EDGE and MEXT Forge Strategic Collaboration to Drive Innovation and Capability Development - Middle East Business News and Information

Mid East Info

04-03-2025

The partnership reinforces both organisations' commitment to advancing technological innovation, workforce capability, and cross-border cooperation, unlocking new opportunities for industry growth in the region.
Abu Dhabi, UAE:March 2025 – EDGE Group's Learning and Innovation Factory (LIF), a hub that offers advanced upskilling and technology-driven solutions to enhance manufacturing excellence and innovation in the defence and industrial sectors, and MEXT, one of the world's most comprehensive digital, green transformation and capability-building centres, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance workforce development, digital transformation, and innovation across the UAE, Türkiye, and the wider GCC region.
The MoU was signed by Omar Al Zaabi, Chairman of MALATH and President of Trading and Mission Support Cluster – EDGE, and Efe Erdem, General Manager of MEXT, witnessed by Consul General H.E. Saeed Abdulwahid Khamis R Saqer AlMheiri of the UAE Consulate in Istanbul, and a delegation from the UAE's Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) during a ceremony held at the MEXT Technology Center in Istanbul, Türkiye. MALATH is an EDGE Group entity focused on facilitating trade with Turkish companies with headquarters in Dubai.
As part of the MoU, LIF will be positioned as MEXT's exclusive partner in Learning and Development, with both entities working together to design and implement upskilling programs tailored to industry needs. MEXT will leverage LIF's state-of-the-art facilities for aptitude building initiatives, while LIF will use MEXT's Technology Center as a gateway to the Turkish market. The partnership extends to digital and green transformation projects, with LIF prioritising MEXT as its preferred technical consultancy provider. In return, MEXT will consider LIF as a primary partner for projects with governmental and semi-governmental entities in the UAE. In alignment with its commitment to fostering a dynamic innovation ecosystem, LIF will serve as the first entry point for MEXT's partner companies looking to expand into the UAE. In addition, MEXT grants LIF the first right of implementation for any new use cases entering the UAE market.
Speaking on the collaboration, Omar Al Zaabi said, 'Part of EDGE's overall strategy is to drive innovation and establish collaborations in our key sectors of focus. This partnership enhances the impetus for LIF and MEXT to support individuals and organisations in achieving digital transformation and proficiency development, contributing to the overall vision of the UAE to establish itself as a hub for Industry 4.0.'
For his part, Efe Erdem added, 'This collaboration with EDGE is a significant step forward in our mission to drive digital and green transformation in the region. By joining forces, we aim to empower industries in Türkiye and the UAE with cutting-edge knowledge and skills, ultimately fostering sustainable development and innovation across multiple sectors.'
About EDGE:
Launched in November 2019, the UAE's EDGE is one of the world's leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly-skilled talent to thrive.
With a focus on the adoption of 4IR technologies, EDGE is driving the development of sovereign capabilities for global export and for the preservation of national security, working with front-line operators, international partners, and adopting advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials. EDGE converges R&D, emerging technologies, digital transformation, and commercial market innovations with military capabilities to develop disruptive solutions tailored to the specific requirements of its customers. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, EDGE consolidates more than 35 entities into six core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Space & Cyber Technologies, Trading & Mission Support, Technology & Innovation, and Homeland Security.
About MEXT:
MEXT, established in 2020 by the Turkish Employers' Association of Metal Industries, is the world's most comprehensive center for digital and green transformation and capability building. Located within a cutting-edge 10,000-square-meter facility, MEXT is equipped with a state-of-the-art digital factory, advanced training facilities, office spaces, a vibrant co-working area, and a dynamic conference center.
MEXT core mission is to accelerate the digital and green transformation of the Turkish industry, providing a range of transformative services designed to pave the way for a more inclusive, sustainable, and digital future. Since 2020, MEXT has empowered over 650 companies through upskilling, assessments, and consultancy across 15 different industries in 41 cities in Türkiye and abroad in 4 countries. To date, MEXT has provided skills development training to over 30,000 individuals, with plans to significantly increase this number in the coming years. MEXT is also an official partner of the European Innovation Council, further solidifying its commitment to innovation.