KAUST and King Saud University (KSU) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand cooperation in education, research, training, and professional development. The MoU focuses on launching joint training programs, workshops, and scientific conferences, as well as sharing access to advanced laboratories and research facilities. The partnership aims to strengthen intellectual property management and commercialize research outputs into impactful industrial applications. Why it matters: The agreement signifies a strategic effort to unify research, empower national talent, and translate knowledge into practical applications, supporting Saudi Vision 2030.
KAUST, in collaboration with KSU and KFUPM, is working on a project initiated by the Saudi Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST) to expand mobile communication coverage in remote areas of the Kingdom. The study explores utilizing the sub-700 MHz ultrahigh frequency (UHF) band, potentially reassigning it from television broadcast to mobile telecommunication networks. This band's long wavelength radio waves can travel further and penetrate obstacles more easily, reducing network infrastructure costs. Why it matters: This initiative could bridge the digital divide in Saudi Arabia by providing affordable mobile connectivity to underserved communities.
KAUST's Shaheen XC40 supercomputer was ranked as the seventh fastest globally on the TOP500 list in July 2015, achieving over 5.5 petaflops per second using nearly 200,000 processing cores. The system includes 17.6 petabytes of storage and 790 terabytes of memory, succeeding the previous Shaheen Blue Gene/P system. Saudi institutions like KFUPM, KSU, Saudi Aramco and SABIC leverage KAUST's supercomputing for research and development. Why it matters: This ranking highlights KAUST's commitment to providing high-performance computing resources in Saudi Arabia, supporting the nation's transition to a knowledge-based economy and advancing research across various sectors.