What were the key criteria for selecting the startups included in this year’s Top 50 Contech Startups list?
The selection process is based on several criteria and is decided by the Investment &  Business Development team. One of the strongest sources to build this list is the Construction Startup Competition, completed with the contributions from our investment and collaboration pipeline. We select startups with unique and innovative solutions that are aligned with Cemex Ventures’ four focus areas—green construction, enhanced productivity, supply chain, and construction future—and their potential to disrupt traditional practices of the construction industry. Overall, we aim to find passionate and resilient entrepreneurs and businesses that are covering the needs and challenges of the current built environment.

What major trends in construction technology stood out among the companies on the list this year?
This year, we saw a surge in solutions addressing the reduction of carbon footprint through sustainable materials (recycled and upcycled materials) and more efficient and productive construction processes.. There was also a noticeable rise in AI-driven tools for project management, project tracking, predictive analytics & maintenance, and automation, as well as advancements in industrialized construction methods and robotics to address labour shortages and efficiency gaps. Beyond our Top 50 report, we saw that 37% of all the capital raised in construction tech ecosystem went to AI, and the largest deals registered in 2024 went to solutions using AI.

Are there any regions or markets that showed a notable increase in innovation or representation in this year’s list compared to previous years?
North America and Europe continue leading the investment activity in our industry with 85% of all Contech transactions. From a deal perspective, Asia-Pacific showed significant growth in representations, with innovative startups tackling challenges unique to densely populated urban areas. Europe also strengthened its presence with growth across all the focus areas, although sustainability and productivity took 66% of the transactions. It seems that sustainability-driven solutions continue reflecting the region’s regulatory pressure to adopt and implement greener construction practices.

How many selected startups focus on sustainability, and what specific solutions stood out in addressing environmental challenges?
We try to build a balanced list of startups across our verticals every year. However, we see solutions from other buckets with a slight sustainability component, such as making processes efficient and greener by consuming fewer resources. In the Green Construction group, key innovations included CCUS technologies, LCA tools, AI tools for optimizing material usage, recycled construction materials and waste management, startups developing alternative cementitious materials and water efficiency & conservation.

With AI becoming increasingly integral, how are the listed startups leveraging artificial intelligence and automation to transform the construction industry?
AI is being used across various phases of the construction value chain, from generative design to predictive maintenance and real-time project monitoring. Many startups on the list leverage AI to optimize workflows, improve safety through automated risk assessments, and reduce project delays by predicting supply chain bottlenecks. Likewise, automation is particularly prevalent in robotics for tasks like bricklaying, 3D printing, site inspections or rebar works. 

Which startups or categories on the list do you see as having the highest investment potential or the greatest impact in the near future?
Startups focused on the sustainability, decarbonization and supply chain efficiency fields stand out for their investment potential, given the pressing demand for tackling industry´s carbon footprint, resource optimization, regulatory pressure and meet carbon budgets and targets. Specifically, those developing low-carbon materials, energy-efficient technologies, and AI-driven supply chain platforms are likely to have the greatest near-term impact. Lastly, the race for full automated sites has started, startups succeeding in automation lowering actual costs and increasing production will also take investors’ attention.

Are any of the startups from the list currently collaborating with Cemex Ventures, and if so, can you share examples of these partnerships?
All the startups included in the list are (or has been) part of our pipeline. While all these companies can benefit from our knowledge, our extensive network, or programs like the Construction Startup Competition, we prioritize those solutions whose vision is aligned with Cemex´s strategic needs and those that can help our operations to be more sustainable and efficient making our corporation more reliable and competitive. For example, some of these startups have participated in our acceleration program LeapLab, others are already collaborating with our operations and others are working with our Global R&D team.

Based on the innovations showcased, what do you see as the most significant opportunities and challenges for Contech in the next 5-10 years?
The most promising opportunities lie in addressing our industry decarbonization challenges throughout the entire construction lifecycle. The optimization of processes to make construction sites leaner and agile performing tasks on time and on budget will continue with capital inflows in the next years. Advances in AI, robotics, and industrialized construction will help to achieve this level of optimization. However, challenges include the slow adoption rate of new technologies due to the fragmented nature of the industry, regulatory hurdles, materials scarcity or the need for substantial investment to scale these solutions globally.

