News and EventsNews and Events

MIT-Abu Dhabi collaboration fosters thriving academic network

(MIT News Office)

May 9, 2018

Launching a world-class research university from scratch is a tall order — even for MIT. But in just a little over a decade, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology grew from an idea to a thriving institution thanks in part to a rich, multifaceted relationship between MIT and Abu Dhabi. Today, that relationship continues to help students and faculty members from both universities produce world-class research while becoming better researchers and scholars.

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Spring PhD Students at MIT

February 2, 2018

Five visiting Masdar Institute PhD students recently arrived from Abu Dhabi to begin a semester-long stay at MIT. These students will attend classes and represent the latest group to participate over the past several years. Upon returning to Abu Dhabi they will resume their studies toward their PhD degrees.

Space Communication Workshop

January 23, 2018

MIT and Khalifa University members of the MUSES: Multi-Use Space Energy Systems joint flagship research project held a day-long workshop attended by several students and faculty of Khalifa University, at the Masdar Institute campus in Abu Dhabi.

The workshop speaker, MIT Professor Steven Leeb, discussed the complex technology behind using lasers to communicate between two or more remote platforms in space. Then each participant had the opportunity to build the power electronics and controls for a working optical communicator.

Masdar Institute Campus

PhD Students Complete Visit to MIT

December 15, 2017

PhD students visiting from Masdar Institute completed their classes at MIT. These students gathered with some members of the MIT & Masdar Institute Cooperative Program staff to celebrate their accomplishments and to wish them well as they return to their studies in Abu Dhabi.

Space Technologies Flagship Projects Underway

November 16, 2017

The MIT & Masdar Institute Cooperative Programs two newest flagship projects formally got underway this month. Masdar Institute (a part of Khalifa University) and MIT lead researchers for the MUSES: Multi-Use Space Energy Systems project met at MIT this week to refine project plans and conduct joint research.

MUSES Project Principal Investigators Professors Hatem Zeineldin, Mohamed Elmoursi, Mohamed Al Hosani, Vinod Khadkikar, James Kirtley and Steven Leeb

Overcoming The Challenges Of Turning University R&D Into Commercial Products And Startups Is Key To Boosting Abu Dhabi’s Innovation Ecosystem

(Masdar Institute News)

October 25, 2017

Historically, the role of universities has been to generate knowledge and teach, however, a few decades ago, universities recognized another vehicle for impact: development and commercialization of their research. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) estimates that as of 2014, companies established by its alumni produced 4.6 million jobs and have a combined annual revenue of some US$1.9 trillion. To help emulate MIT’s model of technology transfer in the UAE, the Khalifa University of Science and Technology recently hosted two of its leading technology entrepreneurship experts.

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Dr. Charles Cooney from MIT leading the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp at the Masdar City Campus. (Photo: Nassr Etout, Social Media Specialist)

PhD Student Program

September 5, 2017

The start of MIT’s fall semester marks the beginning of a semester-long experience for PhD students visiting from Masdar Institute. These students attend classes at MIT and then return to Masdar Institute to continue their degree studies.

Summer Exploration

August 18, 2017

Masdar Institute entering masters students completed a two week summer program at MIT. They attended special classes and visited local start-ups. One of these experiences, pictured at right, included learning about MIT’s past and present autonomous vehicle research.

Masdar Institute’s High-Performance Solar Absorber Aims to Make Solar Thermal Power Generation More Efficient and Affordable in the UAE

(Masdar Institute News)

July 16, 2017

Masdar Institute resarchers developed a high-performance solar absorber that could make solar thermal technologies significantly more efficient. Masdar Institute is a part of the Khalifa University of Science and Technology.

The solar absorber, developed with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), features an ultrathin nanocomposite film made of silver and silica, topped with silver nanoparticles.

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President Reif Congratulates Masdar Institute

July 7, 2017

In a recent interview, posted at right, President L. Rafael Reif congratulates Masdar Institute on its 10th year anniversary.

President Reif comments on MIT’s service to the nation and the world, and what a nation can do to accelerate its development into a knowledge-based economy. He reflects on innovation and the role culture plays in driving it, the value of research universities, and MIT’s work with Masdar Institute over the past ten years.

Masdar Institute’s Seventh Commencement

May 17, 2017

Masdar Institute held it seventh commencement today, celebrating the accomplishments of graduating students receiving a PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering or one of nine Master’s program degrees.

The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Ernest J. Moniz of MIT. Dr. Moniz is the former United States Secretary of Energy.

