Innovation Patterns of the UAE's Satellite MAIT Sector of UAE.

The study explored the UAE's innovation development patterns of satellite Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Testing (MAIT) sector within the theoretical assumptions of the Sectoral Innovation System (SIS) and Distance-To-Frontier (DTF). The article provided an overview of UAE's satellite MAIT development over the last fifteen years and revealed that the UAE adopted three innovation thematic patterns: investment-based strategy, partnerships and transfer of knowhow; cutting across four innovation development tracks or patterns: manufacturing of (a) conventional satellites, (b) space exploration spacecraft; (c) small satellites; and (d) development of R&D capabilities on the science, technology and innovation related to space. The UAE showed signs of conversions toward innovation in satellite MAIT after a development phase of adopting, diffusing and imitating technologies established around an investment-based strategy supported mainly by the government. The result of the study found that while the innovation development patterns of the UAE comply with the SIS, it diverges from the DTF theoretical assumptions to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]