As part of a memorandum of understanding signed between Saudi Aramco and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the two entities agreed to establish a new excellence center at KAUST, with the aim of supporting efforts related to research, development, and spreading and marketing advanced artificial intelligence technologies at Saudi Aramco by addressing impacts of work at a sustained institutional level rather than on an individual basis. The memorandum of understanding was signed at the university headquarters in Thuwal by Saudi Aramco’s Vice President of Digital Transformation Nabil Al-Nuaim and Vice President for Research at KAUST Dr. Donal Bradley.
Under the memo, the new AI excellence center seeks to develop research skills, improve products and commercial marketing and entrepreneurship in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through creating unique opportunities for research and advanced development of AI, based on globally distinguished data groups, where the center also seeks to be an advanced model in the research development system in the field of AI in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, the center seeks to take advantage of the latest AI technologies, positioning Saudi Aramco and KAUST as global leaders in the AI field through the establishment of an AI platform so that the researchers from both institutions can exchange ideas and innovations, incubate and promote technologies, and make contributions and influences at a global level.