Dr. Ernest J. Moniz (Photo: Masdar Institute News)

Collaborative Solar Cell Research Achieves Masdar Institute First in Leading Scientific Journal ‘Nature’

Paper Published on Project to Develop Novel Fabrication Method to Make Efficient and Cheaper Optoelectronic Devices

(Masdar Institute News)

May 1, 2017

A collaborative project between Masdar Institute (MI) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has become the first MI project featured in one of the world’s leading scientific journals, Nature.

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Dr. Ibraheem Almansouri, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Masdar Institute.

Life Changing Experiences at MIT

Junior faculty members from Masdar Institute plan to share insights with their own students in Abu Dhabi.

(MIT News Office)

April 13, 2017

They came to MIT on different schedules, from different academic backgrounds, with different research and educational goals. But the four junior faculty members from a growing technology university in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) all described their time at MIT in much the same way: a transformational opportunity for themselves and, ultimately, for their students as well.

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Masdar Institute

Connecting at IdeaStream

March 31, 2017

Investors, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, faculty, student and staff gathered at IdeaStream 2017 to learn about the latest innovations researchers are striving to develop into impactful new products. Masdar Institute Professor Mihai Sanduleanu presented information on the gallium nitride high efficiency transmitter technology he has been developing with MIT Professor Tomas Palacios.

Professor Mihai Sanduleanu

Turning Water into Clean Fuel

Novel Materials and Structures Developed to Support Generation of Sustainable Hydrogen Fuel

(Masdar Institute News)

February 28, 2017

A pioneering research project between Masdar Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a step closer to using sunlight to turn water into fuel in the form of hydrogen. The team have identified materials and developed unique structures that optimize the process that splits water into its component elements so the hydrogen can be captured and used as a fuel source.

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Masdar Institute Pioneering Innovative Wastewater Treatment System

Assistant Professor Shadi Wajih Hasan is Working to Develop Wastewater Treatment Systems for the Sustainable Production of High-Quality Water

(Masdar Institute News)

February 22, 2017

The all-in-one wastewater treatment system developed by Masdar Institute’s Dr. Shadi Wajih Hasan, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, is being further enhanced in an effort to advance the field of wastewater purification.

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Innovation in wastewater treatment and reuse led by Dr. Shadi Hasan and his team at Masdar Institute.

Book Signing at World Future Energy Summit

January 18, 2017

At the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh signed copies of his new book, Masdar Institute: Ten Years on the Making. The book provides a detailed account of Masdar Institute’s early history, progress it has made in its first decade, and the lasting impact it aims to have for Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the world at large.

Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh.

10th Annual World Future Energy Summit

January 16-19, 2017

The World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, is an annual international event dedicated to advancing the use of renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean technology. Masdar Institute has a strong presence at the event every year, with exhibits illustrating sustainable technology research and education. Masdar Institute and MIT faculty and staff were among the participants from approximately 150 countries at this year's week-long event.

Masdar Institute's exhibit at the World Future Energy Summit.

Visiting Faculty Complete MIT Visits

December 5, 2016

Individual Masdar Institute faculty members have the opportunity to visit MIT for up to a year. During this time they engage in joint research with MIT faculty collaborators.

MIT & Masdar Institute Cooperative Program staff gathered with the current visiting faculty members to share a meal, reflect on experiences with the program, and wish those completing their visits well as they return to Masdar Institute this month.

Visiting Masdar Institute faculty.

Open House Showcases Promising Technologies

November 30, 2016

At the Deshpande Center’s annual Open House, MIT researchers shared posters of their work with event participants from academia, industry and the investment community. Masdar Institute Professor Mihai Sanduleanu and MIT graduate student Daniel Piedra from Professor Tomas Palacios’ research team presented information on their MMIP project GaN High Efficiency Transmitters for Wireless Communication.

Masdar Institute Professor Mihai Sanduleanu and MIT graduate student Daniel Piedra at the Deshpande Center Open House.

Batch Desalination Configuration Bests Standard Reverse Osmosis Approach

Researchers develop a new way to create more clean water with less energy, thanks to clever timing.

November 18, 2016

(School of Engineering)

With water scarcity affecting nearly 2 billion people — many of whom live near the oceans — “water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink” has become a common cry for more than just wayward sailors. Desalination through reverse osmosis (RO) has long offered one solution to help meet global water needs in the face of population growth, development, and climate change. However, removing salt from water is energy-intensive.

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David Warsinger (center) accepts his Best Oral Presentation award for his talk on the team’s new designs for reverse osmosis desalination at the 9th International Desalination Workshop held in Abu Dhabi. (Photo courtesy of David Warsinger).

