Under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member, the Ruler of Sharjah and Honorary Chairman of Sharjah Tatweer Forum (STF), the Forum will organize the conference of “Life Sciences- Trends & Opportunities Conference”, to be held at the Medical College of Sharjah University, where decision-makers, government institutions, business community, academics and students will be introduced to a new knowledge-based biotechnology economic system. The conference will be hosting H.E. Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Economy and Planning, , renowned bio-economy expert Juan Enriquez, and H.E. Sheikh Tareq Bin Faisal Al Qasimi, Chairman of Emirates Investment Group.

The conference will urge individuals, public and private institutions as well as decision- makers in all sector to make a comprehensive review of this rapidly expanding area of sustainable business and industrial opportunities. The main objective of the event is to build awareness and understanding of the prospects that a bio-economy can bring to the UAE economy and to the region in general.

Among the main speakers, H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi is the UAE’s Minister for Economy and Planning. In November 2004, she became the first woman in the country’s history to assume a cabinet position. Sheikha Lubna is also the Chief Executive Officer of Tejari, the Middle East’s premier electronic business-to-business marketplace. Sheikha Lubna is a recipient of many awards for her personal achievements including the “Distinguished Government Employee Award” in 1999, and “Entrepreneurship Award 2004” from the Great Britain’s House of Lords.

H.E. Sheikh Tariq’s involvement with the development of Sharjah began with his appointment as Chairman for the General Authority of Sharjah Free Zones (Hamriyah and Sharjah Airport International Freezone) and continued to expand when he was appointed as Chairman of two major government authorities in Sharjah: The Economic Development Department and the Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Authority. He is an active investor who adopts a growth oriented investment strategy. His business interests include investments, real estate, property development, trading, construction, insurance, finance, transportation, contracting, services, and hospitality.

The keynote speaker Mr. Juan Enriquez is the Chairman and CEO of Biotechonomy, a company that researches and funds startups that are working to develop the promise of the genomic revolution. His book titled ‘As the Future Catches You: How Genomics & Other Forces are Changing Your Life, Work, Health & Wealth” became a global best seller. He has published several key articles and papers including, "Transforming Life, Transforming Business: the Life Science Revolution” and “Life Sciences in Arabic Speaking Countries".

Over the next few decades, manufacturing is expected to undergo a profound change. Advances in biotechnology and allied fields, especially nanotechnology, will reach the level of individual atoms and products will be designed and built to atomically-precise specifications. Sharjah Tatweer Forum (STF) takes special note of the sweeping changes biotechnology brings to economies the world over and wants the Emirate of Sharjah to be a leading force at the dawn of the bio-economy.

“Nowadays, we are facing a new challenge created by a rapidly growing knowledge-based economy. Advances in theoretical and experimental research are rapidly bringing biotechnology closer to important and practical applications. As a result, we are also seeing increased interest from the business and investment world seeking to turn the results of that research to real-world uses. We are optimistic that STF’s initiatives directed to biotechnology will pave the way for a new and sustainable economic order,” explained Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Chairman, STF.

STF works on coordinating efforts for promoting partnerships between private and public organizations in Sharjah.

Sharjah Tatweer Forum was established by an Emiri Decree of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, to be a non-profit professional organization deploying dynamic business leadership and having the optimal use of resources. The Forum aims at developing the skills and competencies of National youth in Sharjah, build partnerships between the private and public sectors, encourage entrepreneurship, innovation and excellence in the business and administrative arenas and ensure the sustainable development and overall progress of the Emirate of Sharjah.
 

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