KAUST, Cisco Launch Landmark AI Institute in Saudi Arabia
In the presence of Minister of Energy and Chairman of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Board of Trustees Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, KAUST and Cisco, the global leader in networking and security, today announced a significant expansion of their strategic collaboration with the establishment of a cutting-edge AI Institute.
This initiative will bring together Cisco’s global leadership in networking, cybersecurity, and cloud-scale artificial intelligence infrastructure with KAUST’s world-class academic research, advanced facilities, and pivotal role in education.
Located at the KAUST campus in Saudi Arabia, the institute will be dedicated to advancing AI research, development and education, representing a major milestone in fostering innovation and developing a highly skilled AI workforce within the Kingdom. Building on more than two decades of collaboration between Cisco and Saudi Arabia — and a shared vision for digital transformation — the new AI Institute at KAUST aims to become a cornerstone for AI innovation in the Kingdom, in alignment with Vision 2030.
"Our long-standing partnership with Cisco has been instrumental in realizing KAUST's vision," said KAUST President Sir Edward Byrne AC. "The new AI Institute is crucial for equipping our students with the vital skills needed for the jobs of the future, directly aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and reinforces our leadership in scientific and technological education and research."
“To unlock the promise of AI, we must upskill the workforce to keep up with the rapid pace of innovation,” said Chuck Robbins, Cisco Chair and CEO. “AI is poised to unlock groundbreaking opportunities for economic growth, accelerating Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The Cisco AI Institute at KAUST builds on our 25-year partnership with the Kingdom, with a shared vision to ensure everyone can harness AI's limitless potential in Saudi Arabia.”
The institute's agenda will focus on applied research for AI-native communication systems, advanced edge infrastructure for Industry 5.0, including intelligent factories, as well as autonomous mobility and intelligent transport systems. It will also prioritize AI-driven use cases addressing vital public-interest sectors including water, energy, food, and health. Cisco’s contributions to the institute will include the donation of its latest technology, including a Cisco AI POD. This is a modular, pre-validated AI infrastructure solution, a ready-to-go AI “factory” that streamlines the process of building data centers to run complex AI workloads, enabling innovation to happen faster and more securely at scale.
This initiative also aims to develop local AI talent, building on Cisco's recent commitment to provide free digital upskilling for 500,000 learners in Saudi Arabia over five years through Cisco Networking Academy, focusing on AI, cybersecurity, data science, and programming. This builds on the academy's strong track record, having trained over 480,000 learners in Saudi Arabia, with 36% female participation.
The AI Institute is part of Cisco's Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program that has been a driving force for digital transformation in Saudi Arabia since 2016, delivering 23 high-impact projects across vital sectors like healthcare, education, smart cities, and government services.
The institute will be overseen by a joint governing board comprising representatives from KAUST and Cisco, to provide strategic direction and collaborative oversight.