MIT Energy Night Attracts Over 1000 Visitors

October 14, 2016

MIT Energy Night is an annual public event featuring energy related research, education and entrepreneurship at MIT. This year over one thousand visitors viewed more than seventy interactive presentations. The MIT & Masdar Institute Cooperative Program’s presentation highlighted joint MIT and Masdar Institute research collaborations in several technology disciplines, including photovoltaics and renewable energy storage.

Peter Jones, Assistant Director of Research and Communications, presenting at MIT Energy Night.

Masdar Institute Students Gain Exposure to Entrepreneurship in Study-Abroad Program at MIT

Intensive academic exchange and collaborative, deep-dive research open new worlds of possibilities for students spending a semester at MIT.

(MIT Technology Review)

October 11, 2016

Tanmay Chaturvedi and Muhammad Awais Bin Altaf can summarize the primary benefit of studying entrepreneurship at MIT in just three words: real-life experience.

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Tanmay Chaturvedi (third from left) and Muhammad Awais Bin Altaf (fourth from right) with fellow Masdar Institute PhD students during their semester at MIT.

New solar cell is more efficient, costs less than its counterparts

Exposed in step-like formation, layers of new photovoltaic cell harvest more of sun’s energy.

(MIT News Office)

August 29, 2016

The following is adapted from a Masdar Institute article by Erica Solomon.

The cost of solar power is beginning to reach price parity with cheaper fossil fuel-based electricity in many parts of the world, yet the clean energy source still accounts for just slightly more than 1 percent of the world’s electricity mix.

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A silicon solar cell with silicon-germanium filter using a step-cell design (large) and a gallium arsenide phosphide layer on silicon step-cell proof-of-concept solar cell (small). (Photo: Tahra Al Hammadi/Masdar Institute News)

Solar Vapor Generator Takes Shape

August 22, 2016

Researchers at MIT and Masdar Institute have collaborated to develop a unique sponge-like device capable of harnessing sunlight to generate steam. The device, which utilizes relatively low-cost materials including bubble wrap, could have a variety of future applications including water desalinization and waste water treatment.

This research was featured today in MIT News.

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MIT graduate student George Ni holds vapor generating device. (Photo: Jeremy Cho)

Self-Shading Windows Technology Developed

August 11, 2016

MIT News published an article today focused on self-shading technology for windows, which may provide a way to increase the energy efficiency of buildings. These developments were further reported by CNBC.

The research effort, conducted by Mircea Dinca and a team of researchers, was partially funded by Masdar Institute through its cooperative agreement with MIT.

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Electrocromatic materials above are shown switching from transparent to opaque. (Image: Khalid Abdulaziz Kaabi and Dennis Sheberla)

Summer Program Features Innovation Ecosystem

July 29, 2016

Students from Masdar Institute completed a two week program at MIT today, which provided them the opportunity to view the Boston and Cambridge innovation ecosystem up close.

In addition to participating in technical workshops held at MIT, the students visited local startups to learn how entrepreneurs are translating their innovative ideas into commercial enterprises with real world impact. One such startup, Raptor Maps, explained how it has developed sophisticated drones to map crop fields, enabling farmers to detect stresses to their crops and to more efficiently target the use of water, fertilizer and pesticides.

Mike Klinker, an MIT graduate now with Raptor Maps, explains the evolution of the startup to Masdar Institute students.

Dr. David Warsinger Receives Dissertation Award

June 22, 2016

MIT Postdoctoral Associate and MIT PhD graduate Dr. David Warsinger was honored today at the Water Resources Conference in Pensacola Beach, Florida as the recipient of the Universities Council on Water Resources Outstanding Dissertation Award in Science and Engineering. The national award includes a $750 cash prize and covers travel expenses to attend and speak at the conference’s plenary session.

Dr. Warsinger’s doctoral research, conducted with Professor John Lienhard from September 2012 through May 2015, was supported by the MIT & Masdar Institute Cooperative Program. His dissertation is titled: "Thermodynamic Design and Fouling of Membrane Distillation Systems”.

Dr. David M. Warsinger

New Solar Absorber Could Improve Efficiency of Solar Thermal Technology

(MIT News Office)

June 13, 2016

A team of researchers at MIT and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology has discovered a low-cost way to significantly increase the amount of solar energy that can be converted into heat, via a device called a solar absorber. This advance should help make sustainable technologies that rely on solar heat more efficient and affordable.

