Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, DSOA, the regulatory body for Dubai Silicon Oasis, DSO, the integrated free zone technology park, yesterday signed a sponsorship agreement with SAP Training and Development Institute, appointing the firm as a non-exclusive sponsor of DSOA's wholly owned Dubai Technology Entrepreneurship Centre, DTEC.

As part of the agreement, DSOA will provide appropriate space within DTEC to host up to three SAP innovation boot-camps, including Start-Up Focus events, during the agreement period, which will be open to the public. Additionally, DSOA will name one of the DTEC meetings rooms as the SAP Room.

The contract was signed by Shahla Ahmed Abdul Razak, Deputy CEO, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority and Marita Mitschein, Managing Director, SAP Training and Development Institute, at DTEC.

Commenting on the agreement, Shahla Ahmed Abdul Razak said, "We are fully committed to supporting start-ups and entrepreneurs in the fields of technology and Islamic digital economy through our technology entrepreneurship centre, DTEC. Our support is not limited to offering financial support, consultancy, mentoring, workspace facilities or networking opportunities, but also includes signing partnerships with reputed organisations such as SAP. Such partnerships with well-established global organisations reinforce our commitment to offering greater benefits to founders of seed ventures and emerging entrepreneurs that we host and seek to nurture at DTEC.

"To date, we have supported more than 314 entrepreneurs with their business plans, invested financially in 12 entrepreneurships and selected 4 additional technology companies to receive financial support in 2015," Abdul Razak added.

Founded in November 2012, the SAP Training and Development Institute supports the creation of sustainable workplaces by boosting the business system knowledge of students, young graduates, and the experienced workforce in the region in order to contribute to the reduction of the local unemployment rate. SAP TDI offers a host of training programmes tailored to bring SAP business skills to local talents and serves as a think tank for knowledge ex-change, co-creation and co-innovation.

Marita Mitschein said, "In addition to enabling local talent, the development of entrepreneurs will help tackling the challenge of unemployment. This requires above all an environment where entrepreneurial spirit can flourish. With the rich platform provided for start-ups, we see DSOA as an ideal place to nurture innovative concepts. We have witnessed some great ideas come to life through DSOA and we believe that our partnership will enable more founders to reach great heights.

"Our sponsorship of DTEC reflects our commitment to the region for encouraging more local talents to shape their career based on technology innovation. Since its inauguration, the SAP Training and Development Institute has already created US$68m of in-country value in MENA and we will continue to help the region grow", Marita concluded.

A wholly-owned entity of the government of Dubai, DSO operates as a free zone technology park for large enterprises, medium and small companies looking to set up their offices in Dubai.
Source: WAM