The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and the World Economic Forum have launched the Abu Dhabi Centre for Frontier Technologies during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. The new centre joins WEF's Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Global Network. The centre will focus on quantum computing, robotics, propulsion and space systems, and related AI applications. It aims to advance frontier research and development, shape global policy on emerging technologies, and foster international collaboration for real-world deployment. TII CEO Dr Najwa Aaraj said the centre will push boundaries of frontier R&D whilst enabling breakthrough science to move beyond the lab into practical application. Abu Dhabi joins other C4IR centres in countries including the US, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Japan and India, strengthening the UAE's position as a global hub for science and innovation.

The World Economic Forum opened in Davos on Monday under new leadership, with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink largely taking over after founder Klaus Schwab's departure. The New York Times described Fink as "a quiet force reshaping the forum". Fink's leadership offers an opportunity to reinvent the conference, which critics argue has fallen out of step with global trends, according to a former WEF communications head. Semafor noted that "Fink himself was once a proto-Davos Man", suggesting his evolution mirrors broader changes at the forum. The shift marks a significant moment for the annual gathering of world leaders and business executives, as it seeks to regain relevance under fresh direction.