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Innovation practitioners are familiar with the concepts of innovation labs, R&D centres, corporate VC, Venture builders, etc. Although these all work in different ways, they have one thing in common: they all are organisational structures with the aim of driving innovation. However, the “innovation vocabulary” is still missing a word that brings all of these under a single umbrella label. GELLIFY aims to change that by popularising the term “innovation vehicles”.

The newly released report also provides a comparative insight into the venture-building and innovation landscape of the 90s and today, illustrating how corporates’ legacy approach to innovation worked in stable environments versus what types of “innovation vehicles” are needed by the corporates to thrive today.

According to Statista, the S&P 500 companies’ lifespan in the 80s was over 40 years which meant less pressure to innovate and traditional methods of innovation – which GELLIFY classified as four – “old school vehicles” typically comprised of M&As, joint ventures, R&D/tech labs, and internal innovation (processes & tools) were enough to keep up with the competition.

While today, corporates do operate and adapt to markets with low entry barriers, fast changing technologies, and more customer power, they also need to adopt faster and more agile ways to innovate, via what GELLIFY terms ‘modern innovation’ vehicles, in order to avoid being disrupted, especially as the average age of a company listed on the S&P 500 has now fallen to less than 20 years.

“20 years ago, innovation was mainly an R&D game in scientific fields, businesses were changing by a very rational re-engineering process, often driven by the intent to adopt existing best practices in years’ time. Today, innovation is a creative exercise that has become a continuous process of inventing new ways of working and disruptive business models, to beat the competitors, in months!” – says Massimo Cannizzo, CEO & Co-Founder at GELLIFY Middle East.

This can be enabled by setting up “new” innovation vehicles, what GELLIFY classifies as “organisational entities that manage and execute different types of innovation with purpose and structure”, as the old vehicles already have a more defined structure, while for the new ones, this does not always happen. This will allow corporate innovation to be focused, clear, repeatable, and measurable.

Each innovation vehicle is a permanent unit (e.g., it is not a project or task force) and has a specific set of objectives, a dedicated team, funding, etc. An innovation vehicle goes through a process where each characteristic of the vehicle is carefully designed, depending on several factors, such as resources, existing culture, and corporate objectives. These entities can be more or less tied to the core business ‘mothership’: in terms of culture, physical location, funding, legal structure, etc.

Without a well-defined innovation vehicle, a corporate entity risks falling into the trap of the 4 innovation sins and of the ‘innovation theater’, namely: lack of structure, lack of strategy and purpose, poor execution, and lack of innovation culture.

Most importantly, we must not forget that corporate Innovation is a journey. The destination of the company, goals, path, pace, background etc. could suggest different vehicles for different journeys. Creating an innovation vehicle that is efficient and perfectly suits the needs of the corporate is not immediate and does not have to be the “Rolls-Royce”, but building & launching a vehicle quickly and refining it over time is the right approach to success.

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With the signing of an MoU by the two organizations at the Indian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, MBRSG will now be part of TCS’ academic Co-Innovation Network, a global ecosystem of leading academic institutions for research collaborations. As part of the collaboration, TCS will institute the ‘TCS UAE Innovation Scholarship’ to sponsor a scholarship for a deserving Emirati student of MBRSG. Likewise, MBRSG will offer a scholarship to a deserving TCS employee.

TCS will also apply its expertise to support the school’s Master of Innovation Management (MIM) program and the Agile Government System Initiative. TCS will provide research and academic guidance and conduct courses that leverage design thinking and other innovation models. This will help prepare students for the future of industries, and of digitally transformed government services. The program will introduce MBRSG students to government innovation models from across the world, with real world examples of how institutions and nations can drive innovation.

Additionally, under the Agile Government Systems Initiative, TCS and MBRSG will collaborate to develop a policy sandbox for good governance, and jointly produce policy reports.

“We at TCS strongly believe in investing in today’s students to foster their talent and capacity for innovation, so that local communities will thrive in the digital economy of the future. Through this collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, we hope to promote an innovation culture among their students, and also encourage policy makers to look at innovative use of technologies to enhance citizen services,” said Sumanta Roy, Regional Head, Middle East & Africa, TCS.

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The milestone anniversary’s arrival alongside Expo 2020 Dubai underlines a significant opportunity for the conference and its showcasing start-ups, as it elevates the region’s potential for entrepreneurship and innovation to a global audience. Step will build upon the revolutionary technological advancements and conversations taking place at the global exhibition, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital healthcare, while setting the stage for international opportunities and visibility.

