The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) yesterday launched its strategy for innovation in the civil aviation sector in consistence with the National Innovation Strategy that aims to position the UAE among the most innovative nations in the world within seven years.

Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the GCAA, who unveiled the strategy during a press conference, said ,' The UAE civil aviation sector provides a fertile ground for innovation and forms one of the most dynamic developmental and economic drivers in the UAE.' He added that the positive impact of innovation on air transport services stimulates economic expansion and diversification.

Innovation, he noted, was deeply embedded in the core of the air transport industry and history of aviation. Innovation is a key driving force of the sector, he concluded.

The press conference also saw the launch of the Civil Aviation Innovation Award.

Unveiling details of the award and its criteria, Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the GCAA, said the Dh 100,000 award will be given to individuals, groups or corporations who meet specific requirements including among other significance, public benefit, and implementation plan. An additional prize worth Dh 100,000 will be awarded in the area of quality assurance in aircraft spare parts to encourage research and innovation in this local emerging sector.

The UAE, Al Suwaidi indicated, lead the region and ranked 36th globally in the Global Innovation Index rankings for 2014.

Speaking about initiatives the GCAA will roll out to foster innovation and its culture, Al Suwaidi said the civil aviation regulator would set up specialised clusters for innovation in the industry and convene an investment summit on civil aviation in the last quarter of the current year.