Framework agreement outlines nine areas of collaboration, including the establishment of a Danish Incubator at Masdar City as a regional hub to advance sustainability

Abu Dhabi, UAE - 20 January, 2014

The United Arab Emirates and the Government of Denmark today signed a strategic framework agreement outlining nine areas of collaboration focused on advancing renewable energy and sustainability globally. The agreement was signed by H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE minister of state and CEO of Masdar, and Rasmus Helveg Petersen, Danish minister of development cooperation. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark and His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The framework agreement outlines specific areas of collaboration, including: policy exchange to support sustainable development; commercial renewable energy development; advancing Carbon, Capture, Usage and Storage technologies, and human capital development through education and job exchanges, among other areas.

The agreement unites the expertise between two of the world's leading new-energy, sustainability players. The UAE, through Masdar, is at the forefront of renewable energy and clean technology investment - delivering nearly 1 gigawatt of clean power globally. Denmark is widely recognized as one of the world's leading sustainable societies. Today, as a result of Denmark's ambitious energy policies, the country is on its way to generating 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources and nearly 11 percent of the county's total exports are green technology products.

"The world must diversify its energy sources and accelerate cutting-edge technologies that enable societies to be more resource efficient," said H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE minister of state and CEO of Masdar. "Increased collaboration is critical in meeting rising global energy demands and mitigating the effects of climate change. Solving these two challenges, however, must be viewed as an economic opportunity in order to attract private sector investment and to push the boundaries of technology."

One of the areas of collaboration is establishing a Danish Incubator at Masdar City - Abu Dhabi's low-carbon, sustainable city - to serve as a hub for Danish companies and to accelerate the adoption of sustainability technologies in the MENA region.

"Abu Dhabi and Denmark recognize the economic and environmental returns of investing in and deploying clean energy," said Rasmus Helveg Petersen, Danish minister of development cooperation. "This partnership outlines specific opportunities and technology areas for us to share expertise and bring forward clean-energy and sustainability projects. In particular, the establishment of a Danish Incubator at Masdar City is a key step in finding synergies between Abu Dhabi's strong new-energy industry and Denmark's green growth economy."

Executives from some of Denmark's leading multinational companies attended the signing ceremony, including Anders Runevad, CEO of Vestas; Carsten Bjerg, CEO of Grundfos; Henrik Poulsen, CEO of DONG Energy; and Jakob Thomasen, CEO of Maersk Oil.

WFES is a key element of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week - an annual platform to address the interconnected challenges impacting the widespread adoption of renewable energy and the acceleration of sustainable development. The platform, January 18-25, includes a series of events: the fourth assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency; the seventh World Future Energy Summit; the second International Water Summit; the first EcoWASTE exhibition; and the sixth Zayed Future Energy Prize awards ceremony.

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About Masdar
Masdar is Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of clean energy technologies and solutions. The company serves as a link between today's fossil fuel economy and the energy economy of the future. Backed by the Mubadala Development Company, the strategic investment company of the government of Abu Dhabi, Masdar is dedicated to the Emirate's long-term vision for the future of energy.

For more information about Masdar, please visit: www.masdar.ae  

Stay connected: facebook.com/masdar.ae and twitter.com/masdar

For more information contact:

Email: press@masdar.ae

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Taking place January 18-25, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) will attract 30,000 participants from 150 countries to Abu Dhabi for what is the largest gathering on sustainability in the Middle East. A significant platform for international dialogue and cooperation, ADSW will tackle the world's most pressing energy, water and environmental challenges. ADSW will unite world leaders, policy makers, thought leaders, experts, scientists, business and academia.

© Press Release 2014