Dr. John Meewella's presentation about UAE and Dubai startup life, setting up OEC, and possibilities of setting up business in the Gulf Region at Starttaamo 23.4.2012

1. Dr. John Isaac Graham Meewella
PhD DBA MBA MMgt MCom MArts MPol PGD.HRM.IR BIS.Com ADip.Acc TAA
Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship &Management, Oulu Business School, Oulu University, Finland
Managing Director, International Expansions, Oulu Business School, Oulu University, Finland
Professor Entrepreneurship, Int’l Business, & Supply Chain Mgt, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Finland
Managing Director, Oulu Entrepreneurship Center (OEC), Finland;
Founder-Director, Aspire Solutions Group, Australia-UAE-Sri Lanka-Japan
John is currently serving at the Oulu Business School, Finland as: Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship-Management,
Managing Director of internationalization initiatives in the GCC-MENA region, Managing Director of the Oulu
Entrepreneurship Center; Professor of Entrepreneurship, International Business, Supply Chain Management & Foreign Trade
Practices at Oulu University of Applied Sciences; Review Team for journals: IJTE, IJBEX & WREMSD; Board of
Management for Graduate School of Management and serves on several corporate Boards of Directors. Prior to moving to
Finland, he served as the Managing Director, Emirates Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (ECIE) at the UAE
University where he was responsible for the overall strategic, innovative and entrepreneurial directions of a government
initiative in promoting creativity, innovation & entrepreneurship. As a token of appreciation of John’s contribution to
entrepreneurial developments in the UAE, he was awarded the “Most cooperating-supporting individual” status by HH
Sheikh Mohamed (Dubai) during 2008-2009 Mwarid Finance, Tamaiaz Entrepreneurial Challenge and Akoun
Entrepreneurial Award by Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development in 2010. John is the Founding Director of Aspire
Solutions Group – a social entrepreneurial consulting group based in Australia, Finland, Japan, Sri Lanka and UAE. His
previous qualifications from Harvard Business School, Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship, Melbourne
University, Monash University, Swinburne University and Deakin University include multiple Executive Leadership and
Development Programs, PhD/DBA specialising in Management and Strategic Global Entrepreneurship, six Masters level
degrees and several Bachelor/Diploma level qualifications. John is currently pursuing his third doctoral study in Finland
specialising in female-international entrepreneurship and leading multiple entrepreneurial projects globally. 1

2. Entrepreneurship in the Middle East:
‫‏‬
Emirates Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (ECIE) experiences‫‏‬
2

3. OEC, Oulu Entrepreneurship Center was founded in 2011 to network students from
different faculties and Universities together. The main idea is to provide
entrepreneurship support for someone who is thinking about starting a business and/or
working for a company in an entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial manner.
We have access to a large local and international business network and specialize in
entrepreneurial start-up exploration and exploitation. OEC attempts to contribute
towards an Oulu based entrepreneurial eco-system in fostering high-tech innovative
born-global start-ups. As a summary, within OEC, we aim to be contributing to that gap
of connecting and collaborating with entrepreneurial community in creating real life
projects.
3
www.oecfinland.com

4. Essence of
Entrepreneurship

5. How do
Yamin-Sandhu-Meewella 2009 (c) 5

6. Arab Region
Yamin-Sandhu-Meewella 2009 (c) 6

7. MENA Region
Yamin-Sandhu-Meewella 2009 (c) 7

8. GCC Region
Yamin-Sandhu-Meewella 2009 (c) 8

9. P.O. BOX 4600, 90014
University of Oulu • tel. (08)
553 2905, fax (08) 553 2906 •

10. P.O. BOX 4600, 90014
University of Oulu • tel. (08)
553 2905, fax (08) 553 2906 •

11. P.O. BOX 4600, 90014
University of Oulu • tel. (08)
553 2905, fax (08) 553 2906 •

12. 2. Emerging entrepreneurial streams & Gulf region

16. Reducing Volatility Through Diversification
 Expanding the contribution of non-oil export oriented sectors crucial
to decouple GDP growth from oil price
 Abu Dhabi will stimulate non-oil sector, rather than reduce activity in
oil sector
 Private sector has key role to play in the Emirate’s diversification
strategy

