Khaled Alrashed, president and CEO of Saudi Electricity Company for Projects Development, discussed the challenges of future smart cities at a KAUST event. He emphasized the importance of smart grids, AI, and large-scale optimization for improving urban living. The Saudi Electricity Company is partnering with KAUST, including using the Shaheen supercomputer, to develop these technologies and predict grid load. Why it matters: This collaboration highlights Saudi Arabia's ambition to become a leader in smart city technology and renewable energy, leveraging local expertise and resources.
Siemens CTO Rainer Speh spoke at KAUST about smart cities, noting that urban populations are growing, especially in cities like Riyadh and Jeddah. Cities consume two-thirds of the world's energy and generate 70% of CO2 emissions. Siemens is working on a driverless subway system in Riyadh as part of its smart city initiatives. Why it matters: Smart city initiatives are crucial for managing resources and reducing emissions in rapidly growing urban centers in Saudi Arabia.
KAUST hosted Saudi Arabia's first National Hackathon of Energy, in partnership with the Saudi Electricity Company's Innovation Energy Incubator. Innovators collaborated to find technical solutions for the Kingdom's energy challenges. Three projects were honored: AI-HUB for cybersecurity, a smart circuit breaker, and 'Amn Al-Kafa’at,' a fire extinguisher system. Why it matters: This hackathon highlights the growing focus on using AI and technology to address energy challenges in Saudi Arabia, with KAUST playing a central role in fostering innovation.
KAUST Professor of Electrical Engineering Boon S. Ooi has been elected as a Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors (NAI). This honor recognizes Ooi's contributions to semiconductor photonics, optical sensors, and particularly his work on fiber sensors for oil & gas and agriculture. Ooi's inventions are relevant to communications, health, energy and agriculture. Why it matters: This recognition highlights KAUST's and the region's increasing contributions to impactful research and innovation in areas like optical sensing and semiconductor photonics.
KAUST Professor Pierre Magistretti participated in the U.S.-Saudi Arabia Business Leaders Virtual Forum, organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Saudi Ministry of Investment. Magistretti spoke on a panel about healthcare innovation alongside representatives from Pfizer, Abbott, and the Saudi Ministry of Investment. KAUST's Smart-Health Initiative (SHI) aims to translate scientific discoveries into clinical tools. Why it matters: This participation highlights KAUST's growing role in shaping healthcare innovation within the Kingdom and fostering international collaborations in the field.
KAUST and McLaren Racing have expanded their 5-year partnership to include collaborative research projects across McLaren's motorsport teams. The partnership will focus on simulation methodologies, optimized computing, and high-efficiency lubricants. KAUST students and researchers will work with McLaren at the McLaren Technology Centre to deliver joint projects. Why it matters: This collaboration provides KAUST students with real-world experience in an applied R&D environment, fostering innovation in areas like materials, lightweight structures, and circularity, with potential implications for the broader automotive and technology sectors in the region.