The new innovation centre will support people who wish to pursue careers in the digital economy. EPA
The new innovation centre will support people who wish to pursue careers in the digital economy. EPA
The new innovation centre will support people who wish to pursue careers in the digital economy. EPA
The new innovation centre will support people who wish to pursue careers in the digital economy. EPA

Saudi Aramco and IBM to build innovation centre in Riyadh in sustainability push


Alvin R Cabral
  • English
  • Arabic

Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil-producing company, and US company IBM have entered into a partnership to build an innovation centre in Riyadh to support the kingdom's plans for a technology-focused and sustainable economy.

Through the centre, the two companies will explore potential opportunities on how advanced innovation such as artificial intelligence, the hybrid cloud and other emerging technology can be put in place to address sustainability challenges, the Saudi state oil company said.

The move, which is aligned with the kingdom’s sustainability vision, will help enterprises to reduce their carbon emissions and prepare them for the impact of climate change.

“The strategic collaboration of Aramco’s leadership with IBM aspires to achieve potential breakthroughs in the energy sector that will have industry-wide impact,” said Ahmad Al Sa’adi, Aramco's senior vice president of technical services.

“Through this collaboration, we are seeking to leverage the next frontiers in computing to drive economic growth and enable decarbonisation through digital technologies.”

Saudi Arabia is in the middle of a major economic diversification drive under its Vision 2030 agenda, amid a push to reduce its reliance on oil and tap into other high-growth industries to boost its economy, create more jobs and attract private investment.

One of the programme's core pillars is a focus on sustainability. The Arab world's biggest economy set a goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2060 through a “circular carbon economy approach” that is compatible with its development and diversification plans, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said at the Saudi Green Initiative forum last October.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have evolved as strategic locations for global technology companies to lend their expertise, helping advance digital economy programmes.

In October, Amazon, the world's biggest online marketplace, teamed up with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office to set up a new cloud innovation centre in the capital to spur innovation in the public and private sectors.

Also last month, chip maker Intel, one of the world's largest technology companies, said it would open its first AI research and development centre at Dubai Internet City.

In September, US software major Oracle opened its second UAE innovation centre in Abu Dhabi, which aims to help public and private sector companies take advantage of emerging technology to boost their bottom lines.

Aramco and IBM also plan to collaborate on identifying opportunities to apply technology that will address supply chain efficiency and resiliency challenges, as well as support local Saudi talent in pursuing careers in the digital economy.

“This collaboration aims to help develop local skills and talent with the knowledge and expertise needed to build this vision for the future,” said Saad Toma, general manager of IBM Middle East and Africa.

IBM has been actively investing in the region, especially in the UAE. In March, it entered into a partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology to hasten the pace of digital transformation in the Emirates through the use of Fourth Industrial Revolution innovation.

In 2020, the company entered the Middle East and Africa's cloud storage market by opening two data centres in the UAE — in Abu Dhabi and Dubai — to capitalise on the growing demand for cloud services.

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

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Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

Abramovich London

A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.

A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.

Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.

Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

FIXTURES

All times UAE ( 4 GMT)

Saturday
Fiorentina v Torino (8pm)
Hellas Verona v Roma (10.45pm)

Sunday
Parma v Napoli (2.30pm)
Genoa v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (8pm)
Juventus v Sampdoria (10.45pm)

Monday
AC Milan v Bologna (10.45om)

Playing September 30

Benevento v Inter Milan (8pm)
Udinese v Spezia (8pm)
Lazio v Atalanta (10.45pm)

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Red flags
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  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm

Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Price: from Dh317,671

On sale: now

The Little Things

Directed by: John Lee Hancock

Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto

Four stars

England v South Africa Test series:

First Test: at Lord's, England won by 211 runs

Second Test: at Trent Bridge, South Africa won by 340 runs

Third Test: at The Oval, July 27-31

Fourth Test: at Old Trafford, August 4-8

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Company Profile

Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi

AUSTRALIA SQUADS

ODI squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Twenty20 squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Updated: November 02, 2022, 4:03 AM`