AUS to set up Centre of Excellence for Digital Govt

Sharjah / WAM

HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS) received Bill McDermott, Chief Executive Officer of SAP, in his office at AUS on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by Hamid Jafar, member of the AUS Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Crescent Group; Dr Bjorn Kjerfve, Chancellor of AUS; Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Chief Executive Officer of AUS Enterprises and a number of officials from both sides.
Sheikh Sultan welcomed McDermott and his wish to cooperate with AUS to set up a Centre of Excellence for Digital Government to be located in the AUS Enterprise’s planned Research, Technology, and Innovation (RTI) Park. The centre has the potential to accelerate Sharjah’s Digital Economy.
Sharjah institutions and corporations will be able to collaborate and cooperate with the Centre of Excellence for Digital Government on driving their respective digital transformation roadmaps. By aligning with UAE Vision 2021, which calls for innovation, research, science, and technology to be pillars of the national economy, the centre can also support Sharjah’s diversified economic growth, led by a large number of small and medium sized enterprises and startups.
The Sharjah Ruler also briefed the Chief Executive Officer of SAP and the delegation accompanying him on the history of establishing AUS and the University City of Sharjah. AUS students come from over 90 different nationalities and yet they are living here in peace and harmony.
McDermott said he was delighted to meet with the Ruler of Sharjah and appreciated his keen interest in education and research. He was also impressed by the facilities and vibrant atmosphere of the AUS campus.
He said, “The Centre of Excellence for Digital Government would complement Sharjah’s vision in driving government services’ innovation and becoming a regional advanced research hub with a relentless focus on resource and talent. The centre will enable co-innovation among American University of Sharjah, the RTI Park technology ecosystem and a global network of technologists. By fostering an entrepreneurial culture, the centre can help drive growth for Sharjah’s Digital Economy.”