SRTIP partners with Roche Diagnostics to drive sustainable healthcare innovation in Sharjah

UAE— The Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park (SRTIP) has entered into a strategic partnership with Roche Diagnostics Middle East (RDME), aiming to advance both sustainability and healthcare innovation in Sharjah.

This collaboration was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by H.E. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of SRTIP, and Guido Sander, General Manager Middle East at Roche Diagnostics, in a ceremony attended by senior representatives from both organizations.

Through this MoU, SRTIP and Roche Diagnostics have committed to working together on a range of initiatives designed to enhance patient care at every stage.

Their shared focus is on leveraging biotechnology, digital health, and artificial intelligence to enable personalized medicine and boost the region’s healthcare capabilities.

 By establishing innovation hubs and launching joint accelerators, the partnership will foster the development of transformative healthcare solutions across various disease areas.

A key aspect of this partnership is its emphasis on environmental sustainability, particularly within laboratory operations.

Both parties have pledged to implement and promote sustainable lab certification standards, aligning their practices with global best practices and the United Nations Race to Zero campaign.

This approach is intended to support Sharjah’s transition to a zero-carbon future and set new benchmarks for laboratory sustainability in the region.

Commenting on the partnership, Hussain Al Mahmoudi highlighted SRTIP’s commitment to making healthcare a core priority.

 He emphasized that this collaboration is part of a broader strategy to position Sharjah as a global research and development hub for advanced industries.

By harnessing SRTIP’s state-of-the-art facilities and strong links with academic institutions, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of innovative treatments, clinical trials, and AI-driven healthcare advancements.

 Al Mahmoudi further noted that the agreement will help create an integrated ecosystem that supports Sharjah’s evolution into a knowledge-driven, innovation-led economy.

Guido Sander expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, describing it as an opportunity to develop sustainable healthcare models by combining Roche’s expertise in eco-friendly operations with SRTIP’s commitment to sustainability.

He pointed out that Roche has already achieved a 67% absolute reduction in CO2 emissions across its operations since 2004, with a goal of reaching 100% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050.

Sander stressed that true healthcare transformation must go hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility and innovation.

 He also underlined the importance of addressing gaps in the patient journey and developing solutions that improve care, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

Dr. Asma Mahmoud Fikri, Director of Government and Corporate Partnerships at SRTIP, described the MoU as a foundation for launching global initiatives and partnerships in healthcare.

She explained that this step aligns with SRTIP’s strategy to build a fully integrated research and development ecosystem, positioning the Park as a leading platform and regional hub for health innovation.

 Dr. Fikri added that the collaboration is expected to attract more international partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies, healthcare institutions, and scientific researchers, further strengthening Sharjah’s status as a destination for healthcare investment and R&D infrastructure

Roche Diagnostics Middle East operates across 16 countries in the region, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya, and the Maldives.