Omantel, Oman's national telecommunications company, has launched an AI Centre of Excellence to drive advancements in artificial intelligence. Concurrently, the company initiated an AI Startups Program aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the AI sector. These initiatives are designed to accelerate AI research, development, and application across various industries in Oman. Why it matters: This strategic move by Omantel signals a significant national commitment to developing a robust AI ecosystem and enhancing technological capabilities within Oman.
Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is offering training compute power to scientists, researchers, and SME entrepreneurs with innovative use cases for Falcon 40B, its open-source LLM. TII is welcoming submissions globally across industries like biotech, engineering, finance, and healthcare. A dedicated AI Cross-Center Unit (AICCU) of over 40 AI scientists will assess proposals based on research objectives, methodology, and potential impact. Why it matters: This initiative can foster innovation in AI applications across various sectors by providing access to cutting-edge LLMs and substantial compute resources.
The Suliman S. Olayan Foundation and KAUST broke ground for The Suliman S. Olayan Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. The institute will foster collaboration between science, technology, industry, business and entrepreneurship, focusing on sustainable solutions for water, food, and energy. It will consist of startup scaling, teaching & learning, and public spaces. Why it matters: The institute will help incubate Saudi-bred intellectual property and drive innovation in key sectors, contributing to the Kingdom's economic diversification goals.
KAUST and SABB will award 10 million SAR to entrepreneurs in the fourth TAQADAM Startup Accelerator program, doubling the zero-equity grants from previous years to 150,000 SAR per startup. 59 startups across sectors like agriculture, logistics, and healthcare have joined the cohort. Participating startups will receive expert mentorship and training, industry exposure, and funding to invest in growth and development without sacrificing equity. Why it matters: This increased funding and support from KAUST and SABB signals a strong commitment to fostering a thriving deep-tech startup ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, providing crucial resources and mentorship to promising ventures.
MBZUAI launched the Institute of Foundation Models, the MBZUAI Metaverse Center (MMC), and the MBZUAI Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC) at GITEX 2023. The university also signed MoUs with Abu Dhabi Customs and the Department of Municipalities and Transport to collaborate on AI applications. MBZUAI faculty participated in panel discussions on generative AI and large language models, including the Jais Arabic LLM. Why it matters: These initiatives and partnerships signal MBZUAI's central role in advancing AI research, development, and adoption across key sectors in the UAE.
MBZUAI has launched the MBZUAI Metaverse Center (MMC) and the MBZUAI Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC). The Metaverse Center focuses on AI-driven immersive technologies for communication, healthcare, entertainment, and education. The Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center will focus on catalyzing AI innovation and adoption in industry. Why it matters: These centers signal MBZUAI's commitment to expanding AI research and fostering a startup ecosystem in the UAE.
MBZUAI has established new robotics and computer science departments, launching master’s and Ph.D. programs in each discipline. The new departments will complement MBZUAI’s existing CV, ML, and NLP departments. The robotics department will focus on robot learning and algorithms, while computer science will focus on foundational technologies with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and sustainability. Why it matters: This expansion strengthens the UAE's AI ecosystem and positions MBZUAI as a hub for AI research and innovation, addressing the growing global demand for AI talent.
MBZUAI and OurCrowd Arabia signed an MoU to accelerate the growth of the AI technology ecosystem at MBZUAI's campus in Abu Dhabi. The initiatives will focus on incubating startups and creating opportunities for AI talent, particularly MBZUAI graduates and researchers. OurCrowd Arabia is also establishing a VC investment center in Abu Dhabi to manage deals for its platform. Why it matters: This partnership aims to foster entrepreneurship and position Abu Dhabi as a global AI center by providing funding and support for AI startups.