The 10th edition will see an action-packed two days of high-profile speakers, exciting pitching opportunities, and a lively agenda covering the most trending discussions in tech. Visitors will have the chance to attend insightful keynotes and panel discussions by tech heavyweights the likes of Paul Misener, the Vice President of Global Innovation Policy and Communication at Amazon, Elie Habib, the founder of the Middle East’s leading music streaming service Anghami, and Michelle Arrazcaeta, head of Brand Strategy & Collaborations at Polaroid. Also joining the roster is Humans of New York breakout star Sidra Qasim, co-founder of Brooklyn-based shoe brand, Atoms.

This year’s conference focuses on four key tracks, including fintech with an emphasis on payments, crypto and e-commerce; future innovations with a focus on AI, mobility, energy and cloud; digital with media, marketing and content; and wellness deep-diving into health-tech and lifestyle. Visitors can dive into the future of tech as start-ups exhibit innovative products and services, while looking back at the past decade of nurturing the region’s start-up ecosystem.

The partnership between Dubai Internet City and Step brings cutting-edge conversations and industry insights to a comprehensive community of startups, investors, accelerators, corporations and government representatives. The resulting platform nurtures unrivalled opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration in vital and emerging tech sectors, enabling businesses in the region to harness the power and expertise of game-changing entrepreneurs from around the world.

Ammar Al Malik, Managing Director of Dubai Internet City, said, “Our leadership’s vision to transform the UAE into a global technology hub and establish a world-class digital infrastructure relies on ambitious start-ups pushing the envelope to deliver unique solutions and nurture competition. Our business district has been a cornerstone of the country’s economic diversification strategy for over 20 years and empowering start-ups and SMEs is essential in cementing our global competitiveness and commitment to innovation.

We are delighted to continue our partnership with Step Conference, as it embodies our district’s reputation of ‘Where Minds Click’. We will see the complete start-up community convene in the heart of Dubai Internet City, showcasing the brightest minds and ideas defining the digital future. Step’s arrival alongside the Expo 2020 unveils an immense opportunity for us to showcase our inspiring community to the global technology and innovation ecosystem. We hope to welcome international delegations to the conference, expanding the potential for partnerships and investment on a larger scale than ever before.”

Ray Dargham, CEO of Step said, “We are very excited for our next edition, happening at the same time as Expo 2020 this year and celebrating the past decade as we witness the ecosystem evolve. Our partnership with Dubai Internet City has been impactful in engaging and supporting entrepreneurs in the region. We look forward to host top experts and discuss a future with a new digital landscape.”

in5, the enabling platform for entrepreneurs and startups
in5, a leading business incubator that started in Dubai Internet City in 2013 is a Main Partner for The Start Track of the conference. The Start Track tackles the entirety of the start-up landscape over insightful keynotes, panels, and debates. Global influencers in the tech and digital space will cover success stories, setting up and growth, the entrepreneurship ecosystem, fundraising and investment, acquisitions and IPOs, as well as spotlighting the most exciting start-ups gaining traction.

The enabling platform for entrepreneurs and startups recently reached a new milestone as its start-ups crossed the AED 1.4 billion investment mark. The direct investments came through venture capital and angel investors. The grand total of start-ups supported by the incubator since 2013 reached 500, of these, a quarter are led and managed by female entrepreneurs.

Step Conference 2021 will cover a range of key topics, including:

The meteoric rise of NFTs
A major spotlight will shine on non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. Stored and traded on blockchain networks like Ethereum, NFTs are changing the digital asset market by employing tech to sell digital art. According to the latest estimates, the exponentially growing market has surpassed US$40 billion in valuation with Christie’s – which brought NFT mania into the mainstream with the sale of US$69.3 million digital artwork by Beeple – the NBA, Gucci and other major brands embracing the trend.

The digital payment revolution
A robust digital infrastructure is critical to a thriving start-up environment, as it enables businesses to participate in the digital transformation, increase profitability while remaining cost-effective. Businesses in the UAE have been contributing heavily to its adoption in MENA and an IBS Intelligence report found that the UAE is home to almost half of the region’s fintech companies. An innovation centre run by Visa in Dubai Internet City is developing and exporting contactless payment tech, while homegrown in5 start-up, tabby, is enhancing the buy-now-pay-later sector for e-commerce brands.

