Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Qassim University to collaborate on training national talents on AI techs.

The MoU also eyes increasing awareness of data and AI technologies, and creating career development programs for graduates and job seekers, according to a press release by SDAIA.

This took place during the third edition of the Global AI Summit, which is currently being held in Riyadh. Representing “SDAIA” in signing the memorandum was Issam bin Abdullah Al-Wuqait, Director of the National Information Center, while signing on behalf of the university was its President, Muhammad bin Fahd Al-Sharikh.

The memorandum aims to boost cooperation between SDAIA and the university’s faculty, researchers, and graduate students. It covers sharing and publishing research on data and AI, attending conferences and events, and providing training and consultations to SDAIA. It also seeks to explore research and innovation collaborations with the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research to advance the Kingdom’s progress in data and AI.

The memorandum aims to explore ways to collaborate on organizing hackathons and challenges in the fields of data and artificial intelligence in the Qassim region. Additionally, it includes cooperation in establishing an artificial intelligence lab affiliated with the “SDAIA” Academy at the university’s premises to train students and professionals in this field in the Qassim region.

SDAIA aims to enhance the national capabilities of government agencies with data and AI technologies. Since its establishment in 2019, it has worked to build national expertise and become a key reference in this field, aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives.

SDAIA’s efforts also come through training programs and boot camps as part of its initiatives to build and develop the skills of specialists in the fields of data and artificial intelligence to bridge the gap in these areas at the national level. Moreover, this enhances the contributions of national talents in advancing the Kingdom to the ranks of leading countries in data and artificial intelligence-based economies.