Delegates from five major construction companies in the United Arab Emirates visited the new GRID building at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.
The UAE companies represented were: Al Shafar General Contracting, Alec Construction, Turner Construction, Thornton Tomasetti and Jacobs Construction,
GRID, standing for global research, innovation and discovery, is due to open in its doors on HWU’s Riccarton campus in autumn 2019. It has been designed as a catalyst for radical innovation and international collaboration, to enable co-development of ideas and technology; accelerating time to market and giving Scottish companies an edge.
The delegation gained information about a tour of GRID, and Heriot-Watt University’s development of a Centre of Excellence in Construction in Dubai.
Dr Gillian Murray, deputy principal (enterprise and business) said, “This is a hugely exciting time for Heriot-Watt University. We are investing over £50 million in new digital innovation initiatives, including £19 million in GRID.
“We offer access to some of the best talent in the world, enabled by emerging technologies. In collaboration with key industry partners, we can create, curate and share new knowledge across sectors including manufacturing, health, energy and construction.
The foreign visitors followed by a visit from Innovation and Trade Minister Ivan McKee MSP, who said: “It was great to visit Heriot-Watt University to see its brand new GRID building and meet some inspiring entrepreneurs. Scotland is known for its vision as a world-leading entrepreneurial and innovative nation, one in which growth and innovation go hand-in-hand with fair work and delivering in a way which benefits everyone, so I look forward to seeing all that the GRID building can achieve.”
Dr Murray said, “Heriot-Watt has had a campus in Dubai since 2005 and this delegation underlines both the strength of our relationships across UAE and the potential for collaboration, focused on driving economic growth.
“By investing in initiatives like GRID, we are showing our determination to break down barriers, between regions and traditional ways of learning. Scotland is a global leader in many sectors for which UAE has growing demand, and strengthening bi-lateral relations will make it easier for Scottish businesses to access UAE markets”.
Delegates visited three Scottish Innovation Centres, at Construction Scotland, CENSIS and The Data Lab, during their tour and enjoyed a networking dinner with key players from the construction industry.
The innovation mission, organised and hosted by Heriot-Watt University, was sponsored by the UAE-UK Business Council, and supported by Scottish Enterprise / Scottish Development International.
