9.1 EDUCATION & RESEARCH
A massive open online entrepreneurship course in Arabic
KAUTS ’ s Entrepreneurship Center has
launched an entrepreneurship massive open online course ( MOOC ) in Arabic language , on the international educational platform edX . org during 2021 . The course , open for all , supports KAUST ’ s goal of providing knowledge and resources to boost entrepreneurial initiatives and innovative ideas within Saudi Arabia . Being the first Arabic course on the topic in the edX platform , the masterclass showcases KAUST ’ s efforts in advancing entrepreneurship not only in KSA , but also in the region .
Using AI for industry innovation and SDG advancement
Hosted in Riyadh and organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority ( SDAIA ), the
Global AI Summit 2022 counted with the participation of KAUST faculty and leadership in several keynote lectures . In a talk exploring the concept of “ AI + X ”, KAUST President Tony Chan discussed the potential synergies and power of combining AI technologies with several other science and technology fields , with the aim of tackling humanity ’ s most pressing challenges .
Build resilient infrastructure , promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
The Entrepreneurship Adventures MOOC
The eight-week course includes the basics of entrepreneurship and the startup lifecycle , and features a lineup of high-profile entrepreneurs , investors , and venture capitalists who bring first-hand knowledge and expertise to the learning experience of people taking the course . Upon completion , learners receive a certificate of completion emitted by KAUST .
105,000
Signed up
1,440
Certified initial registrations
47,000
Enrolled
93
Countries reached
KAUST participation at the Global AI Summit 2022
Across the technologies discussed , Prof . Chan enforced how such innovations could be translated into tools that can help the world meet the current SDG agenda , giving examples of the obvious impact of AI in SDG 9 through automation and innovation in industry and infrastructure . KAUST currently hosts an
AI Initiative which aims to translate and apply AI technology into innovative applications , including industrial infrastructure and manufacturing .
9.2 OPERATIONS
KAUST launches Innovation Fund
To develop Saudi Arabia ’ s innovation economy and focus on the development of the technology sector in Saudi Arabia , KAUST Innovation launched the
VC Innovation Fund . Released in 2022 , the fund plans to invest in seed level , deeptech startups with ticket sizes ranging from $ 200,000 to $ 2 million . The priority of investment for the fund are startups with large market potential , a superior product / technology , their alignment with KAUST ’ s main research areas , and their potential impact on the region in terms of job creation and solutions to specific local problems .
22 | KAUST SDG HIGHLIGHT REPORT