KAUST's sustainability initiatives and innovations reshaping Kingdom’s future

Special KAUST's sustainability initiatives and innovations reshaping Kingdom’s future
KAUST’s President Tony Chan speaking to Arab News.
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Updated 26 October 2023
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KAUST's sustainability initiatives and innovations reshaping Kingdom’s future

KAUST's sustainability initiatives and innovations reshaping Kingdom’s future

RIYADH: The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is making significant progress in the implementation of its new strategic plan, with the aim of enhancing Saudi Arabia’s green initiatives. 

In an interview with Arab News at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, KAUST’s President Tony Chan emphasized the commitment to taking a leadership role both for the institute and the Kingdom.  

“We work closely with the Saudi Green Initiative and the Ministry of Energy,” he said. 

Chan mentioned that they aim to practice what they advocate for, adding: “We teach sustainability, we do research on sustainability,” 

KAUST is also focused on fostering global partnerships, with an emphasis on strengthening ties with Shenzhen, a Chinese city known for its economic prowess and technological advancement. 

This collaboration follows KAUST’s comprehensive strategy introduced in August 2023. 

Under this strategy, the institute is unveiling initiatives aimed at strengthening scientific ties, fostering technology adoption, and propelling research commercialization to enhance the Kingdom’s economic competitiveness. 

The partnership is one of the key elements in a series of events where KAUST has actively pursued its sustainable vision. This includes hosting the Times Higher Education’s Global Sustainable Development Congress, participating in COP26 in Glasgow, COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, and the upcoming COP28 in Dubai.  

Chan emphasized that, as part of their new strategy, the 14-year-old institute will be “much more engaged with the Kingdom,” with a specific focus on accelerating their “impact in the Kingdom and the society.”  

Furthermore, he revealed that KAUST has initiated a “venture fund,” referred to as “Capital K.” 

This deep tech fund aims to support “some of the ideas, research products from KAUST,” he explained.

It also seeks to attract companies interested in establishing a presence in Saudi Arabia. The fund has a commitment of $200 million over five years. 

On Aug. 21, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, unveiled the new strategy for KAUST. 

As part of this new plan, the Kingdom earmarked a fund of SR750 million ($200 million) for early investments in both local and international high-tech companies.   

The strategy also aims to transform studies into economically viable innovations by concentrating on national priorities in research, development, and innovation. 

The key focus areas encompassed by the strategy are health and wellness, a sustainable environment and essential needs, energy and industrial leadership, and economies of the future. 

Expanding on their sustainability initiatives, Chan revealed they are embarking on significant projects within the Kingdom, adding: “One project is building the world’s largest coral reef garden in NEOM. So, when it is done in a few years’ time, it will be the world’s largest nursery for corals.” 

He further explained that they are engaged in various areas, including solar energy, petroleum research, water treatment, and agricultural practices utilizing seawater.  

Addressing the challenge of agricultural cultivation in a desert environment with limited access to fresh water, often at high costs, is one of their pursuits. 

“We like to mine, (but) mining is very environmentally disruptive. For example, a lot of people want to mine their lithium because of EV (electric vehicle) batteries. We have a faculty who invented a way to mine lithium from the seawater,” Chan said. 

KAUST’s president also highlighted another innovation that he believes could be a “game-changer” for the entire Saudi Arabian economy.  

He explained the institute has discovered a method to utilize Saudi sand, which was previously unsuitable for making concrete due to its smooth texture. 

"We found a way to absorb carbon into the sand, making them rough, and now you can make concrete,” he said. 

Chan added: “Saudi Arabia has a lot of sand, but it imports sand for building concrete. If successful (in the process), Saudi Arabia can then export sand, it does not have to import, and this technology is invented in the Kingdom.” 

He also provided insights into the recently established KAUST Academy and its objectives, which include the introduction of a new master’s degree program in “Technology, Innovation, Entrepreneurship.”  

Chan explained: “The idea is you’re supposed to build a company in technology.”


At UN, Saudi Arabia calls for global collaboration to tackle land degradation at COP16 Riyadh

At UN, Saudi Arabia calls for global collaboration to tackle land degradation at COP16 Riyadh
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At UN, Saudi Arabia calls for global collaboration to tackle land degradation at COP16 Riyadh

At UN, Saudi Arabia calls for global collaboration to tackle land degradation at COP16 Riyadh

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has called on the world’s policymakers to urgently address land destruction and drought ahead of the 16th UN Convention to Combat Desertification COP16 in Riyadh in December. 

