KAUST hosted the first SAP Mobile Hackathon on its campus from February 7-9, with 38 developers and designers participating. The hackathon focused on creating mobile apps for future smart cities and was the result of a partnership between SAP, KAUST Innovation and Economic Development, KAUST IT, and the KAUST Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering division. Approximately 55% of the participants were women. Why it matters: The event highlights KAUST's commitment to fostering innovation and developing talent in Saudi Arabia, particularly in areas like software development and AI, to support the growth of smart cities in the region.
KAUST hosted the JUNCTIONxKAUST hackathon, bringing together developers and entrepreneurs to design technologies for food, water, and energy solutions to be implemented in NEOM. The winning team, eFarmers, will attend the global Junction hackathon in Helsinki. Participants addressed challenges related to producing food in the desert, creating fresh water at sea, and harnessing renewable energy. Why it matters: The event highlights Saudi Arabia's focus on fostering local talent and innovation to address critical challenges in sustainable development and technology within the context of NEOM.
Khaled Alrashed, president and CEO of Saudi Electricity Company for Projects Development, discussed the challenges of future smart cities at a KAUST event. He emphasized the importance of smart grids, AI, and large-scale optimization for improving urban living. The Saudi Electricity Company is partnering with KAUST, including using the Shaheen supercomputer, to develop these technologies and predict grid load. Why it matters: This collaboration highlights Saudi Arabia's ambition to become a leader in smart city technology and renewable energy, leveraging local expertise and resources.
KAUST and the Social Responsibility Association (SRA) are hosting their third annual AI hackathon at KAUST with 73 participants from across Saudi Arabia. The hackathon aims to deliver 14 social projects in technology and innovation across the tracks of social issues, housing, tourism, and education. KAUST supports the event to foster entrepreneurship and transform ideas into scalable solutions that serve society. Why it matters: The event highlights the growing focus on AI-driven solutions for social challenges within Saudi Arabia, aligning with Vision 2030's goals for digital entrepreneurship.
KAUST hosted Saudi Arabia's first National Hackathon of Energy, in partnership with the Saudi Electricity Company's Innovation Energy Incubator. Innovators collaborated to find technical solutions for the Kingdom's energy challenges. Three projects were honored: AI-HUB for cybersecurity, a smart circuit breaker, and 'Amn Al-Kafa’at,' a fire extinguisher system. Why it matters: This hackathon highlights the growing focus on using AI and technology to address energy challenges in Saudi Arabia, with KAUST playing a central role in fostering innovation.