KAUST startup Saee, a last-mile delivery company, was recently acquired by Estimkan Holding. Co-founded by KAUST alumnus Dr. Tariq Alturkestani, Saee benefited from KAUST's support through programs like the KGSP and the TAQADAM Startup Accelerator. Saee evolved from a carpooling app for women into a logistics solution for parcel delivery, adapting to the changing Saudi market. Why it matters: The success of Saee demonstrates KAUST's increasing role in fostering entrepreneurship and contributing to Saudi Vision 2030 by developing innovative ventures.
KAUST and Nesma Holding inaugurated the Thuwal Embroidery Center on April 18, under the patronage of HRH Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz. The center is a strategic partnership aiming to create job opportunities for women in Thuwal and neighboring villages. 50 women from the area will benefit from employment at the center. Why it matters: The center exemplifies KAUST's goals of finding job opportunities for the people of Thuwal and creating prosperity in the community.
Estelle Metayer, a public speaker and professor at McGill University, spoke at KAUST as part of the University’s 2017 Winter Enrichment Program. Her talk focused on the future of technology and science. The event took place in the University's Auditorium on January 18. Why it matters: Such events at KAUST contribute to knowledge dissemination and engagement with global experts on emerging technologies.
KAUST recently hosted the European Embedded Control Institute's International Graduate School on Control (IGSC). As part of the event, KAUST Professor Jeff Shamma gave a one-week course on "Game Theory and Distributed Control". The course had over 30 registered attendees, including participants from KAUST, KACST, King Saud University, and nine European universities. Why it matters: Hosting international events like IGSC enhances KAUST's global reputation, fosters collaboration opportunities, and exposes visiting researchers to KAUST's research environment.
KAUST and NESMA Holding Co. have signed an agreement to open an embroidery center in Thuwal. The center will include sewing, electronic embroidery, design, and thermal printing departments. The center aims to create job opportunities for Saudi women and people with disabilities, with a capacity to employ up to 60 women. Why it matters: This initiative highlights KAUST's commitment to social responsibility and to raising the standard of living in its host community, reflecting a broader trend of universities contributing to local development.
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is hosting an AI seminar by Kajetan Schweighofer on October 28, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM GST. TII describes itself as a global research center focused on discovery science and transformative technologies. The seminar series is part of TII's efforts to share its developments and research. Why it matters: Such seminars contribute to the growth of the AI ecosystem in the UAE by facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration.
Video motion magnification amplifies subtle movements in video footage, making the imperceptible visible across various fields. In healthcare, it allows non-invasive monitoring of vital signs and micro-expressions. In engineering, it helps detect structural vibrations in infrastructure, while also being used in sports science, security, and robotics. Why it matters: The technology's ability to reveal hidden details has the potential to revolutionize diagnostics, monitoring, and decision-making in diverse sectors across the Middle East.
Ehsan Hoque from the University of Rochester gave a talk at MBZUAI discussing how to integrate AI into healthcare to improve access and equity. He emphasized that technology should align with values and infrastructure, advocating for AI solutions developed through collaboration between computer scientists and healthcare professionals. Hoque presented examples like using AI to quantify movement disorders and improve empathy skills. Why it matters: This highlights the importance of human-centered AI development in the GCC region, particularly in sensitive sectors like healthcare, and MBZUAI's role in fostering such discussions.