KAUST's Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies (CREST) is hosting a webinar on grid-scale energy storage. The talk will cover the evolution of grid-scale energy storage over the past 15 years, highlighting major drivers in KSA and internationally. Dr. Marek Kubik, Director of BESS at NEOM, will be the speaker. Why it matters: This event signals the growing importance of energy storage solutions in Saudi Arabia's renewable energy strategy, particularly within ambitious projects like NEOM.
A team from the Cryptography Research Center (CRC) secured 6th place out of 210 teams in the 'Donjon CTF 2021: Capture the Fortress' cybersecurity competition. The competition featured jeopardy-style challenges covering cryptography, reverse engineering, and hardware security. The CRC team participated to improve visibility and assess team capabilities, particularly in hardware security. Why it matters: The CRC team's strong performance highlights the growing cybersecurity expertise in the UAE and its attractiveness for talent in this field.
KAUST's Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC) and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) have collaborated on research into methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) within Saudi Arabia, starting in July 2018. The two-year project aims to understand MRSA drug resistance mechanisms specific to the Kingdom and its regions, with the goal of developing public health strategies. The project involves sequencing samples and performing bioinformatics analysis to support a network of researchers in the country. Why it matters: This initiative enhances Saudi Arabia's capacity to predict, prevent, and control infectious diseases, aligning with national health objectives and building local expertise in computational bioscience.
The Technology Innovation Institute's Cryptography Research Center (CRC) in Abu Dhabi has appointed a Board of Advisors comprised of global cryptography experts. The board includes Prof. Joan Daemen, Prof. Lejla Batina, Dr. Guido Bertoni, Prof. Carlos Aguilar, Prof. Damien Stehlé, and Prof. Tim Güneysu. The advisors will guide CRC's research efforts in areas like post-quantum cryptography and hardware-based cryptography. Why it matters: This move strengthens the UAE's position as a global hub for cryptography research and development, fostering innovation in this critical field.
KAUST spin-out company NOMADD, which specializes in robotic PV cleaning systems, has secured a Series B investment from Saudi construction company CEPCO. The investment will support NOMADD's project pipeline and growth ambitions, enabling them to scale operations and serve more customers. CEPCO will also advise on technology development and local manufacturing in Saudi Arabia. Why it matters: This investment validates KAUST's innovation fund strategy and supports the deployment of sustainable energy solutions in the region, leveraging local expertise and manufacturing.
KAUST's Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies (CREST) hosted a seminar on rechargeable hydrogen gas batteries. Professor Wei Chen from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) presented the seminar. The talk covered aqueous nickel-hydrogen gas, proton-hydrogen gas, halogen-hydrogen gas, and nonaqueous lithium-hydrogen gas batteries, along with applications like self-charging batteries. Why it matters: Hydrogen gas batteries represent a promising avenue for large-scale energy storage, particularly for integrating renewable energy sources into electric grids.
Saudi Aramco and KAUST broke ground on December 16 for a new research center. The center's focus and planned capabilities were not disclosed in the provided text. Why it matters: This signals continued investment in research infrastructure within Saudi Arabia, although details are currently limited.