Technology for a healthier life
Although information and communication technology (ICT) are the driving force behind our society, our health remains our single most precious possession. Investment in research and innovation in life sciences today is an important element in securing a...
Although information and communication technology (ICT) are the driving force behind our society, our health remains our single most precious possession. Investment in research and innovation in life sciences today is an important element in securing a long and healthy life, and thanks to ICT, researchers in life sciences can work better and faster.
Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), part of Tecom Investments is strategically located in a prime area of Dubai. Launched almost three years ago, DuBiotech is a science and business park dedicated to the biotech industry, set within a free zone infrastructure. It hosts a biotechnology industry cluster with the appropriate infrastructure, facilities and services for incubators, R&D labs, biotech-related educational institutions, suppliers, biotech-related manufacturing companies and organisations from other sectors in the life sciences industry.
"We are trying to build a bridge between research and industry," explained Marwan Abdulaziz, director of sales at DuBiotech, during a meeting in his office. "Having research facilities is a very important component of the knowledge-based economy. We have looked at the Dubai Internet City model and tried to replicate it with a different industry."
He set the record straight by explaining how DuBiotech does not want to compete with more established research facilities around the world but to offer something different and relevant to the Middle East.
"We are not here to compete with the Europeans or Americans. We are here to basically complement what they are doing. If you look into the population here from a health perspective, their requirements are totally different from other countries. Most of the research has been done on the Western population which is different from that of countries in this region."
Mr Abdulaziz sees a clear and important link between ICT and biotechnology, with one supporting the other.
"If you look at an area called bioinformatics you have all the data collected from clinical research and other types of research which is then put into computer systems for analysis. We are talking about large populations and a lot of data to be analysed."
The success of DuBiotech can be measured both by the number of partners and by their standing in the international business community. Pfizer, the world's premier research-based pharmaceutical company, earlier this year announced the establishment of its new medical and marketing headquarters in the DuBiotech park, licensed by DuBiotech. Pfizer's move is part of its strategy to establish Dubai as its regional hub for Middle East and Africa.
At the time, Jeffrey B. Kindler, chairman and CEO of Pfizer, said: "DuBiotech has a holistic vision on how the biotechnology industry is required to operate for registering consistent growth. The biotechnology park has realised the need for top-tier talent to sustain this line of business. Our partnership with DuBiotech also offers us a solid regulatory system and the right governmental support to drive innovation, which is crucial to the development of the biotechnology industry."
Like so many other projects in Dubai, works are still in progress. Upon completion, DuBiotech will cover 30 million square feet of built-up area. Its 22 million square feet park is divided into zones that are dedicated to various initiatives and companies of all sizes from across the life science value chain with an emphasis on research and development.
"The challenge for us is that it is a new industry," admitted Mr Abdulaziz. "A lot of the people find it hard to relate to it, unlike for example the real estate or hospitality industries. But we have taken a very different approach. We have gone to a big number of local high schools and told them about biotechnology. These students are the ones who have the choice to pursue this area of study. If they don't know about the opportunities in this area they would not go for it."
DuBiotech is also collaborating with local universities, especially the UAE University which is one of the best in the region, to support research activities.
"There is a national research fund by the government where a university can apply for Dirhams 10 million (€2.2 million) a year for five years," confirmed DuBiotech's sales director.
The secret behind the success of DuBiotech lies in the close relationship with its partners.
"The license is the start of the relationship with partners. We try to meet their requirements. From our end as DuBiotech we try to have a good relationship with the relevant authorities such as the Department of Health." One success story comes from Cryo-Save, an international cord blood storage bank. The group has opened the only such private bank in the region in the DuBiotech park. It has been an instant success.
DuBiotech park continues to grow. The Nucleotide Complex, hailed as the first regional dedicated modern laboratory compound, will cost €54 million, the costs being driven up by the accreditation of labs and cost of compliance to the high international ISO standards.
"The building is very flexible in terms of facilities. There will be diagnostic and analysis labs operating in the lab complex. It can house equipment training companies to train employees in operating new equipment. There will also be an animal facility for basic and pre-clinical research not done on humans. We are trying to consolidate the different requirements of the various companies in one building," concluded Mr Abdulaziz.
