MASDAR CITY, Abu Dhabi, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Global security and aerospace leader Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] celebrated the opening of a new state-of-the-art collaboration center in Masdar City yesterday, to explore innovation, advance security and help to achieve the UAE's vision of building a strong resilient economy. The Center for Innovation and Security Solutions (CISS) is the first of its kind outside the United States.

Located in the Incubator Building at Masdar City—Abu Dhabi's low carbon, sustainable urban development—the Center is a reconfigurable, multi-purpose facility. It will enable cooperation between Lockheed Martin and the UAE government, industry and academia to develop solutions that address challenges facing today's world, from climate change to resource scarcity, and advance scientific discovery.

Speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the CISS, Marillyn Hewson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lockheed Martin, highlighted the company's commitment to enhancing the development of the UAE's skill-base to deliver economic benefits.

"We value the entrepreneurial, innovative spirit we see in the UAE and the commitment to real-world solutions and progress that Masdar represents," said Hewson. "We look forward to collaborating on innovations, growing technical expertise and contributing to economic development."

For a full copy of Marillyn Hewson's remarks, please visit: www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/speeches/1207-hewson-ciss-opening.html 

The CISS is the result of a long-standing partnership between Lockheed Martin and the UAE in programs that support government, industry and the development of skills and expertise. Ten separate projects are underway or in planning.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Chairman of Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy and clean technology company, said: "By combining Lockheed Martin's 100 years of technology expertise with Masdar's holistic approach towards higher education, R&D and technology deployment we will be able to deliver innovations that address the UAE's most important challenges. The Center will facilitate capacity building and stimulate knowledge transfer by enabling access to Lockheed Martin's extensive network of laboratories, research facilities and centers of excellence across the globe."

"In line with the UAE's National Innovation Strategy, the opening of the Center is a landmark for Masdar City that further emphasizes its position within the UAE as a platform for tech-to-market solutions and UAE capacity building in strategic innovation-based sectors," added Dr. Sultan Al Jaber. "It is a significant addition to our growing cluster of technology pioneers. We look forward to working closely with Lockheed Martin to incubate and promote clean technology solutions."

Lockheed Martin and Masdar have already initiated joint collaboration into nano technologies and materials with potential applications in aircraft fuselage design, plastics and water-desalination programs, among others.

In addition to Masdar, Lockheed Martin has partnerships in the UAE with Khalifa University, UAE University and Abu Dhabi Polytechnic. In October, 12 Emirati engineering students from Abu Dhabi Polytechnic visited Lockheed Martin facilities in the U.S. to participate in hands-on cyber security exercises in the company's labs. Lockheed Martin also provides support to Emirati organizations such as the Arab Youth Venture Foundation, to empower the region's next generation of scientists, inventors, business leaders and entrepreneurs.

These partnerships strengthen Lockheed Martin's relationship with the UAE, which stretches back nearly 40 years. Initially focused on defense programs, this relationship has grown to apply the same focus and innovation to new challenges such as energy, cyber security and sustainability.

Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Internationally, Lockheed Martin has more than 300 partnerships in 70 countries with significant footprints in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin