Dubai Smart City Accelerator

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Source Wikipedia Dubai

Jane Lambert

The Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, which manages a free trade zone for information and communications technology businesses in the emirate, has invited applications for its Smart City Accelerator which will run from September 2019 to January 2020. This is not the first accelerator programme to take place in Dubai.  I reported on the DIFC's financial technology programme in FinTech in Dubai on 3 Aug 2017.

According to the Authority's press release:

"This year, scouts are particularly on the lookout for startups that specialize in 5G applications, connected stadiums, smart retail, smart airports, and smart payments. However, the program is open to applicants from across the spectrum of smart city solutions, including internet of things and connectivity, urban automation and mobility, artificial intelligence, blockchain, open city data, sustainable cities and living, and smart government."

The Accelerator will be run by Startupbootcamp which operates a number of accelerators around the world.

The Startupbootcamp web page offers 10 selected companies hands-on mentorship from over 100 industry experts, office space in Dubai, seed funding, and access to a global network of investors and corporate partners from across the Smart City industries.  The successful candidates will need to know about registering trade marks in the United Arab Emirates and their leading markets around the world as well as the various ways of protecting their investment in technology. It is not clear from the announcements by the Authority or operator who will supply that guidance or whether it will be supplied as part of the programme but I shall be glad to advise them individually or collectively by phone, Skype or otherwise if necessary.

The closing date for applications is 30 June 2019.  This post links to the application page,

Anyone wishing to discuss any of these issues should call me on +44 (0)20 7404 5252 during London office hours or they can contact me through my message form.