Innovation Through Collaboration; Plekhanov University in Dubai Meets with RAK Innovation City Leadership
21 October 2025
Plekhanov University in Dubai was pleased to meet with Mr. Nabil Arnous, Commercial Executive Director of RAK Innovation City, to advance discussions on collaboration on innovation and startup incubation. The meeting followed their earlier exchange during Plekhanov University in Dubai’s participation at GITEX Global 2025, where they had reached preliminary agreements on collaboration in the Startup Graduation Project and internship programs.
Plekhanov University in Dubai, an innovation- and entrepreneurship-focused institution, drives several cutting-edge initiatives in AI and digital transformation. Its programs include a Master’s in AI in Education, and it also operates an AI Research Center dedicated to applied research and practical innovation. Represented by Director of Plekhanov University in Dubai Dr. Svetlana Malkarova, the university brought its perspective to this meeting with Dr. Arnous centered on strengthening cooperation between the university and RAK Innovation City to develop a joint ecosystem supporting startups and real-world applications of emerging technologies. Dr. Sanjay Nadkarni, Professor at Plekhanov University in Dubai and leading voice in the field of AI, and Yulia Maksimovich, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics alumna and Alumni Club Chairperson, also attended the meeting.
The meeting concluded with several concrete agreements aimed at building a stronger innovation bridge between the two institutions. The key outcomes include:
1. Collaborating on establishing an innovation ecosystem including an ideation space within RAK Innovation City to support early-stage startup development.
2. Shortlisting promising startups incubated at the university’s main campus in Moscow that align with RAK Innovation City’s priorities through virtual demo days and pitching events curated by the Dubai campus.
3. Incentivizing selected startups to establish operations in RAK Innovation City through license fee waivers, seed capital opportunities, investor networking, and mentorship for regional market scaling.
4. Utilizing the innovation hub currently being developed at Plekhanov University in Dubai to onboard startups from the Moscow campus and help them tailor their solutions to the UAE and regional markets.
Plekhanov University in Dubai is proud to continuously develop its ties with the UAE government initiatives and to support its innovation and knowledge-driven economy. Partnerships like this allow the university to broaden its industry engagement and strengthen its impact on the regional innovation ecosystem, thereby expanding practical opportunities for its students.
Plekhanov University in Dubai, an innovation- and entrepreneurship-focused institution, drives several cutting-edge initiatives in AI and digital transformation. Its programs include a Master’s in AI in Education, and it also operates an AI Research Center dedicated to applied research and practical innovation. Represented by Director of Plekhanov University in Dubai Dr. Svetlana Malkarova, the university brought its perspective to this meeting with Dr. Arnous centered on strengthening cooperation between the university and RAK Innovation City to develop a joint ecosystem supporting startups and real-world applications of emerging technologies. Dr. Sanjay Nadkarni, Professor at Plekhanov University in Dubai and leading voice in the field of AI, and Yulia Maksimovich, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics alumna and Alumni Club Chairperson, also attended the meeting.
The meeting concluded with several concrete agreements aimed at building a stronger innovation bridge between the two institutions. The key outcomes include:
1. Collaborating on establishing an innovation ecosystem including an ideation space within RAK Innovation City to support early-stage startup development.
2. Shortlisting promising startups incubated at the university’s main campus in Moscow that align with RAK Innovation City’s priorities through virtual demo days and pitching events curated by the Dubai campus.
3. Incentivizing selected startups to establish operations in RAK Innovation City through license fee waivers, seed capital opportunities, investor networking, and mentorship for regional market scaling.
4. Utilizing the innovation hub currently being developed at Plekhanov University in Dubai to onboard startups from the Moscow campus and help them tailor their solutions to the UAE and regional markets.
Plekhanov University in Dubai is proud to continuously develop its ties with the UAE government initiatives and to support its innovation and knowledge-driven economy. Partnerships like this allow the university to broaden its industry engagement and strengthen its impact on the regional innovation ecosystem, thereby expanding practical opportunities for its students.