Engineering Systems and Management
Professor Erik Brynjolfsson
PI at MIT
Professor Mohammed A. Omar
PI at Masdar Institute
The specific goal of the research is two-fold: (1) re-examining the job market dynamics in general and more specifically in Abu-Dhabi, for the coming decade, as jobs and tasks become more automated. This can be analyzed within different industrial sectors including strategic industries (such as oil and gas), knowledge-intensive industries (e.g., aerospace), labor-intensive industries such as construction and civil infrastructure; governmental sector; or the renewable energy sector. Additionally, the research will involve (2) quantifying the economic gains and the accompanying socioeconomic effects, under differently designed scenarios.
The ultimate goal of this research is to consolidate the study findings into a balanced roadmap to manage the newly established job-market dynamics as applicable to Abu Dhabi and other nations. The research will be multifaceted and will explore legislation, technical solutions, and business models to encourage economic growth, job creation and technological advancement, in addition to attracting and incubating entrepreneurial ideas.
This research contributes directly to achieving the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. The vision emphasizes the role of ICT and advanced technology. These efforts will provide the tools and the roadmap to attain the following:
Building a knowledge-based economy
Enhancing competitiveness and improving productivity
Equipping the national workforce with advanced skillsets needed to perform complex tasks in an automated fashion
Attracting a highly skilled foreign labor force to Abu Dhabi
Attracting both local and foreign investments
Fostering an entrepreneurial culture and momentum
Creating a sustainable society while maintaining Abu Dhabi’s values and core culture through less dependence on low-skilled, low-educated workforce
Positively impacting the educational system, from basic education through advanced degrees
Optimizing the Emirate’s resources utilization
Integrating Abu Dhabi into the global economy and allowing Abu Dhabi to take its place among the most successful economies in 2030
Marketing and positioning Abu Dhabi as a global hub of automation
This research fits very well with existing MI thematic research areas, especially those that support Integrated Sustainable Development, including Sustainable Production Systems and Innovation Systems for Sustainable Development.
