TEDx event

TEDxBITS Pilani Dubai

Innovation Beyond Borders

DateSeptember 24, 20263:30 PM - 6:00 PM (GMT+4)
LocationDubai, Dubayy, United Arab Emirates
FormatUniversity

This event is open to the public.

True progress rarely happens in isolation, it flourishes when international diplomacy, cutting-edge technology, and global ambition intersect. Host to a dynamic mix of international perspectives and pioneering space technology leaders, TEDxBITSPilaniDubai explores what becomes possible when we dismantle geographical and technological barriers to solve humanity's greatest challenges. From the floor of global diplomacy to the frontiers of orbit, "Innovation Beyond Borders" convenes thought leaders, CEOs, CTOs, and diplomatic visionaries in Dubai. Together, our speakers share field-tested ideas on cross-border collaboration, the future of off-planet infrastructure, and how frontier technologies can build a more sustainable, interconnected world for us all. Join us as we look past traditional boundaries and chart the next era of human ingenuity.

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

  • Abdullah AlSalmani

    Co-Founder & CEO of SpacePoint

    Abdullah AlSalmani is the Co-Founder & CEO of SpacePoint, a UAE-based EdTech startup making satellite development accessible to students from middle school through university. An electrical engineer with an MSc in Space Science and an MIT Bootcamps alumnus, Abdullah is also the system engineer behind AlAinSat-1, the first satellite built in Al Ain, where he also led the development of a Made in the UAE onboard computer that flew onboard it as a payload. Passionate about innovation, youth empowerment, and climate action, he served on the Youth Advisory Council of the Al Ghurair Foundation. His contributions to education and space have earned him recognition as one of the Top 25 STEM & Space Educators for Climate, a Young Arab Pioneer in the Space and Technology Category, among the 20 MIT Innovators Under 35 - MENA 2025, and a winner of the Rising Star Award at SEF2026 after being a finalist in 2024.

  • H.E. Mr. Denny Lesmana

    Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Dubai and the Northern Emirates

    H.E. Mr. Denny Lesmana has served as Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Dubai and the Northern Emirates since August 2024. A career diplomat with Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1997, he has held senior leadership roles covering the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific. His international assignments have included postings in Timor-Leste, Kuwait, Australia, and Lebanon, where he served as an Indonesian peacekeeper with UNIFIL. He holds a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Indonesia.

  • Hamdullah Mohib

    CEO Marlan Space, Acting CEO, Orbitworks

    Dr. Hamdullah Mohib is a seasoned leader in global space innovation, commercial strategy, and international diplomacy. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Marlan Space and Acting CEO of Orbitworks, where he is positioning the UAE as a platform for commercial space manufacturing, investment, and international collaboration. Marlan Space operates as an investor–operator, combining direct industrial capability with strategic capital deployment. Through its Frontier Fund, Dr. Mohib directs investment in next-generation space technologies, aligning capital with operational expertise to scale companies across the space value chain. At Orbitworks, he leads satellite manufacturing and delivery for customers across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, supporting sovereign access to space and strengthening interoperability across emerging space ecosystems.

  • Pranav Rajiv Jyoti

    global Investor, Strategic Adviser

    Mr. Pranav Rajiv Jyoti is a global investor, strategic adviser, and institutional bridge-builder with more than two decades of experience across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and North America. He serves as Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Mirai Capital Global and the Jyoti Family Trust, as well as Strategic Advisor for Asia and the Middle East to Blue Origin. His work brings together governments, family offices, sovereign institutions, universities, and global companies to develop cross-border investment platforms and strategic partnerships in advanced technology, infrastructure, healthcare, education, energy, and innovation.

  • Prashanth Marpu

    CTO Space42

    Dr. Prashanth Marpu is the founder and CEO of Teryn Space. Till July, 2026, he was the Chief Technology Officer at Smart Solutions, Space42 where he also previously served as Vice President of R&D. Prior to joining Bayanat/Space42, he was an Associate Professor and Manager of YahSat Space Lab at Khalifa University, UAE and is considered as one of the pioneers in space education in the Middle East. His specialization is in space systems, remote sensing, AI, environmental monitoring and internet of things.

  • Rajeeshwaran Moorthy

    Acting CEO, Space City Asia

    Raj Moorthy builds the financial and industrial architecture that allows an emerging nation to enter the space economy. As President and Group CEO of KASDR Legacy Berhad, a Malaysian public holding company, and Acting CEO of Space City Asia, he leads the development of a dedicated space-economy precinct within Pahang Aerospace City, assembling the land, the legal structure, the sovereign backing and the anchor tenants for a national space industrial cluster from a standing start.

Organizing team

This event is open to the public.

September 24, 2026

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