Expo 2020 Dubai launches $100m initiative for 'creative projects'
Expo 2020 Dubai on Monday announced the first public roll-out of its $100 million (AED367 million) “Expo Live” programme to help fund, accelerate and promote creative projects.
The programme calls for individual entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises, non-for-profit organisations, or government-related entities to submit their solutions, which should be at a demonstration and implementation stage, to Expo Live.
While a low-key pilot introduction of this important pillar in long-term Expo 2020 Dubai strategy was made last year, this is the first public outreach launched by the World Expo. It will be the first of twice yearly cycles up to June 2018 to find suitable projects.
Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and director general, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Expo Live will be the next great programme in the storied history of World Expos to serve as a catalyst for innovation and progress. Our roll-out expands on our earlier pilot started last year and I am delighted that it’s already shown very promising results.”
She said the phase, which ran from June until September 2016, drew 575 applications from 71 countries from six continents. Around 168 entries have been identified as potential projects and are now undergoing a technical review.
The 2017 biannual call for proposals, which commenced on Sunday under its “Innovation Impact Grants” programme, will be open until March 15, 2017.
Source: Arabianbusiness