17. The World …
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eUcRjo9Yv4
ECIE 17

18. The World …
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eUcRjo9Yv4
ECIE 18

19. E
mirates
Center
I
for
nnovation
&
E ntrepreneurship

20. ECIE 20

21. ECIE 21

22. ECIE 22

23. Yamin-Sandhu-Meewella 2009 (c) 23

24. Yamin-Sandhu-Meewella 2009 (c) 24

25. Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA)
H.E. Ahmed Saif Al Darmaki (CEO)
Dr. Mohamed Baka (ECIE Chairman)
United Arab Emirates University (UAEU)
H.E. Abdulla Khanbashi (Vice Chancellor)
Dr. Fatima Al Shamsi (Secretary General )
Prof. David Graf (Dean of CBE)
ECIE managed by CBE, throughout UAE University
Khalifa Fund to develop SMEs
Dr. Ahmed Khalil Al Mutawa (CEO)
Mr. Nizar Cheniour (Director EDD)
25

26. o Vision & Mission
o Values
o Phases of Certificate
o Selection process
o Entrepreneurship?
o Entrepreneur Anatomy
o COE timeline
o COE schedule 26

27. ECIE aims to foster within the UAE society an
o Partners
Entrepreneurial Spirit
that contributes to the creation of knowledge-based economy and to the
realization of the nation’s aspirations for progress and prosperity.
o Values
o Phases of Certificate
o Selection process
We are determined to enhance Entrepreneurial Activities
o Entrepreneurship?
Throughout the UAE University by nurturing
o Entrepreneur Anatomy Entrepreneurial Talents
and to support Emiratization programs across the UAE
o COE timeline
o COE schedule 27

28. Emirati Traditions and Innovative Vision
o Partners
Charismatic Leading by Example
o Vision & Mission
Upholding UAE Values
o Phases of Certificate
o Selection process
Developing Behaviors of Competency and Dedication
o Entrepreneurship?
o Entrepreneur Anatomy
Accepting and Helping Each Other
o COE timeline
o COE schedule 28

29. What is Entrepreneurship?
 You see things and you say why?
An entrepreneur dreams things that never were and says
why not?
 Entrepreneurial Behaviors
o Partners  Dreaming of things that do not yet exist
 Bringing them into creation
o Vision & Mission  Gaining market acceptance
o Values {Shaw 1922 as cited in Gaglio 2004, p. 533}
o Phases of Certificate  Entrepreneurship ~ 4th pillar of economic development in
addition to land, labor and capital
o Selection process
 Entrepreneurship ~ the most powerful economic force
known to mankind! The ‘Entrepreneurial Revolution’
o Entrepreneur Anatomy {Kuratko & Hodgetts 2004}
o COE timeline
o COE schedule 7

30. Anatomy of an Entrepreneur
o Partners
o Vision & Mission
o Values
o Phases of Certificate
o Selection process
o Entrepreneurship?
o COE timeline
Source: University of Waterloo, Centre for Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (CBET) 2008
o COE schedule (http://www.cbet.uwaterloo.ca/Prospective_Students/index.html) 30

31. Entrepreneurial Mindset
Source: The Economist 2008 “Searching for the Invisible Man”
(http://images.google.ae/imgres?imgurl=http://www.progressdaily.com/wp-
content/uploads/2006/06/entrepreneur.%2520gif.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.progressdaily.com/2006/06/page/2/&h=300&w=33
3&sz=53&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=t9lQX6gIqnHk_M:&tbnh=107&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3DEntrepreneur%2Band%
ECIE 31
2BInnovation%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN)

32. Entrepreneurs – Main Motivators
Source: Oxford University, “Survey of High-Tech Entrepreneurs’ Main Motivations”, 2008
ECIE
(http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/entrepreneur_main.html) 32

33. UAEU Graduate Employment Survey 2006-2007
UAEU
Self-employed (1%)
Unemployed (21%)
Working & studying (6%)
Working (72%)
ECIE 33

34. Entrepreneurship in Abu Dhabi:
(Share of self-employed or employers in total employed)

35. Abu Dhabi Vision
Create a confident, secure society, and
Build a sustainable, open and globally competitive economy
Premium The creation A large An optimal Maintenance Emirate Complete Continuation of A significant
education, of a transparent of Abu Dhabi's resource international strong and and ongoing
healthcare, and sustainable empowered regulatory values, culture optimisation and domestic diverse contribution to
infrastructure knowledge- environment and heritage security international the federation
assets private sector relationships of the UAE
based
economy
Pillars

