KACST signs 3 strategic partnerships to support artificial intelligence and industry
In a move reflecting the accelerating pace of digital and knowledge transformation in Saudi Arabia, the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) signed three strategic partnerships today with leading local and international entities. This took place on the sidelines of the International Conference on Capacity Building in Data and Artificial Intelligence, with the aim of localizing advanced technologies and strengthening the Kingdom's position as a global innovation hub.
A strategic context to support the knowledge economy
These agreements come at a time when the Kingdom is witnessing unprecedented technological advancements in line with the goals of Vision 2030, which prioritizes the transition to a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy. As the national laboratory and the country's largest innovation hub, KAUST plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between scientific research and industrial application, making these partnerships a cornerstone for building a robust digital and industrial infrastructure.
A smart partnership for urban development with the Madinah Municipality
The first partnership focused on urban development and quality of life, with KAUST agreeing with the Madinah Region Municipality to activate the “Urban Lab.” Under this collaboration, the city will provide research consultations and innovative solutions to address the challenges facing modern cities. This step is particularly important given Madinah’s status, as this collaboration will contribute to creating smart city models that can be replicated in other cities across the Kingdom, thereby enhancing the efficiency of municipal services and raising the quality of life for residents and visitors.
An industrial alliance to enable the Fourth Industrial Revolution
In a parallel effort to bolster the Kingdom’s industrial strength, KACST has forged a strategic tripartite partnership with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) and Rockwell Automation. This alliance aims to accelerate the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). This collaboration is expected to enhance the efficiency of Saudi factories and localize advanced technologies, supporting the Kingdom’s ambition to become a global logistics and industrial hub connecting three continents.
Saudi-Korean cooperation to enable the Arabic language in artificial intelligence
The third partnership, however, carries significant international and technological weight through collaboration with the South Korean company Naver Cloud Corporation. This agreement focuses on developing a Large Language Model (LLM) specifically for the Arabic language. This step is crucial in the context of digital sovereignty, as current global models suffer from a lack of accurate Arabic content. This project will provide Arab scientists and researchers with artificial intelligence tools that understand the Arabic cultural and linguistic context, thus enriching Arabic digital content and opening new horizons for technological applications in the region.
Expected impact and future of innovation
These partnerships collectively represent a significant boost to the Kingdom's research and innovation ecosystem, with impacts extending beyond the purely technological sphere to include economic returns through the creation of high-quality jobs in data and advanced manufacturing. These initiatives also underscore the Kingdom's commitment to leading the regional technology landscape and competing globally in the fields of artificial intelligence and smart cities.
