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August 25, 2005
Dr. Abdulqader Al Khayat, Executive Director, Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), 8/24/05
The Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech) is a free zone dedicated to the biotechnology industry. DuBiotech aims to be a Center of Excellence in Biotechnology, bridging research, education, and industry through national and international collaboration. The park will service the entire industry, ranging from small incubators to regional offices of key biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to manufacturing plants. Upon completion, park development will cover over 30 million square feet of built-up area. Its infrastructure will comprise custom-made R&D facilities, including labs, clean rooms, incubators, office space, and residential facilities. The first DuBiotech facilities will be ready by mid-2006.
Companies operating from DuBiotech will enjoy a one-stop-shop service experience, facilitating ease of entry into the region and incorporation within this diverse and rapidly developing market, in addition to specific benefits that relate to the biotech industry. The park will comprise two main initiatives—an industry cluster and the Foundation for Research and Innovation. As part of developing a cluster, DuBiotech seeks to attract a synergistic mix of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies active in discovery, R&D, testing, production, storage, sales, and distribution. It will also attract companies offering business support services for this industry such as legal and venture capital firms specializing in the biotech industry; educational and training institutions focused on biotech; and equipment, materials, and consumables suppliers.
The Foundation for Research and Innovation will be a specialized organization focusing on government-funded research and development in select fields including medical genetics, plant biotechnology encompassing food and agriculture, environmental biotechnology, drug discovery, pharmaceutical research, stem cell research, infectious diseases, and forensic research. Incubator facilities within the Foundation will help innovative new projects develop into productive and profitable ventures. Business development and administrative assistance offered by the Foundation will allow start-ups to concentrate on their core competencies. DuBiotech will have a regulatory framework, modeled on international best-practices.
Dr. Abdulqader Al Khayat was appointed Executive Director of the Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech) in September, 2004. Prior to this, he was Director General of Dubai Police’s General Department of Forensic Administration.
In his role as Executive Director, Dr. Al Khayat heads the development of the Park as a center of biotechnology excellence for the region. Under his leadership, DuBiotech is creating a comprehensive infrastructure and environment to catalyze regional biotechnology development.
Posted by David Lemberg at August 25, 2005 06:47 PM Return to SCIENCE AND SOCIETY home page