The Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application by building a comprehensive ecosystem that brings together startups, universities, investors, and charitable institutions. The park's goal is to accelerate research and translate it into scalable, tangible solutions.
According to Hussein Al Hammoudi, CEO of the park, the world is witnessing significant changes in the role of philanthropy, shifting from traditional giving models to long-term strategic investments in knowledge, scientific research, and innovation. The volume of giving in the Middle East has reached between $400 billion and $1 trillion annually, with private giving in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries alone estimated at around $210 billion per year, exceeding the GDP of most nations.
Badr Jafar, the UAE's Special Envoy for Strategic Philanthropy and author of the book 'The Economy of Good', explained that what is actually changing is not the spirit of giving itself, but the infrastructure and strategic objectives of philanthropy. Capital is increasingly being directed towards education, healthcare, technology, and climate solutions, and donors have become more aware, engaged, and keen to track the impact and sustainability of their grants.
Jafar described the UAE's approach as an 'integrated platform', similar to the model that led the country to success in renewable energy, space, humanitarian logistics, and aviation. Unlike in many other parts of the world where philanthropy and innovation remain separate fields, the UAE emphasizes integrating them to maximize their impact, a principle rooted in the nation's deep-seated culture of generosity and strong state support for innovation.
A virtual seminar organized by the park on February 25th highlighted these global transformations. Commenting on their impact, Jafar stated that "at its best, philanthropy is not just a response to crises but a tool for shaping integrated systems that prevent them. Effective giving is not temporary or retrospective, but proactive and dynamic." He cited historical examples, such as the Rockefeller Foundation's funding for agricultural scientist Norman Borlaug in the 1940s, which sparked the 'Green Revolution' and saved over a billion lives, and the $230 million in philanthropic investments that funded Jonas Salk's polio vaccine. He also pointed to mRNA technology, the foundation of COVID-19 vaccines, noting that its continuation was supported by early-stage research funding from charitable organizations when no commercial investor was willing to enter the field.
"These examples are not isolated cases," Jafar concluded. "They represent a clear pattern of philanthropic capital being allocated to support promising initiatives in their experimental phases, even when all other non-philanthropic investments have shied away."
