Dubai Startup Hub, an initiative of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has launched its Market Access programme, which aims to enhance co-operation and facilitate deals between innovative start-ups, SMEs, leading companies, and government entities in Dubai.

The launch announcement was made during the GITEX Technology Week 2017, where Dubai Startup Hub is demonstrating the various benefits of participating in the Market Access programme. As part of the first-of-its-kind programme, start-ups and SMEs are invited to submit innovative ideas and solutions that solve key challenges faced by prominent companies and organisations in the emirate.

The programme will be open to start-ups and SMEs from around the world that will have time until 31st October, 2017, to submit their ideas.

Emirates NBD, Dubai Chamber, flydubai and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are the four leading entities participating in the first edition of the programme. Each entity will present projects or core challenges that they are facing and seek innovative solutions from start-ups and SMEs that can be implemented within their organisations.

Emirates NBD has identified key areas where the company is seeking new solutions and projects, namely customer experience, acquisition, innovative banking products for retailers and SMEs, corporate customers, digital-only offerings for millennials, operational efficiencies, and staff engagement.

Projects listed by Dubai Chamber are focussed on content management and curation, as well as digital marketing for the Dubai Startup Hub platform.

Flydubai’s project is related to tracking and analytics solutions that can monitor personnel in real-time for its facility management activities.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is looking for start-ups that can develop new innovative technologies, applications, and business models to drive the company’s commercial vehicle sales in the Middle East.

Selected start-ups and SMEs will get the opportunity to tailor their business ideas to meet specific needs, gain industry experience, and take advantage of opportunities to market their solutions and products to prominent companies and organisations in Dubai.

Essa Al Zaabi, Senior Vice-President, Institutional Support Sector, Dubai Chamber, and General Coordinator of Tejar Dubai, explained that Dubai Startup Hub and the Market Access programme align with Dubai Chamber’s efforts to nurture the emirate’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and foster a culture of innovation within the local business community.

He noted that the initiative also aims to enhance Dubai’s competitiveness and support the emirate’s vision to become a global innovation hub that attracts the most innovative start-ups and business ideas from around the world.

Last year, Dubai Chamber launched Dubai Startup Hub as an online platform to connect start-ups, entrepreneurs, developers, venture capitalists and students, enabling them to learn about new opportunities and create new partnerships that stimulate economic growth.