Patrick Mannion Courtesy of EE Times (05/08/2008 12:44 PM EST)

The 17th International Electronics Forum kicks off today in Dubai, an Emirate energetic in its efforts to become a high-tech hub in a region stereotyped as awash with oil. While skepticism remains, the DSO is taking concrete steps in the right direction, most importantly in education. At the IEF itself, photovoltaics and energy in general loom high on the priority list, as does 22-nm investment and the logic of fab-lite strategies.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Well, here I am, coffee in hand, ramping up for day one of the 17th International Electronics Forum, this year being held at the Madinat Jumeirah resort in Dubai, with the signature Burj Al Arabia hotel looming out of the fog, almost within reach beyond my balcony. It's an interesting experience being the guest of a nation where money isn't a barrier, but a tool.

For the Emirate of Dubai, hosting the IEF is yet one more important step toward establishing it as an important technological base, a silicon frontier, that can help it compete on the global stage—and against its sister Emirate and oil-rich Abu Dhabi. With oil accounting for only 3% of its GDP, finding alternate sources of revenue is critical, hence the founding of the Dubai Silicon Oasis.

With its tax-free incentives the DSO has had some success in attracting companies such as Synopsys (I bumped into the ever effervescent Aart de Geus last night during dinner), it's had a hard time ramping up its hard engineering talent and corporate investments, partly because of its location, but also because of its sky-rocketing real-estate costs. I mentioned this to William Chappell, the CFO for DSO (nice ring to that) and he acknowledged that there's still some work to be done and that the DSO is still very much at the early stages of its development. Despite press reports that might indicate a slow-down, it's still a priority here, he said. I'll be catching up with him later today to see what plans are afoot as it pushes ahead.

If you are thinking of setting up an outpost in Dubai, don't fret it. I chatted with David Greenhaigh, development director of the Leader Group last night. As a real estate developer he's got some projects afoot that can help you get started. He can be reached at dgreenhaigh@leadergroup.ac.

Speaking of real estate, coming from the airport yesterday I was stunned by the sheer amount of development underway. You see it on TV and in news reports, but seeing the construction cranes stretching off like an endless sea of giant oil derricks into the distance is something to behold.

Pondering that, it occurred to me that Dubai may be flush with cash, but not only has it the problem of attracting raw talent, it may also be facing a shortage of raw materials as it builds out its infrastructure. I'm not here to focus on the latter, but the raw talent problem is interesting, and it's something that can best be addressed by establishing colleges and universities that will eventually put Dubai on the map in terms of R&D. Money alone can only go so far. It has to come from within.

I put this to Dr. Mohammad Al Zaroni, vice chairman and CEO for the DSO, and he let slip that the DSO has partnered with the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to develop an engineering bachelors and masters program here in Dubai (yes, you heard it here first.) The paperwork will be signed next month and the university itself will open in two years, though courses will start this Fall. As the deal has yet to formalized next month, maybe I shouldn't talk about it yet. Oops.

Anyway, to the IEF itself. Photovoltaic power is on the agenda in various forms, and speaking with conference attendees last night, that's as it should be. One attendee (who shall remain nameless) is hot off the Photon PV conference last month and is pondering his own PV startup. Another attendee, professor Vitezslav Benda of the University of Prague, thinks the biggest problem (translation: "opportunity ") is not in the generation of power itself but in energy storage. That, for him, is the weak link. So, there you have it. Solar energy and energy storage and management (using power electronics devices) are the big opportunities for you entrepreneurs out there. I'll find out more later today on what's happening there. Have to run.