Innovation for Technology and Space

Interdisciplinary Lab

Innovations in materials technology are driving progress in science, industry and space exploration. Advances in synthesis, characterization, and applications are shaping solutions for energy, sustainability, and next-generation technologies, while novel 2D materials open new possibilities for multifunctional uses such as radiation shielding, energy storage, and water purification. These breakthroughs are not only vital on Earth but also central to sustaining long-term space missions and enabling new discoveries.

This forum provides an opportunity to celebrate 100 years of quantum science and technology with a high-level panel of international scientists exploring key challenges and future directions in materials innovation. It also features expert talks by local and international speakers, whose pioneering research on 2D materials, hydrogen and its isotopes, electrochemical processes in lithium-ion batteries, and room-temperature superconductivity promises transformative advances. The session concludes with reflections on priorities for the years ahead.

By combining scientific insights with dialogue across disciplines, the forum enables participants to gain a deeper understanding of emerging trends, identify opportunities for cooperation, and define concrete next steps for joint research on new materials, space technologies, and innovation in material science.

Moderated by Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Abdel-Hafiez, AGYA Alumni Co-Speaker, University of Sharjah, UAE

Interdisciplinary Labs: Sharing ideas and shifting perspectives for knowledge co-creation

Interdisciplinary Labs are interactive workshops where scholars and students as well as contributors from beyond academia explore real-word problems that require integrated perspectives. The goal is to initiate a creative dialogue across disciplinary and geographical borders along thought-provoking research questions and target-driven case-studies. The labs help navigate the challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration by their inclusive and hands-on environment that invites the participants to share and shift perspectives and to jointly develop innovative approaches towards complex issues. Encouraging curiosity, active participation, and equal contribution, the labs offer an immersive experience to foster new forms of knowledge co-creation and plant the seed for future research collaboration.