At the Kingdom’s “Road to Riyadh” event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, opened by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia urged delegates to prepare to take decisive action at the upcoming meeting, outlining a roadmap for international action and engagement and unveiling the thematic program for the COP.

According to a press release flagging up the gathering, every second an equivalent of four football fields of healthy land becomes degraded, totaling 100 million hectares every year.

Incoming COP16 President and Saudi Arabia Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, said: “This is a pivotal moment for our planet. Land restoration is vital to securing a prosperous future for generations to come.”

He added: “It is crucial the international community unites to deliver ambitious and lasting solutions that curb land degradation, combat drought, and promote the sustainable use of natural resources.

“We must strengthen international cooperation to address the pressing environmental challenges facing our planet.”

The minister emphasized that Saudi Arabia's hosting of COP16, from December 2 to 13, reflects its commitment to environmental preservation and restoration, both domestically and internationally, citing initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative, the Middle East Green Initiative, and the G20 Global Land Initiative.

While land degradation trends vary across regions, UNCCD data warns that, if current patterns continue, the world will need to restore 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030 to meet the Land Degradation Neutrality targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. 

In Riyadh, under Saudi Arabia’s Presidency of COP16, there will be a strong push for more concrete commitments to accelerate restoration efforts and meet this critical goal.

At the Road to Riyadh event, senior stakeholders from international organizations, government and civil society also addressed the growing need to increase ambition and address the global challenges caused by land degradation, including drought, food insecurity and forced migration, alongside the urgent need for multilateral action to tackle them.

UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: “Land degradation and drought affect nearly half the world's population, especially indigenous communities, smallholder farmers, women, and youth. 

“COP16 in Riyadh will be a pivotal moment to accelerate large-scale land restoration and boost drought resilience, with multiple benefits for people, nature and climate. 

“Our success depends on the ambition of all parties and our commitment to resetting our relationship with the land for future generations.”

According to the UNCCD, up to 40 percent of the world’s land is already degraded, directly affecting an estimated 3.2 billion people. At the same time, droughts are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity – up 29 percent since 2000. An estimated 75 percent of people globally will be affected by drought by 2050.


IMF official says Pakistan won more financing assurances from China, UAE, Saudi Arabia

IMF official says Pakistan won more financing assurances from China, UAE, Saudi Arabia
Updated 27 September 2024
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IMF official says Pakistan won more financing assurances from China, UAE, Saudi Arabia

IMF official says Pakistan won more financing assurances from China, UAE, Saudi Arabia
  • Nathan Porter says the three countries rolled over $12 billion in bilateral loans to help Pakistan
  • The IMF official describes Pakistan’s economic turnaround since mid-2023 as ‘really remarkable’

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has received “significant financing assurances” from China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates linked to a new International Monetary Fund program that go beyond a deal to roll over $12 billion in bilateral loans owed to them by Islamabad, an IMF official said on Thursday.
IMF Pakistan Mission Chief Nathan Porter declined to provide details of additional financing amounts committed by the three countries but said they would come on top of the debt rollover.
“I won’t go into the specifics, but UAE, China, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia all provided significant financing assurances joined up in this program,” Porter told reporters on a conference call.
The IMF’s Executive Board on Wednesday approved a new $7 billion, 37-month loan agreement for Pakistan that requires “sound policies and reforms” to strengthen macroeconomic stability. The approval releases an immediate $1 billion disbursement to Islamabad.
The crisis-wracked South Asian country has had 22 previous IMF bailout programs since 1958.
Porter said Pakistan has staged a “really remarkable” economic turnaround since mid-2023, with inflation down dramatically, stable exchange rates and foreign reserves that have more than doubled.
“So what we’ve seen is the benefits of undertaking good policies,” Porter said, adding that the challenge now was to build stronger and sustained growth by keeping monetary, fiscal and exchange rate policy consistent, raising more taxes and improving public spending.
Last year, Pakistan achieved its first primary budget surplus in 20 years, and the program calls for growing that to 2 percent of gross domestic product. Porter said it depends in part on reforms to improve collections from under-taxed sectors such as retailers.
The next review of the loan would likely take place in March or April of 2025, based on end-2024 performance criteria, Porter said.


