The UAE has joined the International Centre for Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) as a member with observer status, said reports.
The move will enable scientists, researchers and industrial entities in the UAE to use the center’s specialized laboratories to conduct research and develop local industrial capabilities, local sources said.
Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, said, “the UAE’s accession to the membership of SESAME comes within the forward-looking vision of UAE’s leadership to support advanced industries and scientific research, and in recognition of its role in achieving the goals of sustainable development.”
She noted that “this achievement is central to the work of UAE Commission, which plays a vital role in highlighting the country’s achievements and enhancing its leadership position regionally and internationally – all of which is in line with UAE’s strategic focus on the fields of advanced science and technology.”
Minister Al Kaabi indicated that the achievement will enhance the nation’s scientific capabilities and enable its scientific and industrial organizations to develop more creative solutions to challenges, and thus improve the competitiveness of the UAE in the field of scientific research.
Sarah bint Youssef Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, said, “This achievement is a result of the concerted efforts of the Emirates Scientists Council and the UAE National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.”
She remarked: “the use of synchrotron facilities serves current and future R&D projects in fields like materials, medicine, archaeology, renewable energy and other scientific areas and it is in line with the main strategic objectives of establishing high-tech industries through research and development.”
Reportedly, synchrotrons are particle accelerators that produce intense light with properties similar to laser beams that facilitate the study of materials with great precision – even down to the structure of a single cell.
The minister concluded by saying, “this approach is underlined by the UAE’s Principles of the 50, which provide the guiding framework for government institutions for the next fifty years.”
Many entities in the UAE can benefit from this center, including universities and academic institutions as researchers in various subjects from universities across the UAE can now conduct research related to their specializations, while UAE industrial entities can benefit from the center’s capabilities, said reports.
SESAME was conceived as an international facility for the benefit of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to help the region retain and attract scientific and engineering talent, local sources said.
It is the first regional center for scientific cooperation in the field of basic research and has become one of the most prominent examples of scientific diplomacy, said reports.
SESAME was established under the patronage of UNESCO before becoming an independent international government organization in 2004, and currently has nine members and, with the addition of the UAE, 19 observer countries.
The UAE was warmly welcomed by the Council’s member states when it participated in its first meeting with the Centre’s Board of Directors between 1st and 2nd December 2021 in its capacity as an observer