The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has welcomed the participation of more than 80 companies and institutions in its groundbreaking Industrial Technology Transformation Index (ITTI). Launched in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) during the World Government Summit 2023, this pioneering framework is designed to propel digitalization and sustainability within the industrial sector, ultimately elevating the nation’s industrial capabilities.
The ITTI serves as a comprehensive tool for assessing the digital maturity and sustainability of manufacturing facilities, offering a clear path for industrial transformation. Comprising 20 dimensions, with four of them centered on sustainability, this user-friendly index aligns seamlessly with factory operations, empowering manufacturers to make informed, data-driven decisions, optimize resource allocation, and access financial incentives.
Tariq Al Hashmi, Director of Technology Adoption and Development at MoIAT, emphasized the Ministry’s broader strategy of bolstering the sustainability of the national industrial sector while promoting the adoption of advanced technologies and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) solutions. Integration of the ITTI into the National In-Country (ICV) Programme incentivizes manufacturers to incorporate 4IR solutions, thereby enhancing productivity, operational efficiency, and overall competitiveness. This initiative is in harmony with the UAE’s national digital transformation goals and contributes to the nation’s aim of achieving sustainable economic development and carbon neutrality by 2050.
Al Hashmi underscored the Ministry’s collaboration with strategic partners, which involves 18 accredited bodies in facilitating the assessment process. Companies participating in the ITTI can now increase their National ICV score by up to five percent, aligning with the program’s objectives to channel a greater proportion of public spending into the domestic economy and advance the industrial sector.
The ICV formula update is aligned with the overarching goals of the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology, Operation 300bn, and “We the UAE 2031.” In 2022, the program redirected AED53 billion into the national economy, marking a remarkable 25 percent increase compared to 2021, illustrating its efficacy.
MoIAT has actively organized workshops to raise awareness about the National ICV formula update and ITTI, including sessions held during the second edition of the Make it in the Emirates Forum (MIITE) in May 2023. Further outreach and program showcases are planned at the upcoming Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in October.
At the MIITE Forum, the Ministry inked a memorandum of understanding with MEXT, the Technology and Innovation Centre of the Turkish Employers’ Association of Metal Industries (MESS), to introduce the ITTI abroad for the first time. This collaboration aims to stimulate digitalization and sustainable industrial development in the region, with a focus on supporting Industry 4.0 and advanced technology adoption. Sustainability, a central component of the ITTI, will assist manufacturers in reducing emissions.
MoIAT’s partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) will facilitate the internationalization of the ITTI, elevating the UAE’s position in global industrial indices.
Through the concerted efforts of public and private sector institutions, the UAE has climbed from the 42nd to the 37th spot in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) Technology and Innovation Report 2023, themed “Opening Green Windows: Technological opportunities for a low-carbon world in Asia and the Pacific.”
The ITTI serves as a catalyst, inspiring manufacturers to embark on their digitalization journey and contributes to reinforcing the UAE’s status as a hub for innovation and Fourth Industrial Revolution-powered industry.
