Innovation scale-up Wazoku has announced its expansion into the GCC region with the establishment of a dedicated presence in the UAE. The company has invested in UAE-based server infrastructure to meet local requirements and ensure client data protection.
Additionally, Wazoku has formed a strategic partnership with FKRA, a UAE innovation consultancy, to provide on-the-ground expertise and improve responsiveness to local market needs. This move comes as demand for open innovation services in the GCC grows, with the region increasingly seeking global expertise to address its challenges.
“With over 2,500 challenges solved through open innovation, including projects for some of the region’s largest organizations, Wazoku is well-positioned to meet the rising demand for innovation expertise,” said Schonning Eysturoy, Senior Director of Innovation Ecosystems at Wazoku. “Our partnership with FKRA and the launch of our UAE-based server reflect our commitment to the region and will significantly enhance our ability to address the GCC’s innovation requirements.”
Wazoku, which already has offices and partners in the UK, Chile, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Colombia, and the US, sees the UAE expansion as a major step forward. The company has previously collaborated with major organizations across the GCC, including Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Neom, Saudi Water Authority, and Aramco.
The company also recently supported the Global Prize for Innovation in Desalination (GPID), the world’s largest competition dedicated to excellence in desalination. Using crowdsourcing, Wazoku identified 540 participants this year—more than double the previous year’s figure. These participants will compete for a $10 million prize, with the winner to be announced in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 25.
Since establishing its presence in the UAE, Wazoku has secured clients such as EDGE Group, a defense contractor, and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII). The expansion and new partnerships will be officially announced at an event in Abu Dhabi on November 19, 2024, in collaboration with TII. The event will explore how crowdsourcing can foster innovation in the region and highlight successful open innovation programs from these organizations.
Wazoku works with global clients, including Sanofi, A2A, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and many other enterprises, government agencies, and non-profits to crowdsource and manage ideas and innovation.
The company’s Innovation Ecosystem Platform supports its Total Innovation approach, which encompasses Market Intelligence & Scouting, Innovation Management, and Start-up & Partner Ecosystem Management. This platform enables organizations to crowdsource, capture, and manage ideas from their networks—employees, customers, or partners—or through Wazoku’s 700,000 researchers, scientists, and other experts who make up the Wazoku Crowd.
“The GCC countries are increasing their investment in R&D,” Eysturoy continued. “The UAE has recently established an R&D council to build an innovation ecosystem aimed at enhancing the performance and effectiveness of the country’s science and technology sector. With our innovation management platform and global ecosystem, Wazoku is well-equipped to support this ambition.”
Wazoku’s presence in the UAE is a pivotal step in further strengthening the company’s ability to serve clients across the GCC as they approach innovation on a larger and more sustainable scale.
