06 June 2015

Al Tayer chairs the inaugural session spotlighting revamping of services to the business sector

Roads and Transport Authority - Mohammed Al Munji: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the Head Office of the Innovation Lab within the premises of the Dubai Tram Depot at Al Safouh, rendering the facility the first Government Innovation lab in Dubai. The Lab includes cutting-edge training halls fitted with latest technologies, work areas for holding brainstorming workshops, and an innovation club designed to the highest standards and top-class finishing to offer a hospitable environment conducive to innovation. The facility also includes a library offering knowledge resources in various fields and majors; which will be regularly updated with the latest resources, in addition to a main platform for showcasing and discussing ideas. The facility is also fitted with interactive monitors enabling members to exchange visual contents which are also supported by smartphones & portable gadgets used by participants in workshops enabling the display of visual contents through wireless connectivity. It also encompasses supporting facilities such as a rest area, prayer rooms and meeting halls.

HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, chaired the inaugural session of the Innovation Lab which was dedicated to the revamping of services provided by the RTA to the business sector with a view to thrashing out solutions of the challenges in hand. The session was attended by a host of CEOs, Directors of the RTA as well as a bunch of university students and a representative of Ernst & Young Advisory Company.

"Through the government innovation labs, the RTA is seeking to play a significant role in leveraging its business to the extent of materializing aspirations of our wise leadership in the drive towards excellence. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, perceives innovation as: To Be or Not to Be: If a government is innovative, then it is existing. HH believes that corporate sustainability hinges on the ability to innovate, and create opportunities for new beginnings capable of boosting the competitiveness," said Al Tayer.

Coaching Innovation

"The innovation concept was thereabout in RTA's thinking right from inception," said Al Tayer. "RTA's leadership recognized that prosperity and ability to compete in the track of excellence heavily rests on the ability to innovate and offer value-added elements in all projects & services undertaken. The RTA has thus launched a variety of initiatives in support of its innovation drive; it established the Future Team in 2007, and launched its Scientific Research Award in 2012. In 2013 it commissioned the Innovation Center, Section and endorsed the general layout of researches and development, and in 2014 it set up Researches, Development and Innovation Section," he continued.

"These initiatives have set RTA's projects a class apart and were catalyst in snatching several local and international accolades. Thus it was not at all strange to note that the RTA was the winner of the Innovation-Sponsoring Entity Award in the Dubai Government Excellence Performance over two years in a row (2014 & 2015).

"The RTA selection of: Revamping RTA's Projects provided to the Business Sector as a theme for the inaugural session was prompted by a host of factors highlighted by the goal of Bringing Happiness to People; which is at the forefront of our leaders' priorities. The economy is in fact one of the key development thrusts of the UAE, especially Dubai which is seeking to nurture an attractive environment for investments rendering it a platform for launching a variety of economic projects. Moreover, the RTA is offering 49 services to the business community and it will be quite fit to rejuvenate and push them to upper echelons," he further added.

Al Tayer urged participants to interact effectively in these brainstorming sessions, and focus on generating creative & unique ideas which are viable over the short and medium terms in order to bring about a quantum shift in the business sector services experience.

Early Preparations

Ms. Laila Faridoon, Executive Director of the Office of the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA cum Head of the Committee Supervising RTA's Innovation Strategy, said: "Preparations for the first government Innovation Lab started back in February, and a training program was developed to qualify coordinators of brainstorming sessions and have them accredited by an international entity to make them more professional and capable of maximizing the benefits from such sessions. A wide spectrum of community segments were invited to contribute ideas and suggestions for improving the services on offer to the business sector through the social media.

"Preparations for holding the first government Innovation Lab at the RTA are summarized in setting the objective of the Lab, forming the team, drawing up the agenda, constructing the contents, how to select participants from the RTA and beyond, and mapping out a media plan to engage the largest number possible of the concerned parties whether through participation in sessions or social media and other means. A tentative session was held to make sure that all systems go as planned in the organizational chart prepared, and assess all stages of the Lab in terms of accuracy, quality and offering a chance to voice opinions, make comments, and contribute proposals for improvements.

"The RTA is making massive efforts to keep pace with the directive of our wise government in the quest for innovative solutions befitting the demands of this era; which requires implementing an out-of-the-box approach. Such a need is underscored by the high profile enjoyed by the UAE as a whole and Dubai Emirate in particular amongst advanced nations in advancing competitiveness concepts and cementing the role of government and corporate innovation in making people happier," added Faridoon.

© Press Release 2015