In the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy and Chairman of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Board of Trustees, KAUST and Cisco — a global leader in networking and security — announced the launch of a groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence Institute.
This new institute marks a major expansion of the long-standing strategic partnership between KAUST and Cisco. It will combine Cisco’s global expertise in networking, cybersecurity, and large-scale AI infrastructure with KAUST’s world-class academic research, advanced facilities, and leadership in education and innovation.
Located on the KAUST campus, the institute will focus on advancing AI research, development, and education. It represents a key milestone in nurturing innovation and developing a highly skilled AI workforce to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Building on more than 20 years of collaboration between Cisco and the Kingdom, the institute aims to become a cornerstone of AI innovation in Saudi Arabia.
Cisco,KAUST
“Our enduring partnership with Cisco has been essential in realizing KAUST’s mission,” said KAUST President Sir Edward Byrne AC. “This new AI Institute will equip our students with the critical skills required for the jobs of the future. It aligns directly with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and strengthens KAUST’s leadership in scientific and technological education and research.”
“To fully harness the power of AI, we must invest in developing talent capable of keeping pace with rapid innovation,” said Chuck Robbins, Cisco Chair and CEO. “AI will unlock extraordinary opportunities for economic growth and help accelerate Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Additionally, the Cisco AI Institute at KAUST builds on our 25-year partnership with the Kingdom to ensure that everyone can benefit from AI’s transformative potential.”
The institute’s research agenda will center on applied AI in key areas, including AI-native communication systems, advanced edge infrastructure for Industry 5.0, intelligent factories, autonomous mobility, and smart transportation. It will also pursue AI-driven applications that address vital national priorities in water, energy, food, and health.
Cisco will also support the institute by providing its latest technologies, including the Cisco AI POD — a modular, pre-validated AI infrastructure solution designed to accelerate the deployment of AI data centers, enabling innovation to scale securely and efficiently.
A key focus of the initiative will be talent development. Building on Cisco’s commitment to offer free digital training for 500,000 learners in Saudi Arabia over five years through the Cisco Networking Academy, the program will emphasize AI, cybersecurity, data science, and programming. To date, the academy has trained over 480,000 learners in the Kingdom, with 36% female participation.
(CDA) program
The AI Institute is part of Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program, which has been driving Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation since 2016 through 23 high-impact projects across sectors such as healthcare, education, smart cities, and government services.
Finally, the institute will be governed by a joint board comprising representatives from KAUST and Cisco, ensuring strategic direction and strong collaborative oversight.
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