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Masdar Institute postdoc Jin You Lu characterizes the nanoporous solar absorber. Photo: Tahra Al Hammadi/Masdar Institute News

PhD Students Complete Spring Term at MIT

May 20, 2016

Five Masdar Institute PhD students have successfully completed a term this spring as Special Students at MIT. Each took graduate level courses and engaged in research on various topics, including advanced materials for energy and water applications, biomass to energy conversion, data analytics for social networks, and the impact of automation on the UAE labor market.

Masdar Institute PhD students and Cooperative Program staff

Supporting a More Sustainable Abu Dhabi

May 17, 2016

The MIT and Masdar Institute Cooperative Program flagship projects bring together teams of faculty from both Masdar Institute and MIT to address key strategic research areas.

One such project is focused on Abu Dhabi’s heat island effect. An article describing this project’s progress was featured by MIT News today.

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Abu Dhabi

Visiting Faculty and Students Gather at MIT

April 14, 2016

The MIT and Masdar Institute Cooperative Program hosted visiting Masdar Institute faculty and PhD students at a local Cambridge restaurant for an opportunity to reflect on their varied MIT experiences to date.

Eleven Masdar Institute faculty and PhD students are currently visiting MIT. Faculty spend up to a year on campus as part of two-year research project collaborations with MIT faculty counterparts. PhD students visit for a term during which they take classes and engage in research projects.

Professor Choucri Honored at ISA Conference

March 18, 2016

MIT Professor Nazli Choucri, who has been a co-leader of two MIT & Masdar Institute Cooperative Program research projects, was honored by the International Studies Association (ISA) at their annual conference in Atlanta on Friday, March 18.

At the event, the Political and Geography section of the ISA sponsored a panel entitled “Political Demography and Geography Distinguished Scholar Panel in Honor of Professor Choucri.” The panel’s topic was “The Co-Evolution Dilemma: Cyberspace and International Relations.”

Professor Nazli Choucri

Mobile Robots Seminar at Masdar Institute

February 4, 2016

Professor Sangbae Kim, the director of the Biomimetic Robotics Laboratory and an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, visited Masdar Institute on February 4th and delivered a special seminar entitled MIT Cheetah: New Design Paradigm for Mobile Robots.

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Professor Sangbae Kim

Tuning Polymer Material’s Transparency

January 25, 2016

Could a stretchable polymer someday serve as a cost effective way to shade windows, thereby reducing energy costs? Joint research on this issue, led by MIT’s Dr. Pedro Reis and Masdar Institute’s Dr. Kumar Shanmugam, appeared on MIT’s website home page today as the Today’s Spotlight feature article.

Samples of PDMS, a rubbery transparent polymer, are shown before being inflated (above) and after inflation (below). (Photo: Melanie Gonick/MIT)

Masdar Institute Students Experience Innovation and Entrepreneurship at MIT

December 4, 2015

MIT News published an article today highlighting experiences Masdar Institute students are engaged in at MIT through the MIT & Masdar Institute Cooperative Program.

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Masdar Institute PhD students at MIT

Entrepreneurship Illuminated at Masdar Institute

November 17, 2015

Over two dozen participants, including Masdar Institute faculty and PhD students, completed the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp today. This three day workshop, held at the Masdar Institute campus in Abu Dhabi, was led by MIT’s Professor Charles Cooney and Dr. Luis Perez-Breva. Through this intensive experience, participants immersed themselves in the process of translating exciting technology ideas from research labs into commercially viable products.

Professor Charles Cooney leads a discussion at the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp

Nanofluids Leveraged for Efficient Solar Steam Generation

Masdar Institute and MIT Team Develop Novel System to Convert Sunlight to Steam Directly for More Efficient Power Generation and Desalination

October 20, 2015

(Masdar Institute News)

Harnessing the sun’s heat for steam-driven power generation may have gotten a little easier and cheaper in the long run, thanks to a team of engineers from Masdar Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who have developed a system containing water with nanomaterials that converts sunlight to steam directly.

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Masdar Institute campus

MIT Energy Night 2015

October 16, 2015

MIT Energy night is MIT Energy Club’s flagship fall event, featuring posters from MIT researchers, start-up companies and others focused on energy technologies. Over 900 people attended this year. The MIT and Masdar Institute Cooperative Program’s energy-related research initiatives were presented by Dr. Scott Kennedy, Assistant Director of Education Initiatives and Peter Jones, Assistant Director of Research.

Dr. Scott Kennedy discusses joint MIT and Masdar Institute energy initiatives with an MIT Energy Night participant

MIT and Abu Dhabi Connect on Energy and Environment

October 9, 2015

MIT Spectrum, published by MIT’s Office of Resource Development, has released its fall issue. Featured is an article that provides a brief overview of collaborative research efforts between MIT and Masdar Institute, with particular focus on efforts related to energy and the environment.

