KAUST's Industry Engagement Office (IEO) actively recruits partner companies to establish a presence on campus within the Research and Technology Park. The IEO assists companies like SABIC in setting up research centers, identifying research areas, and drafting proposals. The office also connects KAUST faculty with industry partners by assessing research interests and viable business models. Why it matters: This fosters collaboration and translates research into tangible business value, strengthening KAUST's role in regional innovation.
Faculty from KFUPM visited KAUST on November 25-26, 2015 to discuss potential research collaborations. Discussions focused on identifying common ground and actionable steps in areas like electrical engineering, modeling, and computer simulation. Participants highlighted potential opportunities for complementary work between the two institutions. Why it matters: Increased collaboration between leading Saudi universities like KAUST and KFUPM can enhance the Kingdom's research capabilities and innovation ecosystem.
TII's Directed Energy Research Center (DERC) has announced partnerships with Ruhr University Bochum, Helmut Schmidt University, University Clermont Auvergne, and National University of Colombia, Bogota. The collaborations aim to advance research in directed energy sub-disciplines, including radar systems, lightning protection, and high-power electromagnetics. These partnerships will involve research on ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and numerical/statistical methods. Why it matters: This international collaboration strengthens the UAE's position as a hub for advanced technology research and development, particularly in the strategic area of directed energy systems.
MBZUAI launched the AI Quorum, a winter series from October 2022 to March 2023, to stimulate AI research. The first session, led by Professor Michael Jordan, focused on collaborative learning with around 20 research experts. Discussions covered the use of edge devices like cell phones and hospitals providing data to build large models, as well as risks like free-riding and adversarial attacks. Why it matters: The AI Quorum initiative positions MBZUAI as a hub for global AI collaboration, addressing key challenges and opportunities in collaborative learning for real-world applications.
KAUST and Technische Universität München (TUM) have been collaborating on research since 2009, focusing on chemistry, computer science, and mathematics. TUM President Prof. Herrmann visited KAUST on March 25, discussing the KAUST-TUM collaboration in high-performance computing and catalytic chemistry. He emphasized the need for an entrepreneurial and interdisciplinary approach to solve complex scientific problems, highlighting trust and complementary expertise as key to the partnership's success. Why it matters: This partnership strengthens research capabilities in Saudi Arabia, promoting innovation and addressing complex challenges through international collaboration in key areas like computing and chemistry.
KAUST and NEOM have signed an agreement to establish the KAUST-NEOM Center of Excellence for NEOM Research at KAUST. The center will focus on solutions for challenges in sustainable energy, urban planning, agriculture, seismology, water desalination, AI, big data, and sensors. NEOM will be backed by over $500 billion in funding. Why it matters: The partnership signifies a major investment in R&D and technological innovation within Saudi Arabia, aligning with the Kingdom's vision for economic diversification and development of cutting-edge technologies.
MBZUAI and the University of Michigan Ann Arbor have announced a new collaboration in AI research, sponsored by the U.S. Mission to the UAE. The partnership focuses on projects addressing the cultural divide in AI, with research teams from both institutions collaborating throughout the 2023/2024 academic year. A workshop titled “Bridging the Cultural Divide in AI: Analyzing Fairness, Bias, and Transparency across Cultures” will be held on April 29-30. Why it matters: The collaboration strengthens ties between the UAE and the U.S. in AI, addressing critical issues of fairness and cultural sensitivity in AI development.
KAUST and King Abdulaziz University (KAU) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate and fund scientific research. The collaboration will focus on areas including cancer research, energy harvesting and storage, solar technology, renewable energy, and desert agriculture. The MoU was signed by Donal Bradley, KAUST VP for Research, and Yusuf Al Turki, KAU VP for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research. Why it matters: This partnership between two leading Saudi universities will help advance research and development in areas critical to Saudi Vision 2030.