36. ECIE 36

37. ECIE Organizational Structure
Patronage
Board
Managing Director
Assistant Director
UGRU
FMHS COE CEDU CFA CBE CIT CHSS COS CL SAL
-CEC
Innovation Lab Head Program & Curr. Head
Industry growth & Cert of Entrepre’p
Start –ups COE
Commercial Business
Feasibility
Model & Plan
Pilot Project Networking
Prototype
Comp.
Concept Creativity &
Development ECIE 37
Innovation

38. ECIE Organizational Structure (Divisions)
Division Head Student President Division Head
Innovation Female Program &
Lab Entrepreneurship Curriculum
Division Club Division
UAEU Colleges UAEU Colleges UAEU Colleges
Multi-disciplinary Multi-disciplinary Multi-disciplinary
Industry growth & Cert of Entrepre’p
Interns
Start –ups COE
Commercial Team Business
Feasibility Leaders Planning
Pilot Project Senior Networking Comp.
Prototype Members Soft skills
Concept Members Creativity &
Development Innovation
ECIE 38

39. Innovation Labs Concept
Role of Innovation Labs
Creativity Invention Innovation Entrepreneurship
Idea engineering Creating Developing the Commercializing
process something new invention the innovation
Concept Industry growth &
Pilot Project Commercial
Development Start –ups
Prototype Feasibility
ECIE 39

40. ECIE Innovation Labs (TBC)
Division Head
Innovation
Lab
Division
UAEU Colleges
Multi-disciplinary
ECIE 40

41. Certificate of Entrepreneurship (COE)
dfd
Phase One
Creativity &
Innovation
Phase Two Phase Three
Networking Technical
Entrepreneurial Entrepreneurial
Competencies Competencies
 Business Plan Competition: Report & Presentation
 Funding Bodies
 Business Incubation and Commercialization
ECIE 41

42. Registration
Application &
Interview
Commercialization
Creativity &
Ent Fellow’p Innovation
Scheme
Attend. & Elev. Pitch
(EFS)
o Partners
o Vision & Mission
o Values Entrepreneurial
Business Incubation
Networking
o Phases of Certificate Interview
Attend. & Notebook
o Entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurial Bus Model &
Funding
o Entrepreneur Anatomy COE Bus Plan
Bus Plan
Competition Presentation & Report
o COE timeline
o COE schedule 42

43. Goals
ECIE 43

44. Goals
ECIE 44

45. Part I
• What is the Middle East?
– Arab, MENA, Middle East, GCC, UAE, each Emirate geographic context
• Trading history, socio-cultural-religious characteristics,
discovery of oil and implications
• Sheikh Zayed vision and UAE transformation
from pearl diving, camels & to new UAE
• Economic crisis and impact
• Political context
– Iran, Yemen, Algeria, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syrea
ECIE 45

46. Part II
• Emirates Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (ECIE)
establishment
– Abu Dhabi 2030 Vision
– Abu Dhabi government (ADWEA division)
– United Arab Emirates University
– Khalifa Fund
– Tawteen Council
– Certificate of Entrepreneurship (COE)
– ECIE Strategic partners and stakeholders
– …
ECIE 46

47. Part III
Implications for future:
• Economic (monetary need based) vs political (privatization-
Emiratization)
– justifications of entrepreneurship
• Sovereign wealth funds, oil revenue, cash rich society
– GDP per capita 2010 USD 53,212 adj. PPP, World Bank
– role of entrepreneurship
• HBB, Micro, SME
– female entrepreneurship implications (80% of UAEU graduates)
– Emiratization/ Privatization dilemma (4%)
• Socio-cultural-religious context
– male/female roles
– expatriate/local percentage
– religious liberalism/extremism
– tribal mentality vs united front: role of Abu Dhabi & Dubai's current
ECIE 47
context, Abu Dhabi 2030 vision …

48. Part III …
• Alignment with President Barack Obama's Egypt talk
– Egypt
– April conference
– recent initiatives of entrepreneurship as a proactive anti-terrorism tool
• Young populations
• Unemployment, Emiratization
• Social-cultural & cultural transition associated issues (gangs,
• Globalization, weternisation, liberalization,
• Marginalization of Emiratis in their own country
• Youth unrest (economic, social, cultural, religious)
• Role of entrepreneurship …
– Creativity, Innovation, Knowledge based economy, social capital …
– Job creation, economic prosperity, mindset, attitudes and behavirs …
ECIE 48

49. Thank You
For further information, please contact:
• John Isaac Graham Meewella, Managing Director
Emirates Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (ECIE)
P. O. Box 17555, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
Mob. +971-50-137-7965
Email. (johnmeewella@windowslive.com)
ECIE 49