Building the metaverse
Another viral topic is the metaverse, or Web3, a virtual reality world where people can attend live concerts, shop goods and services, social, play games and much more. It is poised to be the next been tech platform and, according to Bloomberg, could approach US$800 billion in 2024. All eyes are on the metaverse as it comes with a great many promises of revolutionizing how we interact, spend, live, and market products.

Decade of growth
On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, Step will review the outstanding milestones achieved in tech and entrepreneurship over the past decade. In 2017, tech conglomerate Amazon acquired the Arab world’s largest e-commerce platform, Souq.com. The region welcomed its first tech unicorn in 2019, when DIC-based start-up Careem was acquired by Uber for US$3.1 billion. Kitopi, the world’s leading cloud kitchen platform, most recently earned unicorn status in 2021 with a major funding round led by SoftBank. Such stories, paired with the emerging crop of entrepreneurs in MENA, are proving the UAE’s emerging status as a hub for technology and innovation.

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Contactless services are seeing a steep rise in demand due to better user experiences and innovative interaction methods between users and devices. Digital payment providers are working hard to reduce friction points and provide a seamless journey. At the same time, more brick-and-mortar stores continue to embrace an exciting new era of omnichannel retail.

Against this backdrop, Dubai Internet City is quickly becoming a global hub for digital payment innovations with its partners using their innovation centres to further support and grow the contactless and digital economy.

Ammar Al Malik, Managing Director of Dubai Internet City, said: “We are pleased to see such solutions from global powerhouses that are part of Dubai Internet City such as Visa. This consolidates our business district’s status as a global tech and talent hub that fosters innovation. With the ground-breaking solutions they bring to market, these companies help us achieve our goal of supporting Dubai’s diversification in line with the vision of our leaders to maximise the massive and promising potential of the digital economy. We see huge opportunities for startups, freelancers and multinational corporations to come together to test and develop cutting-edge contactless payment technologies in an agile ecosystem that provides state-of-the-art infrastructure, access to talent and cost-effective business solutions.”

Visa, the global leader in digital payments, is building its headquarters for the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA) region in Dubai Internet City that supports the company’s capabilities across almost 90 countries. Visa already has an Innovation Centre in Dubai, where it co-develops innovative digital payment solutions with partners across CEMEA and the new location will have an expanded and updated Innovation Centre aimed at showcasing the latest in cashless solutions and opportunities for clients and partners.

Shahebaz Khan, Visa’s General Manager for the UAE, said, “Even before the pandemic, contactless payments were popular in the UAE. The pandemic has only increased their appeal among consumers who want to be able to make payments in the safest and most hygienic way possible. In fact, the findings of our Back to Business Study – 2021 Outlook show that UAE consumers have adjusted their payment habits during the pandemic with 77% of respondents using contactless payments where possible. For many businesses, the transition to contactless payments has become a matter of survival during the pandemic. Recognizing the increased popularity of contactless payments among their consumers, 82% of UAE merchants surveyed in our Small Business Recovery 2021 study said they see digital payments – including contactless – as a necessary investment in business recovery and growth. As a trusted engine of commerce, Visa remains committed to working with Dubai Internet City, the region’s leading tech community, and providing opportunities to support the growth of digital commerce.”

Growing uptake of digitisation and paperless transactions will also contribute to Smart Dubai’s Dubai Paperless Strategy which aims to see emirate become 100 per cent digital by the end of 2021.

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Taking place December 4-5 at Expo Centre Sharjah, WEEGS – which is being held in conjunction with UN Women – will provide an opportunity for women entrepreneurs and business owners to gain invaluable insights into the world of business and to learn from others’ experiences, giving them the inspiration to turn their ideas into profitable ventures.

Day one of the conference will see ‘Power Talk: Enabling Environment for Women’ highlight ways to support the growth of an entrepreneurial culture for women. The session will discuss the elements needed for success and their role in strengthening the competitive edge of businesses owned by female entrepreneurs. Under the spotlight will be conditions of enablement, provision of support and incentive programmes that can help women can achieve excellence economically and professionally.

Reem BinKaram, Director of NAMA

Speaking at the session will be Jassem Al Bloushi, Board Chairman of Sharjah Tatweer Forum; Elizabeth Filippouli, Founder & CEO of Global Thinkers Forum; Assia Riccio, Founder of Evolvin’ Women; Radwan Big and Ahlam Al lamki, Deputy Director of the General Women’s Union for Associations, Committees and Activities Affairs and Director of Department of Studies and Research.

