The Information and Communication Technology Fund (ICT Fund) has signed a sponsorship and collaboration agreement with the American University of Sharjah to provide 15 scholarships for distinctive students. This agreement coincides with the UAE Innovation Week, which takes place from 20-26 November 2016.

The first of its kind in the Arab world, the ICT Fund was launched in 2008 by Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to achieve rapid, progressive and concrete developments within the ICT sector in the UAE. The Fund launched its operations to jump start innovation within the ICT sector in the UAE mainly in the fields of intellectual capital, technological leadership, smart research, innovative ideas, and incubating start-ups.

The offered scholarships fund the bachelor studies of programs related to the ICT sector, including Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science. Students who succeed high school exams could be granted these scholarships after passing the needed examinations and receiving an acceptance letter from the University. The University refers the request to the Department of Education in the ICT Fund for final approval.

Stressing on the importance of collaboration with educational institutions, Engineer Majed Al Mesmar, Deputy Director-General of the TRA, said: ‘This agreement is part of a series of agreements signed by TRA during the Innovation Week, aim to sponsor national competencies and scientific talents, and support them to study in one of the best universities in the Country. Education is the cornerstone of all developmental and strategic plans set by our wise leadership for the next phase. The programs are chosen based on objective and comprehensive studies prepared by the ICT Fund, as it identified the programs needed by the ICT sector in the Country.’ The ICT Fund plays a major role in enhancing the students’ innovative abilities through offering opportunities of education and research, and through enabling those who have feasible ideas to establish companies that turn their ideas into business ventures. The ICT Fund operates on four main themes; supporting national projects, education, research and development and incubators, and they all contribute in serving and building the knowledge-based economy of the UAE.