$1 Million Award for Enhancing Knowledge in Combating Epidemics

August 10, 2020

Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award (MBRKA) this year will be given to individuals and organizations working to enhance knowledge in combating epidemics and infectious diseases.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai issued a decree to present Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award (MBRKA) to encourage outstanding contributions based on state-of-the-art advancement in the field of knowledge. The award highlights the Dubai ruler’s commitment to uplift innovation and novelty in the field of knowledge around the globe.

The award money of $1 million is presented every year during the Knowledge Summit to honour a person or institution that has made outstanding contributions to the production and dissemination of knowledge.

The award’s Board of trustees formed under the chairmanship of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum constitutes of Jamal bin Huwaireb, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General, and representatives of United Arab Emirates University, Cairo University, Nanyang Technological University, Oxford University and National Geographic Society.

Under the directives of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award (MBRKA), the MBRKA’s Board of Trustees held a virtual meeting on July 2nd, 2020.

MBRKA’s Members of the Board of Trustees discussed in the meeting about international efforts to combat infectious diseases and epidemics such as SARS CoV-2 and Covid-19, and how to overcome the problems they brought about. It was decided that nominations will be encouraged from individuals and organizations working to add knowledge in dealing with epidemics. This will serve as a platform for experts to come up with recommendations that highlight the policies and practical methods to help societies combat epidemics and their challenges.

The Board of Trustees highlighted that the challenges faced by all human beings as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic have been addressed by individuals, organizations, governments and others who work together to apply knowledge, and have shown dedication to help understand and deal with the threats to health and wellbeing. The impact of the epidemic has been felt not only in physical and mental health, but its repercussions have affected other areas such as education, employment, business and government strategies.

This prestigious award was won by many eminent personalities from all over the world in the previous years. Those received the award includes Jimmy Wales from U.S.A, Tim Berners Lee from U.K, National Geographic Society from USA, Hiroshi Ishiguro from Japan, Ahmad Alshugairi from KSA, Masdar from UAE, The Arab Thought Foundation, KSA, Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama from Japan, Melinda Gates from USA and many more prominent personalities.

Details of the Mohammed bin Rashid Knowledge Award and how to nominate potential laureates can be found on https://mbrf.ae/knowledgeaward/.