the table. Because of the size of EDGE and the focus of EDGE they can achieve that.
5 November 2019
