The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), and NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have signed a collaboration agreement to deepen strategic collaboration in cutting-edge research, advanced education, and talent development.
The collaboration is structured around two framework agreements: a Research and Development Sponsorship Agreement and a Framework Fellowship Program Agreement, designed to strengthen the pipeline from fundamental research to applied innovation.
Under the Framework R&D Sponsorship Agreement, TII and NYUAD will collaborate on joint research projects that combine NYUAD’s multidisciplinary academic expertise with TII’s applied research capabilities. The collaboration will focus on high-impact, mission-driven research across priority areas including advanced materials, artificial intelligence and digital science, autonomous robotics, cryptography, directed energy, propulsion and space, quantum science and technology, renewable and sustainable energy, and secure systems.
Through this partnership, TII and NYUAD aim to accelerate scientific discovery, generate intellectual property, and translate research outcomes into real-world applications, supporting technology commercialization and enabling high-impact scientific publications.
The Framework Fellowship Program Agreement establishes a structured pathway to support advanced education and research through sponsored fellowships. NYUAD will provide fellows with access to research facilities and academic supervision, while TII will sponsor and oversee fellowship activities aligned with its strategic research priorities and national innovation objectives.
Dr Najwa Aaraj, CEO, Technology Innovation Institute, said: “This collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi reflects our commitment to bridging fundamental research with real-world application. By aligning academic excellence with TII’s applied research mandate, we are strengthening the pathway from discovery to impact while investing in the next generation of researchers who will shape future technologies.”
NYUAD Interim Vice Chancellor Fabio Piano said: “This partnership with the Technology Innovation Institute reinforces NYU Abu Dhabi’s commitment to advancing mission-driven research and cultivating talent that can translate fundamental discovery into real-world impact. By working closely with TII, we are creating meaningful pathways for collaboration, innovation, and researcher development aligned with national priorities.”
Through this program, TII will receive and sponsor students from NYU Abu Dhabi to conduct research and studies in priority technology domains, supporting the development of highly skilled researchers and strengthening collaboration between academia and applied research.