PhD student Wei Li, postdoc Ana Costa, Dr. Rita Sousa of Masdar Institute, and Dr. Herbert Einstein of MIT

On the Importance of Academic International Engagements

September 22, 2015

For over fifty years, Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh has played important roles in key MIT initiatives around the world. In the article “On the importance of academic international engagements: An interview with Fred Moavenzadeh”, published today by MIT News, Dr. Moavenzadeh shares insights gained from these rich experiences, including his time serving as President at Masdar Institute.  

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Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh

Impact of Irrigation on Rainfall Research Published

September 7, 2015

MIT News recently published the article Quantifying the impacts of large-scale irrigation on rainfall, featuring research by MIT Professor Elfatih Eltahir, associate department head of CEE. This research was partially funded by the MIT and Masdar Institute Cooperative Program.

In addition, the research is highlighted in an article entitled Rainfall consistently enhanced around the Gezira Scheme in East Africa due to irrigation published in Nature Geoscience.

A satellite image shows irrigated fields (green and brown), irrigation canals (gray lines between fields), and villages (grey-white patches) within the Gezira Scheme in Sudan. Image: NASA

Dr. Aamena Alshamsi: Masdar Institute PhD Pioneer

September 4, 2015

After receiving a master's degree in information technology from the British University in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Aamena Alshamsi spent nearly four years as a systems analyst for a government transportation agency.

But she missed academia. "I have a passion for research, for things that don't have limitations," she says. So she applied to the PhD program at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, a graduate-level university in Abu Dhabi, the UAE's capital city. In May 2015, she received a PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering, becoming, with Faisal Al Marzooqi, one of the first two students to earn a doctorate in Masdar Institute's short history.

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Dr. Aamena Alshamsi

Dr. Faisal Al Marzooqi: Masdar Institute PhD Pioneer

August 19, 2015

Two things drew Faisal Al Marzooqi to Masdar Institute in 2013—the young technology university's new interdisciplinary PhD program and its multifaceted relationship with MIT.

Two years later, in May 2015, Al Marzooqi made history, becoming one of the first two students, along with Aamena Alshamsi, to earn a doctorate from Masdar Institute, the now seven-year-old graduate-level research university in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

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Dr. Faisal Al Marzooqi

Masdar Institute and MIT Developing Innovative Renewable Energy Storage Technology

Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries Can Provide High Performance Energy Storage for the Future Electrical Grid

August 3, 2015

(Masdar Institute Press Release - Note: The collaborative research project featured in this article is co-led by MIT's Dr. Yang Shao-Horn and Masdar Institute's Dr. Saif Almheiri. Project team members at MIT include Dr. Nir Pour.)

Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies is working with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop an innovative energy storage technology that can support renewable energy in the UAE.

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Dr. Saif Almheiri (second from the left) and Masdar Institute project colleagues in their Masdar Institute lab.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Workshop Brings Masdar Institute Students to MIT

June 16, 2015

A dozen students from Masdar Institute traveled to MIT this month to participate in a seven day workshop focused on innovation and entrepreneurship.

Topics explored included technologies for smart cities, measuring the process of effective innovation, radical innovation, and fundamental design and fabrication skills as they relate to the media arts and sciences.

Venturing beyond Cambridge, students visited New Valence Robotics in Boston. In addition to hands-on experiences designing and producing products using 3D printing technology, they learned about the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur in an emerging technology company.

Workshop students display the products they designed and manufactured at New Valence Robotics, using the 3D printers pictured.

Masdar Institute Awards over 100 Master's Degrees and its First PhD Degrees

May 26, 2015

Masdar Institute marked another important milestone in its growth, as the PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering degree was awarded for the first time to graduating students at the commencement ceremonies on May 26th.

At the event, held at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, Masdar Institute also graduated its fifth class of Master's students. Consisting of 22 Emiratis and 84 graduates from 36 countries, they were recognized for their accomplishments across nine academic programs.

Masdar Institute Commencement

MIT and Masdar Institute Work Together To Transform an Oil-Based Economy

May 11, 2015

An article entitled "MIT and Masdar Institute work together to transform an oil-based economy" was published today by MIT News. It provides an overview of the United Arab Emirates' strategy to diversify its economy through an emphasis on innovation, and describes the important role that MIT and its relationship with Masdar Institute plays in this ongoing transformational effort.

A copy of the full article is available on the MIT News website.

