Lockheed Martin has opened a new Center for Innovation and Security Solutions in Abu Dhabi to facilitate technology collaboration.

The state-of-the-art center is located in the city of Masdar and is the first such facility by Lockheed outside the United States.

"We value the entrepreneurial, innovative spirit we see in the UAE and the commitment to real-world solutions and progress that Masdar represents," Marillyn Hewson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin said at the opening ceremony. "We look forward to collaborating on innovations, growing technical expertise and contributing to economic development."

CISS is a reconfigurable, multi-purpose facility and will enable cooperation between Lockheed Martin and the UAE government, industry and academia to develop solutions that address climate change, resource scarcity, advance scientific discovery, and others.

Lockheed Martin said the center is the result of a long-standing partnership between Lockheed Martin and the United Arab Emirates, of which Abu Dhabi is part. Ten projects are currently underway or in the planning between the company and Abu Dhabi entities.

"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," said Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, chairman of Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy and clean technology company. "It is a significant addition to our growing cluster of technology pioneers."

Lockheed Martin and Masdar are collaborating on nano technologies and materials with potential applications in aircraft fuselage design, plastics and water-desalination programs.