Masdar – Renewable & Sustainable Energy
1st August 2008
The Masdar Initiative in Abu Dhabi is one of the most exciting projects underway in the world.
The initiative includes a new university, new renewable energy investment funds and most challenging of all a new, zero carbon, zero waste city. In July, Tom Hockaday was invited to a seminar hosted by His Royal Highness The Duke of York, UK Representative for International Trade. The purpose of the seminar was to provide an opportunity for British business in Abu Dhabi, specifically in relation to the Masdar Initiative.
Masdar Initiative
Masdar is a multi faceted initiative, based 20 miles outside Abu Dhabi, near the airport:
• a totally new, zero carbon, zero waste city of 90,000; designed by Foster + Partners
• a new University – Masdar Institute of Science & Technology; based on MIT
• an investment firm – Masdar Clean Energy Fund I of $250m now fully invested (80% in US businesses) MCEF II to be launched soon.
The seminar involved contributions from:
• His Royal Highness The Duke of York;
• His Excellency Khaldoon Al-Mubarak – Chairman of The Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi and Chief Executive of Mubadala Development Company.
• Dr Sultan Al-Jaber – Chief Executive, Masdar
• Mr Ziad Tassabehji – Director Innovation & Investment, Masdar
• Lord Browne
• Lord Foster, and
• Richard Banks, the event moderator, of LCI Investment Marketing.
The Masdar website describes the details of this impressive initiative. Oxford University Innovation is engaging with Masdar to discuss opportunities for developing Oxford’s renewable and sustainable energy technologies.
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