SPARK to adopt GCAIE AI excellence model framework
Agreement advances Sharjah’s AI governance capabilities
#UAE #governance - Sharjah innovation hub SPARK (Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with UK-headquartered Global Centre for AI Excellence (GCAIE) to deploy the Global AI Excellence Model, an internationally recognised framework enabling governments, enterprises and innovation ecosystems to implement AI in a secure, ethical and economically measurable manner. The collaboration will focus on developing AI leadership, supporting AI governance frameworks, accelerating AI commercialisation and enabling measurable return on investment.
SO WHAT? - The GCAIE partnership positions Sharjah as a proactive global player addressing AI”s governance, safety and trust challenges through structured, responsible and results-oriented AI deployment. Such an approach increasingly demanded by governments, investors and international institutions. The deal also reinforces the growing collaboration between the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom AI ecosystems.
Here are some key points regarding the new partnership:
Sharjah innovation hub SPARK (Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with UK-headquartered Global Centre for AI Excellence (GCAIE) to deploy the Global AI Excellence Model, an internationally recognised framework for secure, ethical and economically measurable AI implementation.
The partnership focuses on deploying the Global AI Excellence Model enabling governments, enterprises and innovation ecosystems to implement AI in a secure, ethical and economically measurable manner through internationally recognised best practices and frameworks.
Through the collaboration, SPARK and the Global Centre for AI Excellence will jointly work on developing AI leadership, professional capacity and certified assessors, whilst supporting AI governance, safety and trust frameworks across Sharjah’s innovation ecosystem.
The partnership will accelerate AI commercialisation and applied use cases, enable measurable return on investment, productivity gains and operational efficiency, whilst establishing AI innovation programmes, sector-focused pilots and capability-building initiatives supporting economic diversification.
International forecasts show artificial intelligence is expected to contribute more than $15 trillion to the global economy by 2030 whilst increasing productivity in some sectors by up to 40%, though many organisations struggle to move beyond experimentation due to governance and trust challenges.
The partnership positions Sharjah as a proactive global player addressing governance, trust and return on investment challenges through structured, responsible and results-oriented AI deployment, an approach increasingly demanded by governments, investors and international institutions.
The agreement reinforces growing collaboration between the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom in advanced technologies, innovation governance and digital transformation, with the Global Centre for AI Excellence working with public and private institutions across Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The partnership marks a significant expansion of the Global Centre for AI Excellence’s engagement in the UAE and wider region, with the UK-based organisation supporting national AI strategies and institutional AI maturity across multiple countries.
ZOOM OUT - The Global AI Excellence Model, developed by the UK”s Global Centre for AI Excellence (GCAIE), provides the first unified, science-based framework enabling governments, enterprises and institutions to harness AI with confidence, accountability and measurable impact. The model is structured around four pillars, 20 criteria and a set of assessment dimensions and includes the SCALE Assessment Tool. SCALE is a proprietary maturity framework for evaluating organisational AI excellence across Leadership & Governance, Execution Excellence, Enablers, and Results & Value Creation pillars. Used globally by boards, chief executives and transformation leaders, SCALE moves beyond checklists to offer a strategic performance map revealing strengths, exposing gaps and guiding targeted investment to accelerate maturity and secure competitive advantage.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]