Dr. Vladimir Bulovic, MIT professor of engineering, speaks on emerging nanotechnologies at the recent Masdar Institute and MIT Research and Innovation Conference in Abu Dhabi.

Masdar Institute and MIT Research and Innovation Conference

April 13, 2015

Thirty-two MIT faculty, staff and students -- the largest MIT contingent ever to visit Masdar Institute at one time -- gathered for the Masdar Institute and MIT Research and Innovation Conference in Abu Dhabi on April 13th.

At the conference, Masdar Institute and MIT researchers presented summaries of ongoing collaborative research in the areas of renewable energy, water and climate, critical infrastructure, and advanced technologies. Over 200 people attended the one-day event, including regional leaders in industry, academia and government.

Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, opened the conference. Drs. Vladimir Bulovic and John Lienhard provided the UAE audience with a window on research being done at MIT in the areas of emerging nanotechnologies, and water and food, respectively.

MIT faculty presentations by Drs. Eugene Fitzgerald, Sang-Gook Kim, Elfatih Eltahir and Munther Dahleh focused on large scale MIT and Masdar Institute joint projects in the areas of solar cells, solar energy water splitting, climate, water, health, environment and future power grids.

The conference concluded with a review of smaller scale joint MIT and Masdar Institute projects aimed at helping to move technology from the lab to commercialization. MIT presenters included Drs. John Lienhard, Anuradha Agarwal and Tomas Palacios, with Dr. Duane Boning providing closing remarks.  

Additional details about the event, including a complete list of speakers and the conference agenda, can be found in the conference program.

Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, presenting opening remarks at the Masdar Institute and MIT Research and Innovation Conference.

Best Conference Paper Awarded to MIT&MICP Coauthors

January 20, 2015

MIT Professor Erik Brynjolfsson and MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy co-authors Postdoctoral Associate Frank MacCrory and Research Scientist George Westerman, along with Masdar Institute Assistant Professor Yousef Alhammadi have won the 2014 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) Award for Best Conference Paper. Their winning paper is entitled "Racing with and against the machine: Changes in occupational skill composition in an era of rapid technological advance."

The award was presented last month in Auckland, New Zealand at ICIS 2014, the annual meeting of the Association for Information Systems (AIS), whose 4,000 members represent universities spanning more than 95 countries.

The Knowledge Center at Masdar Institute

Masdar Institute Topped US News & World Report's Ranking for Research Excellence in Their Inaugural Best Arab Region Universities Listing.

December 14, 2014

Masdar Institute topped US News & World Report's ranking for research excellence in their Inaugural Best Arab Region Universities Listing.

Masdar Institute ranked first in the field-weighted citation impact list, used to measure the quality of a paper whether published by faculty, post-docs or students. It is one of the most sophisticated indicators of the value of research publishing of a university and enables the comparison of citation impact across subject areas with different publication rates.

In the US News & World Report listing, Masdar Institute also ranked second in the percentage of total publications in the top 10 percent category and third in the percentage of total publications in the top 25 percent category.

Additionally, Masdar Institute ranked sixth in the energy subject area, supporting its position as a leading university for clean energy research. Its overall ranking of 23 firmly places the institute among the Best Arab Region Universities listed.
Masdar Institute Press Release

MIT and Masdar Institute Paper Receives Best Paper Award

July 2014

A team from MIT and Masdar Institute was awarded the Donald O. Pederson Best Paper Award (IEEE TCAD Best Paper Award) 2014. The winning authors, Dr. Zheng Zhang, Dr. Tarek A. El Moselhy, Dr. Ibrahim (Abe) M. Elfadel, and Dr. Luca Daniel, received an unprecedented three nominations for their paper entitled "Stochastic testing method for transistor-level uncertainty quantification based on generalised polynomial chaos." The paper was a result of a joint research project of the MIT and Masdar Institute Cooperative Program.

Sponsored by the IEEE Council on Electronic Design Automation (CEDA), the Donald O. Pederson Award recognizes the best paper published in IEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems in the two calendar years preceding the award. Factors taken into account include the overall quality, originality, level of contribution, subject matter, and the timeliness of the research. In its award citation, IEEE CEDA describes the paper as an “outstanding accomplishment”. The award was presented on June 2nd at the 51st Design Automation Conference (DAC) held in San Francisco.

First Entrepreneurship Boot Camp Held at Masdar Institute

June 2014

The first Entrepreneurship Boot Camp was held at Masdar Institute on June 15 - 17, 2014 in the Innovation Lab (iLab). The objective was to provide intensive training to faculty and postdocs in technology translation, particularly in how to think about potential commercial applications of Masdar Institute research. The workshop was led by Dr. Charles L. Cooney and Dr. Luis Perez-Breva of MIT and organized by Dr. Bruce Walker Ferguson, Head, Institute Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Masdar Institute.

