SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
ADNEC Group on Thursday unveiled XPANSE 2024, a global forum for leading experts in technology and advanced science.
The event being held in Abu Dhabi on 20-22 November, aims to set a global vision for the future.
Under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, XPANSE 2024 is hosted by ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, and organised by ADNEC Group in partnership with the international think tank MATTER.
The press conference was attended by Khalifa Al Qubaisi, Chief Commercial Officer of ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, Dr. Zina Jarrahi Cinker, the Director General of MATTER and Chief Creator of XPANSE; and Dr. Chaouki Kasmi, Chief Innovation Officer of the Technology Innovation Institute (TII).
Al Qubaisi said that XPANSE 2024 aimed to boost Abu Dhabi's global reputation by showcasing innovative ideas and creating new business opportunities with ADNEC's top-tier facilities.
Dr. Cinker said that XPANSE transcends traditional formats by uniting global experts to explore transformative technologies and drive year-round
innovation in the UAE.
Dr. Kasmi affirmed TII's commitment, as an XPANSE 2024 partner, to tackling future challenges through scientific discovery and applied solutions,
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the press conference, Dr. Cinker, shared insights on the exponential technologies that will influence future policy frameworks and collaborations within the UAE and globally.
She said: "We are going to have the world's first fully immersive experience stage, which is going to be a work of art and creativity. We have gathered our Nobel laureates, our biggest scientists, to talk about the frontiers of technologies, such as quantum cryptography, hacking our own brains, creating nanorobots to fix things inside the body, and developing AI integrated with synthetic biology, where neurons are used to create intelligence."
Praising the UAE's participation in these fields, Dr. Cinker said: "What is fascinating about the UAE's vision is that it's long term, not limited to a few
years or election cycles. The UAE thinks 50 years ahead, and that is why this is the right place for XPANSE."
Conveying her key message, Dr. Cinker said, "Science and technology do not belong just to scientists and technologists-they belong to humanity. Our mandate is to bring these innovations to life and show how much we have achieved. It is not just about knowing about it, but being part of it and creating together."