Jassem Al Bloushi, Board Chairman of Sharjah Tatweer Forum

Titled ‘Power Talk: My Journey,’ the second session on day two of the summit, will bring together an array of successful businesswomen who will speak about their journey into the world of entrepreneurship and how they managed to convert challenges into opportunities. Speakers will throw light on the fundamental principles that helped them establish a strong footing in the market and the importance of innovation and creativity in implementing ideas to achieve entrepreneurial success.

Hala Kazim, Emirati author, social influencer, entrepreneur and founder of positive transformation programme ‘Journey Through Change’

Participants in this second session will include Kawthar Bin Sulayem, Emirati media professional who has established several successful local projects; Brazilian entrepreneur Tatiana Takikawa, owner of a distribution company; Dr. Amal Al Ali, Assistant Professor at the College of Business Administration at the University of Sharjah and Head of the Organising Committee of the International Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Panelists will also include Moza Al Khayal, Head of Strategy and Business Development for Sharjah Ladies Club branches and Hala Kazim, Emirati author, social influencer, entrepreneur and founder of positive transformation programme ‘Journey Through Change.’

Elizabeth Filippouli, Founder & CEO of Global Thinkers Forum

“The Women Economic Empowerment Global Summit will include a range of important topics related to efforts aiming to empower business women and female entrepreneurs in different economic sectors and encourage a new generation of women entrepreneurs who have not found the right opportunity yet to turn their business ideas into rewarding enterprises that both benefit them and contribute to the national economy,” said Reem BinKaram, Director of NAMA.

Brazilian entrepreneur Tatiana Takikawa, owner of a distribution company

“The format of the sessions is such that they allow audiences to talk spontaneously to and interact directly with the entrepreneurs on stage, making the sessions more engaging for audiences. Entry to these sessions is free for everyone to allow the largest number of entrepreneurs and business owners to attend,” BinKaram continued.

Dr. Amal Al Ali, Assistant Professor at the College of Business Administration at the University of Sharjah and Head of the Organising Committee of the International Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The inaugural edition of WEEGS will comprise seven panel discussions featuring an elite group of experts from the UAE and the international business community who will highlight the best ways to empower women economically and to enhance their participation in sustainable development as effective contributors and key partners.

Moza Al Khayal, Head of Strategy and Business Development for Sharjah Ladies Club branches

The summit will also include six sector-specific sessions highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of women empowerment, with the sessions covering 16 sectors; notably energy, sustainability, city planning, transport and logistics, health and media.

Assia Riccio, Founder of Evolvin’ Women

The first edition of WEEGS is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment and Honorary Patron for Global Women’s Inclusion to achieve the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2015.

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The Forum will explore the theme: “Building for the future: regulation, innovation and the transformation of banking.” The keynote speech will be delivered by Osama Al Rahma, General Manager and Chairman, Al Fardan Exchange & Foreign Exchange Remittance Group (FERG). Additional speakers include senior executives from Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Central Bank of the UAE, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Citi Bank Dubai and Lulu Exchange.

Khaled Moharem, Head of Middle East & North Africa, SWIFT, said: “The UAE is an important global financial hub. The Business Forum UAE will provide a unique platform for leading experts from the financial industry to discuss the most significant issues facing the region.”

Sessions will look specifically at the impact of global regulations on the UAE, and how, as a result of increased due diligence expectations and increasingly specific legislative mandates, financial institutions are re-evaluating their cross-border activities to manage risk. Speakers will discuss how banks in the UAE can balance the needs of their client against the requirements of the regulator while satisfying shareholder demands.

Delegates will also discuss the shift towards real time payments and the evolution of global payment systems. There will be a focus on disruptive technologies and whether the industry is on the verge of a major step change.

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“What the UAE understood well is that there is no one thing that stimulates innovation: it is not just about government investment, policy, or tax. An innovative business environment requires a range of factors, and that’s what the UAE has been focusing on,” says Dr. Vermeulen.

“We know from research that now more than before, innovation happens within eco-systems,” explained Dr. Vermeulen. “What we also know from research is that, in spite of the -present-day existence of information and communication technology, these processes still mostly happen through face to face contact; that is, people physically meeting, working together, and talking to each other. That’s why it is important that different parties are located close to each other.”

Dr. Vermeulen believes that the UAE’s push towards making its economy knowledge based will play a pivotal role in the actualization of its ambition to become one of the most innovative nations in the world. “Successful innovation does not just consist of science and technological invention – it also requires management and organizational skills. Business schools are known to attract talent in this area and provide a crucial knowledge hub and node in the network.”

