Connect Places Catapult enters into new collaborative partnership with District 2020 

Connected Places Catapult has announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with District 2020. This agreement aims to solidify the ongoing collaboration between the UK and UEA to advance and scale innovation and technologies that tackle urban challenges.

District 2020 will be a human-centric smart city that will evolve from Expo 2020 Dubai, which will drive the world fair’s legacy into the future. It seeks to create a community where people, businesses, spaces, technologies and industries connect, collaborate and innovate towards a smarter, more balanced, resilient and sustainable way of life. With an advanced and inspiring digital and physical infrastructure, this innovation ecosystem will inspire new ideas and enable human potential, facilitate sustainable economic growth and support the growth of the UAE’s innovation economy.   

Through this Memorandum of Understanding, District 2020 and Connected Places Catapult aim to advance their common missions by collaborating to facilitate the introduction of UK enterprises to District 2020 as a launchpad to the UAE market and a gateway to the Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian markets.   

Nicola Yates OBE, CEO of Connected Places Catapult, said: “We are pleased to announce this Memorandum of Understanding with District 2020. This agreement will further increase our efforts to develop markets and partnerships for innovative UK companies in Dubai, the UAE as a whole, and across the Middle East, as well as giving these companies the opportunity to benefit from being part of a world-class innovation hub.” 

Nadimeh Mehra, Vice-President, District 2020, said: “As a blueprint for a human-centric smart city, District 2020 seeks to catalyse urban solutions in how people can work and live smarter and more sustainably. Our collaboration with Connected Places Catapult signifies our mutual mission to advance innovation and progress in smart cities, mobility and sustainability. Through our collaboration within District 2020’s innovation ecosystem and urban lab, we will stimulate research, and help to scale business growth and solutions that create a better future for all.”