The Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK), founded in 2016, is one of the UAE’s leading hubs for research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Designed to bridge academia, industry and government, SPARK connects stakeholders to translate bold ideas into scalable, real world solutions across healthcare, sustainability, advanced manufacturing, and mobility and logistics digitalization.
As part of its long-term strategy to position Sharjah as a global centre for science-led innovation, SPARK launched Sharjah Next, a flagship annual forum exploring future-facing sectors. Its 2025 inaugural edition focused on healthcare innovation.
To support the launch of Sharjah Next: Healthcare, Nature Research Intelligence (NRI) was commissioned by SPARK to develop a rigorous, data-driven thought leadership report that would:
The report needed to combine robust bibliometric analysis with clear, engaging editorial to make complex insights accessible to policymakers, industry leaders and global research audiences.
NRI partnered with SPARK to develop a flagship, evidence-based report that anchors Sharjah Next: Healthcare in scientific rigour and global relevance.
The report framed the conference’s thematic focus, underpinned by robust analysis, and supported Sharjah Next’s call to action by identifying areas of strategic opportunity for collaboration and investment.
NRI delivered the first systematic mapping of Sharjah’s research landscape across three critical healthcare domains: Unlocking the Brain (neuroscience and brain health), The Powerhouse (cardiovascular and metabolic health) and Systems of Life (diagnostics and precision medicine). This was complemented by editorial content and case studies showcasing high-impact research and partner contributions, positioning the conference as a platform for informed global dialogue and reinforcing SPARK’s vision and the strength of its healthcare innovation ecosystem.
24.9% CAGR in health research output since 2020
2,100+ publications; ~28,000 citations
19.8% in the world’s top 10% most‑cited research
Collaborations across 20+ countries
“We were delighted to lead this commission in partnership with NRI; our collaboration with Nature throughout the Sharjah Next: Healthcare project was truly seamless and highly professional, with the entire Nature team demonstrating great punctuality, responsiveness, and commitment to excellence. The Research Intelligence team delivered a strong research report with valuable insights and analysis and added real value to the event’s outcomes.”
The report provided independent validation of SPARK’s ambition to position Sharjah as a global healthcare innovation destination. It highlighted strong research momentum, with output from the University of Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah growing at a 24.9% compound annual growth rate since 2020, generating over 2,100 publications and nearly 28,000 citations. Notably, 19.8% of outputs ranked among the world’s top 10% most cited, underscoring both scale and quality.
Beyond performance benchmarking, the report positioned Sharjah as an emerging contributor to world-class medical research and identified clear pathways for future growth:
Together, these insights reinforced Sharjah Next as a platform to convene global expertise, strengthen partnerships and accelerate the translation of research into tangible healthcare innovations – unveiled under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, who signed a copy of the Nature-branded report.
“This Nature Research Intelligence report validates our strategic vision of positioning Sharjah as a global healthcare innovation destination. The exceptional growth rates and world-class research quality demonstrated by our institutions reflect years of deliberate investment in building a comprehensive innovation ecosystem. We are not just hosting research – we are cultivating breakthrough discoveries that will define the future of healthcare.”
Unlock the strategic insight you need to guide investment, accelerate innovation, and understand your competitive research landscape.
Learn More