Throughout the year AUTM has been engaged in a strategic planning process. As a result, one of the major areas of focus for AUTM in the near term will be global impact. AUTM members come from around the world, but the majority (80%) resides in the U.S. As a result, our opportunities for membership growth, and therefore association growth, lie outside of U.S. borders. We are maintaining our efforts in the areas of U.S. public policy as well as stimulating efforts to remain relevant on a global scale.
With AUTM’s strategic focus in mind I happy to report I have just returned from a whirlwind trip to the United Arab Emirates spending time in both Dubai and Ras al Khaimah (RAK). I was there as a member of the steering committee for the T3 Forum taking place next October. AUTM is a partner in this event and I serve on the steering committee along with other AUTM members including: Daniel Broderick, CalTech (who serves as committee chair), Lily Chan, National University of Singapore, Ronald Layden, Dalhousie University and Erik Sander, University of Florida.
The objectives of the T3 event are:
· Capacity Building and Public-Private Partnership Development
· Education & Discovery and Innovation
· Policy
T3 Forum sponsored the trip for the entire committee—and they kept us very busy. We met for two and a half days and had the opportunity to meet with locals involved in innovation development. We learned a great deal, which helped us create an event which will be of great interest to those already in the region or looking to get into the region.
The UAE is a fascinating place and very business and investment friendly. There is significant interest in bringing companies and late stage research to this part of the world. Our first night we had the privilege of dining at the RAK Royal Palace with His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Quasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (one of those times when you are really glad your mother taught you which fork is which). The Crown Prince spent quite a bit of time talking with us about the importance of creating and investing in the knowledge economy in RAK. A graduate of U.S. universities himself he has a keen interest in building technology transfer activities in the UAE.
The event will be October 18-20, 2010 and the agenda is already full of opportunities for deal-making, sharing successful practices, education and networking. There will be strong interest by participants from the region to find opportunities for investment. Companies which have considered setting up operations in this part of the world should especially plan to attend. Those looking to form startups
that would benefit from a middle-east location should also put this event on their agendas.
I’ll keep you updated on the event as we continue our planning. Please send me an email, vloise@autm.net, if you would like to learn more.