Eighteen Masdar Institute faculty, post-docs, and Ph.D. students particpated in the interactive sessions. Teams formed and presented their start-up concepts to a panel of outside financial reviewers from Masdar Capital, Ubiquitech, Dubai and MBME, Abu Dhabi who selected the winning team.

Financial reviewer Kempton White describes judging criteria to Boot Camp participants in Masdar Institute’s Innovation Lab (iLab) following final team presentations on June 17, 2014.

Masdar Institute Students Attend Two Week Innovation and Entrepreneurship Workshop at MIT

June 2014

A group of 14 UAE national students from Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi gained first-hand entrepreneurial experience during a two week summer workshop at MIT. Accompanying the students were Dr. Behjat Al Yousef, Dean of Students at Masdar Institute, and Dr. Irfan Saadat, Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Masdar Institute.
The MIT program provided participants hands-on experiences and exposure to entrepreneurship, business, and emerging technologies. Expert presentations, workshops at the MIT Self Assembly Lab, case study discussions, and visits to incubators and start-up companies were all part of the visit.

Another Innovation and Entrepreneurship Workshop will be held in 2015 at MIT.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on Innovation Mission to UAE

June 2, 2014

Governor Deval Patrick led a group of the Commonwealth’s government and industry leaders on an innovation mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to expand opportunities between the Commonwealth and the UAE for economic development and job creation focusing on the innovation economy sectors. 

The Governor and members of the delegation were welcomed by President Fred Moavenzadeh of Masdar Institute, representatives from MIT and representatives from Masdar in its innovation, economic and energy sectors.

MIT President Reif Addresses Masdar Institute Encouraging Investment in Research Universities to Strengthen Innovation

April 15, 2014

The most fundamental way for a nation to build its strength in innovation is to invest in its research universities because this investment brings forth new knowledge and human capital – two key aspects that help accelerate innovation, according to Dr. L. Rafael Reif, MIT President.

“New knowledge is the foundation of all truly important innovation while human capital helps in transforming knowledge into new technologies, solutions, companies and jobs,” explained Dr. Reif, who was delivering a talk titled, 'Science, Technology and Education: Research Universities as Engines of a Modern Economy' at Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi.

Masdar Institute Press Release

Third Call for Proposals – Flagship Research Projects

February 27, 2014

MIT and Masdar Institute faculty were invited to submit proposals for the third round of joint flagship project funding under the MIT & Masdar Institute Cooperative Program. The full RFP, Timeline, Instructions, and Templates were available at: web.mit.edu/mi-mit-proposals/

MIT & MI Cooperative Program Participates in MIT Energy Night

October 18, 2013

More than 1,200 people attended the MIT Energy Club's annual MIT Energy Night at the MIT Museum on October 18th to view and discuss more than 75 presenters' posters. The event is a large scale poster session that brings together people from every energy-affiliated department at MIT.

Dr. Charles Hsu, Assistant Director of Research and Education, represented the MIT & Masdar Institute Cooperative Program and fielded questions about Masdar Institute from attendees on:

1. graduate study opportunities;
2. research and business start-up opportunities;
3. government/country-wide energy project deployment in UAE and the region.

Masdar Institute President Named Education CEO of the Year 2013

September 24, 2013

Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology was honored as the Education CEO of the Year by the Gulf Business Industry Awards. The awards aim to recognize the most successful businesses and leaders from sectors including banking, real estate, aviation, retail, media, energy, tourism, education, and technology. The judges selected Dr. Moavenzadeh for his extraordinary contribution to knowledge and human capital development in clean energy and sustainable technologies.

Masdar Institute Press Release

MIT and Masdar Institute Jointly Host UAE Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum in Abu Dhabi

April 29, 2013

MIT and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology jointly hosted a UAE Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum in Abu Dhabi on April 29, 2013. The forum brought together private and public stakeholders to discuss how to create a healthy innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the UAE.

This invitation-only event gathered approximately 200 key stakeholders from government, universities, financial institutions, the business community, industry, and private foundations.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Social Development gave the keynote address and Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, presented opening remarks.

Insights into how innovation and entrepreneurship could help to meet the challenge of creating a knowledge-based economy in the UAE were shared by entrepreneurs and representatives from small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), industry, government, investors, and universities.

