Three KAUST startups, iyris, Oaesis, and UnitX, were selected in the top 10 at the Startup Istanbul international competition out of 90,000 applicants. iyris secured third place with its technology, while Oaesis developed a laser-based energy-efficient lighting system for indoor farms. KAUST supports emerging companies from ideation to marketing and financial support. Why it matters: This showcases KAUST's role in fostering innovation and contributing to Saudi Arabia's knowledge-based economy by supporting promising startups on the global stage.
KAUST alumna Vasiliki Kordopati turned a student project on laser-based illumination for horticulture into a startup called Oaesis Lighting Systems. She participated in KAUST's TAQADAM Accelerator program and is now developing a pilot project in the KAUST Research and Technology Park. KAUST is focused on embedding entrepreneurship into the academic experience, minimizing risk and offering innovators room to experiment. Why it matters: KAUST is fostering a new generation of deep technology entrepreneurs in alignment with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals for economic diversification.
MBZUAI has released Jais and Jais-chat, two new open generative large language models (LLMs) with a focus on Arabic. The 13 billion parameter models are based on the GPT-3 architecture and pretrained on Arabic, English, and code. Evaluation shows state-of-the-art Arabic knowledge and reasoning, with competitive English performance.
A photography exhibition titled "KAUST, an Oasis for Birds" showcased the 240 bird species residing on the KAUST campus during the 2017 Winter Enrichment Program. The exhibition featured the work of Marios Mantzourogiannis and Brian James, highlighting common and rare bird species in KAUST's habitats. Mantzouroglannis noted that KAUST's cultural and avian diversity surprised him. Why it matters: The exhibition increased awareness of the rich biodiversity within KAUST and promoted engagement with nature and birding.
KAUST's New Energy Oasis (NEO) hosted an open day on May 7 to showcase its renewable energy technologies. The event featured guided tours of the NEO site, where 11 international technology providers are testing renewable energy solutions. The technologies on display included photovoltaic (PV), concentrating solar power (CSP), and dust mitigation technologies. Why it matters: This initiative helps identify and implement the most appropriate renewable energy technologies for Saudi Arabia, addressing the Kingdom's growing energy demands.
KAUST researchers found a 25-30% increase in winter rainfall in the eastern Arabian Peninsula since 1981, with a 10-20% decrease in the south and northeast. This change correlates with a shifting El Niño pattern in the tropical Pacific Ocean, affecting sea surface temperatures and westerly winds. The study used rainfall data from the University of East Anglia and 39 stations across the peninsula from 1951-2010. Why it matters: Improved understanding of these climate drivers could enhance long-term rainfall predictions, benefiting agriculture and water resource management in this arid region.