Shorooq Partners, a Middle East investment firm, has $500M in assets under management. Their AI fund is co-led by Dr. Bilal Baloch, who spoke at MBZUAI about venture capital. He advises technical founders to partner with people who complement their skills, especially in policy and commercialization. Why it matters: This highlights the growing sophistication of the venture capital ecosystem in the Middle East for AI startups.
This article is a brief faculty profile of Stefaan De Wolf at KAUST. It appears to be part of a standard template on the KAUST website. Why it matters: Such profiles help showcase the expertise and research areas of faculty at KAUST.
Abhay Dokania, a Ph.D. student at KAUST, is researching the conversion of CO2 to useful chemicals under the supervision of Professor Jorge Gascon at the KAUST Catalysis Center. His work focuses on developing multi-functional heterogeneous catalysts. Dokania's background includes degrees from Birla Institute and TU Delft, as well as research experience in the Netherlands. Why it matters: This research contributes to sustainable chemical engineering and CO2 reduction, aligning with Saudi Arabia's broader environmental goals.
KAUST postdoctoral fellow Muhammad Jamil won the best poster award at the 15th World Congress on Parasitic Plants for his research on combating the parasitic plant *Striga hermonthica*. His poster outlined his work at KAUST on developing technologies to help farmers in sub-Saharan Africa control this weed, which severely impacts cereal crops. Jamil is part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded project at KAUST focused on controlling *Striga* in pearl millet. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's contributions to addressing critical food security challenges in Africa through innovative agricultural technologies.
KAUST Ph.D. student Adel Bibi is researching how to bridge the gap between theory and practice in deep learning, focusing on the mathematical understanding of deep learning models. Bibi is currently interning at Intel in Munich and previously worked on various computer vision problems. He aims to use optimization and mathematics to better understand deep learning models and build better models systematically from theory. Why it matters: This research contributes to the fundamental understanding of deep learning, potentially leading to more efficient and reliable AI systems developed in the region.
KAUST Ph.D. student Mohamed Bahloul received a best paper award at the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC ‘18) for the Africa and Middle East region. Bahloul's paper presented a three-element fractional-order viscoelastic Windkessel model developed in the EMAN group at KAUST. The model incorporates a fractional-order capacitor, potentially enabling earlier prediction of cardiovascular diseases. Why it matters: The award recognizes impactful research in biomedical engineering at KAUST and highlights the potential for advanced modeling techniques to improve healthcare in the region.
KAUST alumnus Babar Khan was named one of MIT Technology Review Arabia's 'Innovators Under 35' for the MENA region in 2019. Khan was recognized for creating an inexpensive sensor technology that detects early bacterial accumulation in water desalination plants. He received the award at the Emerging Technology (EmTech) MENA conference 2019 in Dubai. Why it matters: This award highlights the growing innovation ecosystem in the MENA region and the role of universities like KAUST in fostering technological development.
Professor Mohammad Younis, a new Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at KAUST, focuses his research on micro and nanotechnology, specifically the interface between nonlinear dynamics and micro/nano electromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). He is developing a generic platform for sensing and actuation with potential uses in detecting poisonous gases, biohazards, and earthquake signals. He is also working on actuator systems that can assist elderly people after a fall by automatically calling for help. Why it matters: This research has significant implications for safety, environmental monitoring, and elderly care in the Middle East and beyond.