On April 30th, a workshop was held with the objective of identifying ideas and strategies for translating Masdar Institute entrepreneurship and innovation education and research into commercial products and services and to inform the design, implementation, and operation of the newly established Center for Innovation Systems and Entrepreneurship at Masdar Institute.

Full Report

Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director, Public Affairs, Masdar Institute joins Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Social Development at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum.

MIT Professor Charles L. Cooney, pictured above, moderated the forum with Professor Bruce Walker Ferguson of Masdar Institute.

New Dimension in Continuous Health Monitoring of People with Chronic Conditions

February 2013

Students associated with two Masdar Institute faculty members presented scientific papers at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) 2013 in San Francisco. A total of three papers – two led by Masdar Institute faculty and one in collaboration with a faculty member from MIT – signify a new dimension in continuous health monitoring of people with chronic medical conditions and were presented at this conference also known as the Semiconductor Olympics. This accomplishment was covered widely by Gulf news outlets.

2nd Call for Proposals – Flagship Research Projects

January 2013

MIT and Masdar Institute faculty were invited to submit proposals for the second round of joint flagship project funding under the MIT & Masdar Institute Cooperative Program. 

Masdar President On Panel at MIT Inauguration

September 2012

On September 20, 2012, Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, was a panelist in the Inaugural Symposium "A Globally Engaged MIT," speaking on "Global Partner Universities: Presidents' Perspectives." MIT President Reif thanked the panelists for showing how their institutions are "bringing MIT to the world and the world to MIT."

(pictured left to right) Jason Pontin, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Technology Review, Fred Moavenzadeh, MIT Professor and President, Masdar Institute, Thomas Magnanti, MIT Professor and President, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and Edward Crawley, MIT Professor and President, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology.

Masdar Institute Professor Gives Seminar at MIT

September 2012

On September 18, 2012, Professor Hassan Arafat from the Water and Environmental Engineering Program, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology spoke on "Process challenges in membrane distillation for seawater desalination: Membrane fouling and wetting." He concluded his talk by saying membrane distillation is a research field with much room for R&D to develop membranes that works.

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Masdar Institute's Second Graduating Class

May 2012

On May 28, 2012 at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, Masdar Institute graduated its second class of master's students. Fifty students, who enrolled at Masdar Institute in September 2010, obtained their degrees from seven Master of Science graduate programs from HH Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Selected from a pool of over 1,900 applicants from across the world, these graduates represent 24 countries.

MIT President Susan Hockfield Serves on Zayed Future Energy Prize Jury and Visits Masdar Institute, Abu Dhabi

December 2011

MIT President Susan Hockfield traveled to Abu Dhabi to serve on the Zayed Future Energy Prize jury, an award aimed to drive innovation, leadership, long-term vision, and impact in renewable energy and sustainability.

President Hockfield toured the Masdar Institute campus, met with faculty, students, and staff and was briefed on the progress of the research projects between Masdar Institute and MIT faculty.

President Hockfield meets with Masdar Institute students at their new campus in Abu Dhabi.

President Hockfield visits the lab of Masdar Institute faculty member Professor Raed Hashaikeh.

Masdar Institute Holds First Graduation

June 5, 2011

Over 70 students from five master's programs graduated from the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology on Sunday, June 5, 2011. The graduation ceremony held at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi was attended by senior government officials and dignitaries. The graduates received their certificates from Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser and Vice-Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

"This occasion positions Masdar Institute as one of the rapidly emerging hubs for education in renewable energy-related fields. We are proud to have played our part in creating the next generation of leaders that will solve the manmade problems we are all experiencing," said Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute and Director of MIT's Technology and Development Program (currently on leave from MIT).

MIT Professor Duane Boning to Serve as Director of the MIT Masdar Program

February 2011

Associate Provost Martin Schmidt announced that Duane Boning, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has agreed to serve as Director of the MIT & Masdar Institute Program. In this role, Professor Boning will help strengthen the growing rich collaboration in education and research between MIT, Masdar Institute, and Abu Dhabi.

As Director, Boning will build on the assistance MIT has provided to Masdar Institute, including establishment of a range of new graduate programs at Masdar spanning topics of energy, smart grid, materials and microsystems engineering, that have been successfully launched under the leadership of Professor Fred Moavenzadeh, previous Director of the MIT Masdar Program who has taken a leave of absence to serve as the President of Masdar Institute.

U.S Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Visits Masdar Institute

January 10, 2011

The Secretary of State of the United States of America, Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton, delivered a speech on January 10, 2011 at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology affirming the strong relationship between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Secretary Clinton also commended Masdar's ambition and commitment to advancing and commercializing innovations in renewable energy and clean technology.