The Emirates Group’s annual innovation platform, ForsaTEK brings together the organisation’s formidable technology and industry partnerships, start-up ecosystem, highly sought after thought leaders and speakers, youth, plus new concepts and ideas. This year, a new partnership, a robotics zone, and demos of futuristic tech stole the spotlight.

ForsaTEK was officially opened by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline and Group in the presence of His Excellency Dr Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi, UAE’s Minister of Youth Affairs and the first Arab to perform a spacewalk. Also present at the event were dignitaries  and senior Emirates Group executives. 

HH Sheikh Ahmed said: “With technology and innovation having such a transformative impact on our industry and lives every day, launching ForsaTEK was absolutely the right thing to do. It aligns with our vision and our role, both in the industry and globally. Last year’s event proved to be a powerful learning and networking opportunity for our stakeholders and our employees.

“On a much larger scale this year, a key focus for ForsaTEK is displaying innovation in action. More than ever, our industry needs to collaborate and partner with key stakeholders – from government entities and tech partners to start-ups and industry titans from different fields. ForsaTEK weaves together different strands, technology, ideas, concepts, commitment and intent to bring brave and revolutionary new solutions to the table.”

Keynotes and panels

HE Dr Sultan bin Saif Al Neyadi delivered the first keynote speech, which was centred around the importance of youth to innovation. This was followed by thought-provoking panel discussions on the corporate venture world, humanoid robots and aviation, the collision of AI with other technologies, Dubai’s role in shaping the future, innovation proximity, and the relentless march of robotics.

Senior executives and thought leaders from Dubai Future Foundation, Meta, Microsoft, Block Gemini, Boardwalk Robotics and prestigious universities articulated their vision, perspectives and challenges at the event. The Emirates Group’s senior leadership addressed how innovation will shape the travel industry. 
 
Partners and partnerships  

At ForsaTEK, the Emirates Group announced its agreement with Onyx by J.P. Morgan, the firm’s blockchain business unit, and the first organisation to come under the Group’s recently launched Blockchain Development Centre. The collaboration will focus on research and development, education, and implementation of blockchain technology. It will provide the Group with cutting-edge finance blockchain solutions tailored to the aviation industry, enhancing its financial operations and customer experiences.

The Group’s Blockchain Development Centre has four pillars: collaboration and advocacy; R&D; education and coaching; and innovation.

This year, the Emirates Group’s partners enthralled visitors with an eclectic and engaging mix of innovation and technology. Demos included AI-centred activations by AWS, caged drone by e&, Gen AI Avatar by Microsoft, and Smart Trolley by Airbus. EasyMile showcased its drones and autonomous vehicles, HiveRobotics its cleaning bot for aircraft seats, Holoplot its innovation audio technology, SITA its Flexbox, and the Technical University of Munich its futuristic robotic skins. Web3 demos included spatial computing, blockchain and biometric payments.

Start-up souk 

Start-ups from the Aviation X Lab and Intelak accelerator programmes came in full force in a souk-style space to demonstrate their ideas and cool tech. They pitched their POCs (proof of concept) and their vision to revolutionise aviation and travel to a large audience of VIPs, investors, and the wider tech industry.

Youth

ForsaTEK also serves to inspire and educate youth with university and secondary school students attending the event in large numbers. Prizes were awarded to students who best addressed a challenge launched in April on how wearable technology can be used to support baggage handlers at Dubai airport.

*ForsaTEK is derived from ‘Forsa’, which means ‘your opportunities’ in Arabic, and is also a play on ‘technology’ and Emirates (code ‘EK’). 
 
About Intelak 
The Emirates Group created Intelak, a start-up incubator and accelerator programme in collaboration with partners Amadeus, Microsoft, Accenture, and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism. The programme is designed to identify and support start-ups in the travel, tourism, and aviation sectors, and to provide mentorship, resources, and funding opportunities to help them grow and succeed. The incubator is helping drive innovation and disruption in these sectors and is contributing to the growth and development of the broader start-up ecosystem in the UAE and beyond. Intelak has nurtured and supported a number of start-ups that have gone on to achieve significant growth and success. Visit: https://intelak.com/ 
 
About Aviation X Lab 
Aviation X Lab is a visionary partnership between the Emirates Group, Collins Aerospace, Thales, Airbus, and GE Aerospace that aims to transform the aviation industry by enhancing the customer journey. Through a series of moonshots launched in every cycle, Aviation X Lab brings together start-ups, corporations, governments, and academia to develop breakthrough solutions that push the boundaries of possibilities in aviation. The platform focuses on diverse themes – from sustainability to safety and efficiency – with the ultimate goal of creating a seamless and enjoyable experience for customers. By leveraging the latest technologies, data analytics, and cross-disciplinary expertise, Aviation X Lab is revolutionising air travel and shaping the future of the industry in alignment with the UAE's visionary national agenda, 2071.  Visit: https://www.theaviationxlab.com/

As a platform to foster deeper research and development, and greater exchange of cutting-edge ideas, the Innovation Majlis will showcase the latest in robotics, hyper-reality, holograms, 3D printers and other advanced technologies. It will serve as the social space to co-create proof-of-concepts that will benefit customers, communities and the aviation industry. Partnerships with industry leaders and universities, sustainable initiatives, and exploring alternate energies will be some of the other key drivers for the majlis.

HH Sheikh Ahmed said: “The Emirates Group has always been a trailblazer in the aviation industry, and innovation is fundamental to our core values, our culture and our mindset. The Innovation Majlis, with its latest tools and tech, is designed to empower our employees to explore new horizons, discover innovative solutions, and drive the future of the aviation industry. It will bring our partners, top tech companies and entities together in one space to address key challenges affecting our industry today.”

In its initial phase, the Innovation Majlis will include:

• Autonomous mobile manipulator: developed by Dubai Future Labs for order deliveries as well as picking and placing objects from shelves, bins and table-tops.
• AI-enabled wearable glasses for AR experiences: transforms the way we perceive and interact with other people, products or services
• Haptic gloves for natural XR interactions: enables touch interaction in virtual reality to feel the weight, vibrations and resistance of virtual objects
• 3D holographic display with generative AI: elevates the experience of interacting with digital signage by providing advanced conversational capability through natural language processing
• Automatic wireless charging: next era of charging devices autonomously from a distance using infrared technology
• 3D printing solutions: exploring next generation printers that can handle a greater range of materials to provide an additive manufacturing capability for new areas
• Optimised videoconferencing: all-in-one device providing advanced sensor and environment optimisation technology for video communications
• Next generation water filtration: reverse osmosis and carbon filtration purification system that turns any tap water into mineralised water. 

The Emirates Group has a long history of spearheading innovation in the industry. The Innovation Majlis comes hot on the heels of launching Sara, the world’s first ever check‑in robot assistant, and hosting the first edition of ForsaTEK, an annual event that brings together start-up programmes, high-profile tech and industry partners, and key players in the ecosystem. The Emirates Group and Dubai Future Foundation have signed a significant partnership to launch the Emirates Centre of Excellence for Aviation Robotics (ECEAR). Emirates has dedicated US$ 200 million to finance research and development initiatives aimed at mitigating the environmental impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation. 

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