Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science signed a preliminary agreement on Sunday to collaborate on the development of AI.
The agreement, the first of its kind to be signed between higher education institutes from the UAE and Israel, includes plans for student exchange programmes, conferences, and the sharing of research and computing.
It will also set up a joint online institute for AI.
The agreement was held remotely and was signed by Dr Sultan Al Jaber, MBZUAI chairman and UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Alon Chen, president and professor of the Weizmann Institute of Science.
“I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with such a renowned establishment as the Weizmann Institute of Science," Dr Al Jaber said.
He said the co-operation will aim to use AI to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, "from Covid-19 to climate change”.
The deal comes a month after the historic Abraham Accord, which established full normalisation of relations between the UAE and Israel. The diplomatic pact opens up the nations to co-operation in areas of mutual interest such as tourism, security, technology and energy, and one of the fastest growing disciplines in the world: AI.
Both countries are rapidly expanding their investments and development of AI. The UAE is one of only a handful of countries to have an overarching AI strategy supported by the government. Israeli AI start-ups raised $3.7 billion in 2019, more than double the figure for 2017, according to the IVC Research Centre, a data provider on the country's high-tech industry.
Last week, Abu Dhabi's AI company Group 42 said it would open a wholly owned subsidiary in Israel.
The company will use its new office to focus on areas including Covid-19 diagnostic solutions, smart cities, renewable energies and water supply solutions.
Group 42 plans to access technologies and expertise available in Israel and assist Israeli companies to expand their operations in the Middle East, it said.
Abu Dhabi's MBZUAI is the world’s first graduate-level, research-based AI university.
It plans to welcome its first 100 students from 31 countries in January 2021. The students will pursue master's and doctoral degrees in computer vision, machine learning and natural language processing.
The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, is one of the world’s top-ranking multidisciplinary research institutions. It offers master’s and doctoral-level degrees.
The institute's scientists study the human brain and carry out extensive research in artificial intelligence, computer science and encryption, astrophysics and particle physics.
The tie-up with MBZUAI will advance Weizmann’s flagship project, the Artificial Intelligence Enterprise for Scientific Discovery.
This $100 million project will use AI tools to further research in areas like drug discovery and climate protection.
"It is said that science knows no borders," said professor Chen. "I have every hope this collaboration between scientists in the same region will be a shining example of this expression, and will extend the boundaries of human knowledge.”
Correspondents
By Tim Murphy
(Grove Press)
RESULT
Bayer Leverkusen 2 Bayern Munich 4
Leverkusen: Alario (9'), Wirtz (89')
Bayern: Coman (27'), Goretzka (42'), Gnabry (45'), Lewandowski (66')
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 715bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,289,376
On sale: now
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Suad%20Amiry%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Pantheon%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20304%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
FIGHT CARD
Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
Disability on screen
Empire — neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis; bipolar disorder; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Rosewood and Transparent — heart issues
24: Legacy — PTSD;
Superstore and NCIS: New Orleans — wheelchair-bound
Taken and This Is Us — cancer
Trial & Error — cognitive disorder prosopagnosia (facial blindness and dyslexia)
Grey’s Anatomy — prosthetic leg
Scorpion — obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety
Switched at Birth — deafness
One Mississippi, Wentworth and Transparent — double mastectomy
Dragons — double amputee
