News

CERT Innovations of the CERT Group of Companies announced today that it has invested CDN 3 million dollars to acquire an equity stake in the Canadian based RFID Company Cathexis Innovations. Cathexis is a global provider of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology which can be deployed as an asset tracking solution. Cathexis has the world’s first Blue Tooth RFID reader called ID Blue which is used to tag, track and manage assets in supply chain or inventory control applications. The Cathexis solution is currently in use in 15 countries through a growing number of resellers and end users. The deal with CERT will see ID Blue launched in the MENA region in a working collaboration between CERT and Microsoft. Cathexis is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and was recognized in the November issue of Microsoft’s “Innovation” magazine as an emerging force in RFID.

RFID technology is a superior replacement for bar coding with no ‘line of sight’ required for reading data, dynamic chips that can be updated remotely, a long range for wireless tracking, providing rapid accurate
data. CERT intends to utilize RFID technology as a complement to its recently released Falcon Telematics System for vehicle fleet management. The RFID market is rapidly expanding with current sales in the range of USD five billion increasing to 10 billion by 2012.

In addition to product deployment in the SAMENA region, Cathexis, Microsoft and CERT will combine forces in the development of an RFID Lab and Center of Excellence at CERT Innovation City. Here emerging applications for RFID will be developed and deployed commercially ensuring that CERT and the UAE continue to grow the foundation of a knowledge economy contributing to discovery and intellectual property development in the region.

CERT, the largest private education and training provider in the Middle East, is taking bold steps to ensure the rapid development of applied research capabilities in the region. This year’s investment of nearly USD 35 million positions CERT as the regions largest investor in knowledge creation. CERT’s strategy involves an ambitious but practical plan to create world class, next generation technologies that are ‘developed in the UAE’ but have regional and global potential. Led by its Chairman and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, in 2005 / 2006 alone CERT investment has led to technology transfer of several of the world’s most promising new technologies. These include the funding of two exclusive collaborations with IBM that resulted in CERT transferring intellectual property to the UAE for further development and commercialization.

CERT’s first $100 million Capital Fund allows the company to acquire share positions in carefully selected international education and technology firms. These acquired companies will form UAE joint ventures with CERT providing immediate commercial potential. The downstream research activity then takes place in the UAE, thus fast-tracking the growth of applied research culture in the country.

Dr Tayeb Kamali, Vice-Chairman of CERT, and Vice Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, points out that CERT concentrates on the acquisition of cutting edge technologies that can help industry and society as a whole. “CERT takes an investment position in promising intellectual property that produces viable products and services now, while we enhance the underlying IP for the future. In the case of Cathexis we are investing in an emerging industry and at the same time we are growing our technology discovery capacity and expanding our intellectual capital into the promising field of RFID” said Dr. Kamali.

The Cathexis investment was identified through an innovative program developed by CERT and Memorial University called “Gateway Without Borders”, This partnership between the Business Faculty of Memorial University, Atlantic Canada’s largest university, and CERT, creates an “Entrepreneurship Gateway” which connects high growth North American technology firms with investors and strategic partners in the Middle East.

Dr. Axel Meisen, President of Memorial University said “We are very pleased to see this deal come together. CERT is one of the most respected organizations in the Middle East, the leading innovator, and the best possible partner for Cathexis. In turn Cathexis is an excellent example of how innovative firms can achieve global expansion through strategic collaboration”.