This is the second report following i-Tech's recent visit to Dubai Internet City and related parks forming part of Tecom Investments, which together with the Maltese Government is developing SmartCity Malta in Ricasoli.
Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), part of Tecom Investments is strategically located in a prime area of Dubai. Launched almost three years ago, DuBiotech is a science and business park dedicated to the biotech industry, set within a free zone infrastructure. It hosts a biotechnology industry cluster with the appropriate infrastructure, facilities and services for incubators, R&D labs, biotech-related educational institutions, suppliers, biotech-related manufacturing companies and organisations from other sectors in the life sciences industry.
"We are trying to build a bridge between research and industry," explained Marwan Abdulaziz, director of sales at DuBiotech, during a meeting in his office. "Having research facilities is a very important component of the knowledge-based economy. We have looked at the Dubai Internet City model and tried to replicate it with a different industry."
He set the record straight by explaining how DuBiotech does not want to compete with more established research facilities around the world but to offer something different and relevant to the Middle East.
"We are not here to compete with the Europeans or Americans. We are here to basically complement what they are doing. If you look into the population here from a health perspective, their requirements are totally different from other countries. Most of the research has been done on the Western population which is different from that of countries in this region."
Mr Abdulaziz sees a clear and important link between ICT and biotechnology, with one supporting the other.
"If you look at an area called bioinformatics you have all the data collected from clinical research and other types of research which is then put into computer systems for analysis. We are talking about large populations and a lot of data to be analysed."
The success of DuBiotech can be measured both by the number of partners and by their standing in the international business community. Pfizer, the world's premier research-based pharmaceutical company, earlier this year announced the establishment of its new medical and marketing headquarters in the DuBiotech park, licensed by DuBiotech. Pfizer's move is part of its strategy to establish Dubai as its regional hub for Middle East and Africa.
At the time, Jeffrey B. Kindler, chairman and CEO of Pfizer, said: "DuBiotech has a holistic vision on how the biotechnology industry is required to operate for registering consistent growth. The biotechnology park has realised the need for top-tier talent to sustain this line of business. Our partnership with DuBiotech also offers us a solid regulatory system and the right governmental support to drive innovation, which is crucial to the development of the biotechnology industry."
Like so many other projects in Dubai, works are still in progress. Upon completion, DuBiotech will cover 30 million square feet of built-up area. Its 22 million square feet park is divided into zones that are dedicated to various initiatives and companies of all sizes from across the life science value chain with an emphasis on research and development.
"The challenge for us is that it is a new industry," admitted Mr Abdulaziz. "A lot of the people find it hard to relate to it, unlike for example the real estate or hospitality industries. But we have taken a very different approach. We have gone to a big number of local high schools and told them about biotechnology. These students are the ones who have the choice to pursue this area of study. If they don't know about the opportunities in this area they would not go for it."
DuBiotech is also collaborating with local universities, especially the UAE University which is one of the best in the region, to support research activities.
"There is a national research fund by the government where a university can apply for Dirhams 10 million (€2.2 million) a year for five years," confirmed DuBiotech's sales director.
The secret behind the success of DuBiotech lies in the close relationship with its partners.
"The license is the start of the relationship with partners. We try to meet their requirements. From our end as DuBiotech we try to have a good relationship with the relevant authorities such as the Department of Health." One success story comes from Cryo-Save, an international cord blood storage bank. The group has opened the only such private bank in the region in the DuBiotech park. It has been an instant success.
DuBiotech park continues to grow. The Nucleotide Complex, hailed as the first regional dedicated modern laboratory compound, will cost €54 million, the costs being driven up by the accreditation of labs and cost of compliance to the high international ISO standards.
"The building is very flexible in terms of facilities. There will be diagnostic and analysis labs operating in the lab complex. It can house equipment training companies to train employees in operating new equipment. There will also be an animal facility for basic and pre-clinical research not done on humans. We are trying to consolidate the different requirements of the various companies in one building," concluded Mr Abdulaziz.
This is the second report following i-Tech's recent visit to Dubai Internet City and related parks forming part of Tecom Investments, which together with the Maltese Government is developing SmartCity Malta in Ricasoli.