The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi and Sanofi Forge Strategic Alliance to Accelerate the Development of New Global Vaccines in Abu Dhabi

On the sidelines of a high-level US visit focused on healthcare innovation

ABU DHABI, UAE, June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in Abu Dhabi, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sanofi, a research and development-driven, AI-powered healthcare biopharma company at the BIO International Convention 2025, in Boston, USA. The collaboration will leverage the Emirate's health-tech ecosystem and advanced research infrastructure to drive the development of new global vaccines and strengthen regional capabilities in vaccine manufacturing.

In the presence of H.E. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and Laurie Gery. Global Head of Business Development, Vaccines at Sanofi, the agreement was signed during the BIO International Convention in Boston, USA, by Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, the Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the DoH and Baptiste de Clarens, General Manager Greater Gulf, Vaccines at Sanofi.

Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, the Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the DoH, said: "DoH is partnering with Sanofi to expedite the development of new global vaccines. This initiative aims to shorten the timeline from early research to public availability by utilising advanced technologies, real-time data analysis, and conducting parallel clinical trial phases. By combining Sanofi's global scientific expertise with Abu Dhabi's state-of-the-art infrastructure,  we set new benchmarks for resilience, innovation and international partnerships. Abu Dhabi offers a globally connected, purpose-driven environment for leading research and together we will drive a transformative change that will safeguard the health and well-being of our community while contributing to global health security."

Both entities will work together to streamline regulatory processes, enhance manufacturing preparedness, and promote knowledge sharing between local and international experts. This partnership reflects Abu Dhabi's strategic goal to establish itself as a leading center for bio- and pharmaceutical innovation and underscores the emirate's commitment to advancing proactive, technology-driven healthcare solutions.

Baptiste de Clarens, General Manager Greater Gulf, Vaccines, Sanofi, said: "The Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi marks an encouraging step towards advancing global health security while reflecting our shared interest in addressing global health challenges through scientific partnership. This agreement allows us to examine how Sanofi's experience in vaccine development could complement Abu Dhabi's growing R&D ecosystem. Through this initial framework, we look forward to exploring opportunities for public-private collaboration in healthcare innovation."

In addition, both the Department and Sanofi will advance clinical research and development planning, optimise resource allocation and establish the foundational terms for funding and access. These efforts are designed to enhance healthcare resilience and sustainability across Abu Dhabi's healthcare sector and beyond, expanding access to quality care for patients locally and globally.

Led by DoH, a high-level delegation has embarked on a strategic mission to the United States from June 15 to 21, 2025.The delegation will conduct over 20 strategic meetings and visits with public and private sector leaders across the U.S., aimed at knowledge exchange, investment opportunities and the signing of new agreements that accelerate the adoption of advanced health solutions.

Representing Abu Dhabi's innovation ecosystem, the delegation includes key stakeholders such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Mubadala BIO, M42, Masdar City, KEZAD, PureHealth, and Etihad Cargo, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Khalifa University, startAD and Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).

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The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi and Sanofi Forge Strategic Alliance to Accelerate the Development of New Global Vaccines in Abu Dhabi

National competition in Shapingba District draws more than 100 teams developing robotics technologies for real-world deployment

CHONGQING, China, Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A national robotics competition held this month in Chongqing offered a look at China's efforts to move embodied artificial intelligence out of research laboratories and into commercial use.

The finals of the 11^th "Maker in China" SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest for Intelligent Biomimetic Robots concluded Sept. 11 in Chongqing's Shapingba District. The three-day national competition drew more than 100 teams from across China, with projects spanning biomimetic robotics, industrial automation and AI systems designed to perceive and interact with the physical world. 

Alongside the competition, organizers arranged meetings involving companies, universities and research institutions, as well as discussions aimed at technology transfer, financing and local deployment. The event formed part of a national program intended to support innovative SMEs with specialized technologies. Its theme was "Pushing Tech Frontiers, Unleashing Creativity."

The competition comprised 13 tracks, covering work ranging from foundational research to systems approaching commercial deployment. Teams in the startup category competed in three broad areas: cutting-edge technologies, core enabling technologies and specialized applications. Their projects focused in part on the hardware, software and control systems underpinning the next generation of robots.

Teams in the enterprise category, by contrast, tested systems designed for real-world use in the electric power, healthcare and service sectors. The emphasis was on whether the technologies could perform reliably in operating environments and be scaled for broader deployment.

Many of the entries targeted technical bottlenecks that have limited the wider deployment of robotic systems. Projects included multi-robot coordination and task-scheduling systems for warehouses; assistive exoskeletons for older adults and rehabilitation patients; biomimetic robots for inspecting electric power infrastructure; miniature hummingbird-inspired flapping-wing drones; and robots capable of folding clothing autonomously. Together, the projects illustrated the range of engineering approaches Chinese developers are pursuing as they seek practical applications for embodied AI.

The competition also served as a venue for financing and business-development discussions, and several participating projects announced plans to establish operations in Shapingba. At the closing ceremony, the Shapingba District government signed letters of intent with SIASUN Robot & Automation Co., Ltd. and Chentu Technology, among other companies. ZTE also signed letters of intent with teams from Zhejiang University and Xi'an Jiaotong University.

Shapingba is seeking to establish itself as a center for embodied AI within Chongqing's broader robotics supply chain. The value of the district's robotics output rose 233% from a year earlier during the first seven months of 2026, according to local government data.

 

 

 

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