Expo City Dubai Foundation has recently introduced the Changemakers Academy, an incubator for innovation and entrepreneurship aimed at young innovators. This initiative is designed to promote creative problem-solving and cultivate bold solutions to social and environmental issues relevant to the UAE. The program invites final-year students and fresh graduates from universities in the UAE to participate and offers comprehensive support to inspire and enable the next generation to address challenges and transform their innovative ideas into tangible solutions.
The Changemakers Academy provides a structured incubation process that includes training, practical assistance, and the opportunity for selected projects to receive grants of up to AED 50,000, mentorship, introductions to potential investors, and support for establishing businesses, including licensing, visas, and workspace at Expo City Dubai. Launched as a part of the Expo City Dubai Foundation, a non-profit organization established in June 2024 to facilitate connections between individuals, ideas, and resources, with a focus on fostering innovation and collaboration to drive positive changes in social, economic, and environmental aspects.
Expo City, which already houses innovative entities like Emirates Group’s ebdaa innovation hub and the Expo City Urban Lab, serves as a hub for visionaries, entrepreneurs, and innovators who share the vision of creating a better future for society and the planet. Aligned with Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33), Expo City aims to support sectors that contribute to Dubai's development.
The Changemakers Academy targets to motivate talented youth to develop solutions for challenges specific to the UAE, nurture these ideas into viable businesses, and create meaningful impact in the community. Some priority areas identified in consultation with Dubai’s Community Development Authority (CDA) include addressing traffic congestion, mental health, work-life balance, environmental sustainability, and inclusivity for individuals with disabilities and older adults.
Interested students need to submit their applications by the end of March, after which selected projects will proceed to a 'bootcamp' to refine their concepts. The final selection process, including pitching sessions, is slated for June 2025. This initiative is a continuation of the Expo Live University Innovation Programme, which garnered over 1,000 applications from 40-plus universities in the UAE and supported 58 student teams, offering them an extraordinary opportunity to translate their ideas into successful businesses.
Yousuf Caires, Executive Director of Expo City Dubai Foundation, mentioned, “Our innovation initiatives during Expo 2020 Dubai and COP28 have showcased the remarkable potential of the UAE's youth, which Expo City is committed to endorsing as a hub for innovators and groundbreaking solutions.” Shortlisted projects will progress to the Accelerated Incubation Programme, where they will engage in AI-based design-thinking training covering various aspects like ideation, prototyping, digital skills, and certification.
