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Abu Dhabi’s TII Rolls Out Fiber Laser For Surgery And Industry
TII’s new 2µm fiber laser is built for surgical precision and industrial processing, with German MedTech backing clinical rollout.
Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute has introduced a two-micrometer high-power fiber laser built to sharpen the precision of surgical work and industrial processing.
Developed at the institute’s Directed Energy Research Center, the Thulium-based system is compact and energy-efficient. Its wavelength interacts cleanly with water-rich materials, allowing surgeons to cut with control and manufacturers to handle delicate substrates without excess damage.
In medicine, early evaluations point to use in urinary stone removal, prostate surgery, and advanced urology devices. Beyond hospitals, the same wavelength can be applied to cutting and welding in water-rich industrial materials where precision and safety are critical.
To move it into clinics, TII has partnered with LIMA Photonics, a German startup specializing in medical device design, regulatory compliance, and commercialization. The partnership links Abu Dhabi’s research base with Europe’s medical technology market.
“At TII, we’re developing high-performance laser systems designed for real-world impact,” said Dr. Felix Vega, Chief Researcher at the Directed Energy Research Center. “Our 2 µm fiber laser showcases this approach — offering capabilities with strong potential in surgical and industrial settings”.
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Dr. Samir Lamrini, CEO at LIMA Photonics, also commented, adding: “We are deeply impressed by the laser research demonstrated at TII and look forward to a strong partnership that we will establish in a synergistic and complementary spirit. The performance, multiple operating modes, and the system architecture of the laser are an ideal asset for clinical applications”.
The collaboration also reflects Abu Dhabi’s aim to convert advanced research into usable products, a core part of the UAE’s innovation strategy. By drawing international partners into its programs, the institute is reinforcing the emirate’s push to position itself as a regional anchor for high-tech industries under Vision 2030.
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Lebanon Ministers Meet Visa Over National Digital Payment Platform
Finance and technology ministers say a comparative study and roadmap will follow before any decision on adopting a model.
Lebanon’s finance and technology ministers met representatives from Visa last week to discuss a proposed unified national digital payment platform for government services, according to a readout from the Ministry of Finance.
The meeting brought together Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, a Visa delegation, and experts from both ministries. Discussion focused on whether Lebanon could establish a single platform through which citizens and institutions would pay taxes, fees, fines and other official transactions electronically, using mobile phones and other digital channels.
The Visa delegation presented examples from countries that have adopted unified government payment platforms, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Estonia and Jordan. According to the readout, the examples were presented as having increased collection rates and expanded financial inclusion.
Talks covered settlement mechanisms, direct transfer to the treasury account, financial reconciliation, risk management, cybersecurity, fees, and an operational model that would involve the private sector. The parties agreed to continue technical and institutional consultations, prepare a comparative study, and develop an implementation roadmap before any decision on adopting a model for Lebanon.
Jaber said the Ministry of Finance had already enabled citizens to pay using credit cards and e-wallets through transfer companies, but described the proposed platform as a further step. He framed the development of electronic payment and collection systems as a priority within the ministry’s modernization plan.
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Shehadeh outlined the citizen-facing concept as a single mobile application through which users could settle obligations to ministries, government institutions and other bodies.
“The idea, in short, is that any citizen downloads an application on their mobile phone, through which they can pay all service obligations for all ministries, government institutions, or those owned by the Lebanese state, and others as well, as the platform is not limited only to state institutions,” he said.
Shehadeh added that the platform would not displace banks and money transfer companies that currently provide collection services to the state, calling it complementary to their work.
Lebanon Ministers Meet Visa Over National Digital Payment Platform
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