MBZUAI's President Eric Xing met with École Polytechnique (L’X) and Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP) leaders to discuss AI research initiatives. The meetings explored potential collaborations between MBZUAI and the French institutions, including the Hi! Paris interdisciplinary center in AI and Data Science. They also discussed strengthening links with private industry and maintaining excellence in research and innovation. Why it matters: This partnership aims to foster international collaboration in AI research and development, potentially enhancing MBZUAI's capabilities and expanding its global network.
TII Chief Researcher Mérouane Debbah and MBZUAI President Eric Xing visited École Polytechnique in France to discuss AI research and training. They reviewed AI projects and opportunities to increase the visibility of UAE-led research. The meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration between MBZUAI, TII, and École Polytechnique. Why it matters: Such partnerships can foster knowledge exchange and accelerate AI innovation in the UAE by leveraging international expertise.
MBZUAI and École Polytechnique are deepening research collaboration through a Collaborative Research Agreement, focusing on large language models, foundation models for reasoning, and AI applications in biology, health, and AI safety. The partnership builds on a previous MoU and Scholars Exchange Program Agreement between the two institutions. MBZUAI's France Lab has developed Atlas-Chat, a family of open-source LLMs for the Moroccan Arabic dialect Darija, with models including Atlas-Chat-2B and Atlas-Chat-9B. Why it matters: This collaboration strengthens the AI ecosystems in both France and the UAE, fostering joint research efforts and supporting the next generation of AI researchers and innovators, with a specific focus on Arabic NLP.
Technology Innovation Institute’s Directed Energy Research Center (DERC) is sponsoring the 8th Euro-Asian Pulsed Power Conference (EAPPC) in Biarritz, France. The conference will cover topics such as pulsed power applications, high power microwaves, particle beam technology, and ultrahigh magnetic field generation. DERC will present its progress on fast discharge technologies with semiconductors and gases. Why it matters: DERC's participation highlights the growing focus on advanced energy technologies and international collaboration within the UAE's research landscape.
Researchers from the Directed Energy Research Center (DERC) will present research papers at the 17th Workshop of the International Lithosphere Program Task Force on Sedimentary Basins in Abu Dhabi. Dr. Meixia Geng's study identifies potential geothermal exploration sites in the UAE based on Curie isotherm depths. Dr. Felix Vega's research demonstrates drone-borne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for subsurface mapping of underground cavities. Why it matters: These studies showcase the UAE's commitment to sustainable development through geothermal energy exploration and advanced subsurface imaging techniques.
Dominique Sciamma, Managing Director at Strate School of Design in France, gave a presentation at KAUST during Enrichment in the Fall of 2017. The title of the presentation was "From Descartes to Morin." The event was held at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Why it matters: While the event is dated, KAUST's ongoing enrichment programs contribute to fostering a culture of innovation and knowledge exchange in Saudi Arabia.
Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) held its first board meeting, led by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to establish R&D priorities for the emirate. ATRC will focus on fostering public-private partnerships, creating talent development programs, and aligning investments in scientific inquiry. The council ratified seven priority areas: quantum, autonomous robotics, cryptography, advanced materials, digital security, directed energy, and secure systems. Why it matters: This initiative signals Abu Dhabi's commitment to becoming a hub for advanced technology research and development, with a focus on attracting global talent and fostering innovation in key technological areas.
Agathe Guilloux, a professor in Data Science at Evry Paris Saclay University, presented on machine learning algorithms for precision medicine at MBZUAI. Her talk covered the main challenges of precision medicine and how AI can address them. She also discussed algorithms developed for decision support tools. Why it matters: This highlights MBZUAI's role as a platform for discussing advanced AI applications in healthcare, even when the research is not directly conducted in the GCC.