Oil Updates – prices dip on stronger supply prospects, China stimulus limits losses

Oil Updates – prices dip on stronger supply prospects, China stimulus limits losses
Updated 27 September 2024
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Oil Updates – prices dip on stronger supply prospects, China stimulus limits losses

Oil Updates – prices dip on stronger supply prospects, China stimulus limits losses

SINGAPORE: Oil prices eased for a third day on Friday and were on track to fall for the week as investors focused on expectations of increased output from Libya and the broader OPEC+ group, although fresh stimulus from top importer China limited losses.

Brent crude futures fell 20 cents, or 0.28 percent, to $71.40 per barrel as of 7:33 a.m. Saudi time, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 14 cents, or 0.21 percent, to $67.53.

On a weekly basis, Brent crude was set to shed 4 percent, while WTI was on track to slide 6 percent.

Though investors across asset classes cheered after Chinese authorities finally released bolder stimulus, oil markets seem fixated on Libya and OPEC this week, said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.

“The recent decision by OPEC+ to ramp up production has only added to the gloom,” said Sachdeva, adding that the oil market has been struggling with weakening demand over the past few months.

“While it’s uncertain whether Chinese stimulus will translate into higher fuel demand, it may still offer some respite to the oil market.”

China’s central bank on Friday lowered interest rates and injected liquidity into the banking system as Beijing ramps up stimulus to pull economic growth back toward this year’s roughly 5 percent target and fight deflationary pressures.

More fiscal measures are expected to be announced before China’s holidays starting on Oct. 1, after a meeting of the Communist Party’s top leaders showed an increased sense of urgency about mounting economic headwinds.

Meanwhile, rival factions staking claims for control of the Central Bank of Libya signed an agreement to end their dispute on Thursday. The dispute had caused a sharp reduction in oil production and exports in the country, with crude exports down to 400,000 barrel per day this month, from over 1 million barrels last month.

The agreement could see more than 500,000 bpd of Libyan supply return to markets, ANZ Bank analyst Daniel Hynes said.

Separately, OPEC and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, are currently cutting oil output by a total of 5.86 million bpd but plans to reverse 180,000 bpd of those cuts in December.


How an AI-driven platform is bridging linguistic and cultural gaps in content creation

How an AI-driven platform is bridging linguistic and cultural gaps in content creation
Updated 26 September 2024
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How an AI-driven platform is bridging linguistic and cultural gaps in content creation

How an AI-driven platform is bridging linguistic and cultural gaps in content creation
  • New platform combines the power of AI and human expertise to offer accurate, culturally nuanced content in different dialects
  • With the growth of AI models specializing in language, STUCK? meets the growing demand for region and industry-specific content

JEDDAH: In the fast-paced world of content creation, artificial intelligence is reshaping industries and how we communicate.

Yet while AI excels in speed and scale, human insight is still critical for capturing cultural context and linguistic nuance — especially in regions like the Middle East, where dialects and cultural subtleties matter.

This is where STUCK?, a groundbreaking platform created by Asmaa Naga, comes into play, combining the raw power of AI-driven large language models with the nuanced understanding of human experts to create accurate, high-quality content in English and Arabic.

“During COVID, I began to see how my experience in language and my awareness of corporate linguistic needs could help me create a solution to bridge a gap,” Naga, who taught at the British Council in Jeddah for 11 years prior to launching the platform, told Arab News.

Established in 2022, STUCK? employs a group of language models, each specializing in different aspects of language processing.

“One model is designed to handle large contexts, another excels in translation, while another has exceptional proficiency in understanding Arabic,” said Naga.

AI’s ability to quickly analyze massive datasets and generate content has already revolutionized whole sectors. However, there is still a catch. While AI is excellent at processing language, it often lacks the emotional intelligence and cultural depth only humans can provide.

DID YOUKNOW?

Content creation is evolving, with AI enhancing speed while human oversight ensures relevance and contextual accuracy in specialized sectors.

AI-driven content creation offers scalability and efficiency but still requires human expertise for cultural sensitivity and nuanced language.

Arabic language models require specialized development to handle dialects, cultural contexts and industry-specific terminology.

This is especially crucial in regions where subtle differences in dialect, phrasing or cultural references can dramatically change the meaning or tone of a message.

STUCK? was designed with these challenges in mind. The platform combines multiple AI models, each specialized in different areas such as translation or contextual understanding, to offer a comprehensive solution for creating and localizing content.

