Abu Dhabi University (ADU) has launched the 11th Undergraduate Research and Innovation Competition (URIC) at its main campus, reaffirming its commitment to fostering innovation and critical thinking among students. This annual competition provides a platform for university students to present their research projects across 28 tracks in various fields, including engineering, business, education, arts and social sciences, natural and health sciences, and innovation.
This year's competition received nearly 600 submissions from 77 universities across more than 10 countries, including the UAE, KSA, Oman, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, India, North Macedonia, and the USA. The event brought together around 800 on-campus attendees and 400 online participants, including students, judges, mentors, and VIP guests. Notable speakers included Fahad Al Mheiri, Managing Director of Raytheon Emirates (an RTX business), Dr. Dirk Richter, Senior Advisor and Director of Health Sector Innovation at the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH), and Dr. Karim Houni, Head of Digital Innovation at Emirates Global Aluminium.
Professor Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University, expressed delight at the strong participation in the competition's 11th year. He emphasized ADU's collaboration with strategic partners like RTX to offer students and the community cutting-edge competitions that enhance research and innovation skills while promoting critical thinking. Through this competition, ADU aims to inspire universities in the GCC and MENA regions to integrate scientific research into undergraduate education, fostering lifelong learning and improving students' career prospects.
Fahad Al Mheiri highlighted RTX's commitment to fostering an inquiry-based culture and multidisciplinary innovation for sustainable growth in the UAE and the wider region. He praised the competition for providing a platform for students to transform their ideas into impactful research projects, noting the impressive submissions as a testament to the students' inquiry-driven minds and future leadership potential.