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In alignment with the UAE vision to drive a culture of innovation, the ‘PepsiCo UAE Innovation Challenge’ will take place during UAE Innovation Week as part of Innovation Live! event on November 21, 2016 at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai. It is open to UAE innovators aged between 15 and 30 with innovative ideas that will drive sustainable development and make a lasting impact when it comes to society and the environment.

The PepsiCo UAE Innovation Challenge will recognize most innovative ideas in 3 categories including environmental conservation, talent development and health and wellness. In the environment category, there is special emphasis on clean energy and water. In the talent development category, the focus is on education, talent development, skills building and the empowerment of women. And for the health and wellness categories, the focus is on leveraging technology to raise awareness and any other ideas that can improve quality of life. Applications are open until November 13, 2016.

Omar Farid, President, Middle East and North Africa region at PepsiCo, said: “The PepsiCo UAE Innovation challenge places innovation at the heart of efforts to improve the quality of life, and to help address societal and environmental issues in new ways while contributing to the economy and building the spirit of entrepreneurship and individual social responsibility amongst youth.”

Aysha Alawadhi, Vice Chair & Chief Executive, Launchpad: “As the first CSR (corporate social responsibility) licensed organization in the UAE, Launchpad is a broad platform that can work with many different stakeholders to create impact. We are very excited to partner with Pepsi, Skillpowerment and MEED on this important event, as we wholeheartedly believe in supporting all forms of innovation that lead to positive impact, both at an enterprise and social level.”

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Nigeria’s ambitious $3 billion energy modernisation programme aims to expand the electricity supply, create more efficient energy production and usage, and increase rural and semi-urban power access from 35 per cent to 75 per cent. Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer, and the world’s fourth-largest liquefied natural gas exporter, according to the United States Energy Information Administration.

Pascal Dauboin, Senior Advisor for Digital Technologies at Total, believes oil and gas companies’ experience of working in a multinational and multicultural context can help drive innovation across energy sector. “In today’s interconnected world, the ability to find, share, and integrate knowledge from across the spectrum is essential,” said Pascal Dauboin, who presented on “Open Innovation and Digital Oilfields” at GITEX Technology Week, one of the world’s most influential technology events, which hosted more than 4,000 exhibiting companies, 64 participating countries, and 230 speakers.

“The oil and gas industry is rapidly undergoing a digital transformation, with a rapid uptake in innovative technologies that are driving digital oilfields. TOTAL is at the forefront of adopting innovations such as drones, robotics, and early event detection systems to monitor and repair infrastructure, while new generations of sensors enable the development of new products for real time, on-line analysis, following the always increasing safety and quality requirements. Digitally transformed processes will increase performance, robustness and safety in many industrial domains, while building the job skills of tomorrow,” added Pascal Dauboin.

To promote international interest in ICT opportunities in Nigeria and across the continent, Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) hosted an Africa Investment Forum at GITEX Technology Week. “From digital oilfields running on drones and robotics, to smart grids distributing electricity generated from renewable energy, the energy sector in Nigeria and Africa hosts tremendous investment opportunities. GITEX Technology Week’s Africa Investment Forum provides the opportunity for companies to find new investment opportunities under one roof,” said Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), Director General of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

This year’s GITEX Technology Week also included the GITEX Global Startup Movement, which aims to be the world’s most global week-long startup showcase in 2016, hosting more than 420 startups from 60 countries, and more than 1,000 entrepreneurs under one roof to invest, sell, and learn. NITDA sponsored at least 15 of Nigeria’s game-changing startups. With its focus on emerging markets, the GITEX Global Startup Movement attracted a strong field of innovative entrepreneurs from Africa, including Nigeria’s farm-to-table online marketplace Foodstantly, and the world’s first smart interactive business card called WANI.

“Dubai connects Africa to global investors and companies. The energy, oil, and gas sector in Nigeria and Africa is rapidly undergoing digital transformation, and key players can discover the latest innovations and business opportunities at GITEX Technology Week,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice-President for Exhibitions and Events Management at the Dubai World Trade Centre, which hosts GITEX Technology Week. GITEX Technology Week is also dedicated to emerging technology, including artificial and augmented reality, and drones, robotics, and 3D printing. The GITEX Vertical Days conference programme focused on the disruptive potential for technology in key verticals.

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