Stuck? founder and CEO Asmaa Naga (right) and colleagues. (Supplied)

But what truly sets STUCK? apart is its ability to handle not just Modern Standard Arabic but also regional dialects, including Levantine, Egyptian and those spoken within Saudi Arabia such as Najdi and Hijazi.

AI-generated content in English or any other widely spoken language has become more advanced over the years, but Arabic — especially its regional dialects — presents unique challenges. It has numerous dialects that vary not only by country but even within regions of a single nation.

For instance, the Arabic spoken in Riyadh differs from that spoken in Jeddah, and that is just within Saudi Arabia. This complexity makes it difficult for standard language models to capture differences accurately.

For industries operating in the Middle East, from healthcare and cultural heritage to oil and gas, accurate communication in the correct dialect can be the difference between success and failure.

But despite the technology’s sophistication, the team behind STUCK? recognize that AI alone cannot fully meet the demands of complex content creation. This is why the platform offers three service tiers — fully human, fully AI, and a blended approach that combines the two.

For routine tasks, AI or the blended model offers quick and efficient solutions. But for high-stakes projects that require a more refined touch — such as marketing campaigns or culturally sensitive communications — the human approach ensures the content resonates with the target audience.

“Users generally do not need guidance to make this choice,” said Naga. “They usually know the importance of the content they want to create or translate and the level of customization needed.”

This flexibility makes STUCK? a highly adaptable tool. In the oil and gas sector, for example, where terminology is highly specialized, the platform’s ability to onboard industry-specific language experts ensures accuracy.

Indeed, it is not just about translating words — it is about making sure the content speaks the industry’s language in both the literal and figurative sense.

AI models are continuously trained and fine-tuned to generate content that responds appropriately to user prompts. But the process does not end with AI generation — human editors review the AI-produced content to ensure it aligns with cultural and linguistic standards. 

“We constantly train and fine-tune our AI models to ensure they generate content that is highly responsive to the prompts used,” said Naga.

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With clients like the Riyadh-based consultancy &bouqu, STUCK? has already established itself as a critical tool for businesses looking to scale operations in the Middle East.

By offering a blend of AI speed and human creativity, the platform is poised to become an indispensable asset for companies that need to communicate effectively across the region’s diverse linguistic landscape.

Looking forward, Naga envisions STUCK? becoming “the go-to solution for all companies interested in expanding to or operating in the Middle East.”

In a world where content is king, STUCK? is not just filling a gap — it is arguably redefining how companies create, translate, and localize content in one of the world’s most linguistically and culturally diverse regions.

By merging the precision of AI with the insight of human experts, STUCK? could offer a way forward for industries that are often literally stuck when it comes to communication.
 

 


Norway to open world’s 1st CO2 storage service

Norway to open world’s 1st CO2 storage service
Updated 26 September 2024
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Norway to open world’s 1st CO2 storage service

Norway to open world’s 1st CO2 storage service

OYGARDEN: Norway is set to inaugurate the gateway to a massive undersea vault for carbon dioxide, a crucial step before opening what its operator calls the first commercial service offering CO2 transport and storage.
The Northern Lights project plans to take CO2 emissions captured at factory smokestacks in Europe and inject them into geological reservoirs under the seabed.
The aim is to prevent the emissions from being released into the atmosphere, and thereby help halt climate change.
On the island of Oygarden, a key milestone will be marked with the inauguration of a terminal built on the shores of the North Sea, its shiny storage tanks rising up against the sky.
It is here that the liquified CO2 will be transported by boat, then injected through a long pipeline into the seabed, at a depth of around 2.6 km, for permanent storage. The facility, a joint venture grouping oil giants Equinor of Norway, Anglo-Dutch Shell and TotalEnergies of France, is expected to bury its first CO2 deliveries in 2025.
It will have an initial capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year, before being ramped up to 5 million tonnes in a second phase if there is enough demand.
“Our first purpose is to demonstrate that the carbon capture and storage chain is feasible,” Northern Lights Managing Director Tim Heijn said.
“It can make a real impact on the CO2 balance and help achieve climate targets,” he said.
CCS technology is complex and costly but has been advocated by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency, especially for reducing the CO2 footprint of industries like cement and steel, which are difficult to decarbonize.
The world’s overall capture capacity is currently just 50.5 million tonnes, according to the IEA, or barely 0.1 percent of the world’s annual total emissions.