A team of KAUST researchers led by Abdulwahab Felemban won first place in the Digital Research track at the inaugural Digital Innovation Awards from MCIT for their AI-driven water tap, Smart-Tap. Smart-Tap uses AI to personalize water flow and pressure, reducing waste by up to 43% compared to infrared taps. The project was inspired by the water waste observed during the Wudu ritual. Why it matters: This award highlights the potential of AI-driven solutions developed in Saudi Arabia to address critical sustainability challenges like water conservation, aligning with the Kingdom's National Water Strategy 2030.
MIT Technology Review Arabia recognized two KAUST researchers in its annual Innovators Under 35 MENA Award. Yuxiang Liu developed Sun-Fi, an optical wireless communication network for smart cities that transmits data through window glass using modulated sunlight. Balsam Alkouz created a system for coordinating drone swarms to deliver supplies and deploy communications in disaster zones. Why it matters: The awards highlight KAUST's role in fostering innovative research aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and developing cutting-edge technology for smart cities and crisis response.
KAUST Ph.D. graduate Dr. Noha Al-Harthi and doctoral student Rabab Alomairy won the German Gauss Center for Supercomputing (GCS) Award for optimizing solvers for high-performance computing applications. Their work focused on acoustic boundary integral equations, common in engineering and fluid dynamics. The award provides them access to the supercomputer "Isambard" in the UK and other opportunities. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's leading role in high-performance computing research in the Middle East and the growing expertise in supercomputing among Saudi researchers.
Three KAUST scientists—Hamed Albalawi, Hend Mohamed, and Walaa Khushaim—have been named MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 MENA. Albalawi developed a calcium carbonate ink for 3D-bioprinting coral restoration scaffolds, while Mohamed created catalysts for sustainable aviation fuel production. Khushaim developed multiplexed biosensors for early heart attack detection, integrated into portable diagnostic devices. Why it matters: This recognition highlights the growing innovation ecosystem at KAUST and the potential for Saudi Arabia to contribute significantly to global challenges in sustainability and healthcare.
KAUST's Terragraph Connectivity Project received second rank in the Social Project category of the Global Excellence Awards by the Project Management Institute (PMI) in Saudi Arabia. The project, in collaboration with Meta and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), provided high-speed Wi-Fi to a camp of 3000+ people outside KAUST. The deployed hybrid radio frequency and free space optics technology offers reliable internet connection to a remote community. Why it matters: The award and project showcase KAUST's contribution to bridging the digital divide in line with Saudi Vision 2030's goals for sustainable development and digital inclusion.