Prior to the merger with Khalifa University, Masdar Institute's underpinning strength was its leading edge research focusing on energy, sustainability, water, food, health, and innovation. Joint research collaborations between Masdar Institute and MIT faculty addressed global energy and sustainability issues and sought to develop research and development capabilities in Abu Dhabi. Research activities were intended to have scientific, social, and economic merit globally and within the UAE and were evaluated by a Research Advisory Committee from both Masdar Institute and MIT.
The robust research system included projects at multiple scales, from individual single-investigator projects, to group or team research efforts. Some of these research efforts involved only Masdar Institute faculty, others involved MIT and Madar Institute faculty working on one-to-one joint collaborative research projects and yet other research efforts involved teams from each side.
Multi-disciplinary, integrated approach to education and research at Masdar Institute
One-to-One (1:1) research builds upon and strengthens the relationship between MI and MIT and involves one MIT principal investigator (PI) and one Masdar Institute PI. Over forty-five 1:1 projects have been completed so far and several are current now.
The scope of the Flagship Research Projects reinforces and deepens Masdar Institute's core mission and values, and its signature research vision. These joint research projects are meant to focus on issues of interest and high potential impact to the Abu Dhabi government and industry, such as development of environmental technologies; energy and water resources; alternative energy-related technologies; advanced strategic technologies in support of Abu Dhabi's development goals; and climate and sustainability needs. Eleven Flagship Research Projects have been established over the past few years and, as of May 31, 2018, two are currently active.
Evolution of research from seed funding to center establishment.
