We are excited to announce that Sami Bashir, Vice Provost, Research Translation and Entrepreneurship at NYUAD, will be joining Touchdown Middle East 2026 as a speaker!
Sami will take part in “Panel: Abu Dhabi’s Digital Economy Vision: Unlocking Investments & Expansion Opportunities” as a Panellist.
About Speaker:
Sami Bashir has over 20 years of experience in invention evaluation, research translation, and new technology deployment, both in industry and academia. Sami most recently served as a Director of the Technology Management & Innovation Office at Khalifa University of Science & Technology. During this period he also served as an Interim CEO of the Khalifa Innovation Center.
Previously, Sami worked as the Director of the Technology Transfer Office in Masdar Institute of Technology (now Khalifa University of Science and Technology), where he was responsible for building technology transfer platforms and overseeing the commercialization of the IP portfolio. Prior to this, Sami worked as a Manager & Assistant Chief Licensing Officer in the Technology Transfer Office at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
Sami has authored different papers and publications in the field of university technology transfer, research commercialization, university-industry partnership, and building successful university entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems through nurturing of startups. His most recent publication is a chapter in a book titled “Higher Education in the Arab World – Building a Culture of Innovation & Entrepreneurship,” published by Springer Nature.
Sami holds a PhD in Materials Chemistry and MSc in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Central Lancashire, as well as a Master of Law (LLM) in Technology and Intellectual Property from the University of Liverpool.
Session: Panel: Abu Dhabi’s Digital Economy Vision: Unlocking Investments & Expansion Opportunities
Date: Day 1 | 18th November 2026
Time: 10.55 - 11:25
Speaking Role: Panellist
Join us at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers on 18–19 November 2026.