ASRT AI incubator open for applications; ADDA signs MoU with Intel
Good afternoon,
Here's your weekly roundup of Middle East AI news!
This week's edition includes news from Egypt's new AI incubator! Rowad 2030, an entrepreneurship initiative launched by Egypt's Ministry of Planning and Economic Development in 2017, has opened its AI Incubator programme for applications from startups.
Rowad 2030 plans to create nine incubators in conjunction with Egyptian universities, including two AI Incubators (one in Ain Shams University in Cairo and one in Alexandria University) in partnership with the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT). The Rowad 2030 initiative previously stated that the AI Incubator programme will accommodate 24 startups, but this was not confirmed in this week's announcement.
Link below, plus other stories from around the region.
Stay safe and have a great weekend!
/Carrington
Startups
ASRT accepts applications for AI Incubators at Alexandria, Ain Shams universities — wwww.dailynewssegypt.com
#Egypt #incubators - Ministry of Planning and Economic Development’s Rowad 2030 Project and Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) have announced that applications for the AI Incubator initiative are now being accepted via its two branches at the Universities of Alexandria and Ain Shams. (Daily News Egypt)
R&D
Abu Dhabi Digital Authority signs deal with Intel to accelerate digital transformation — www.thenational.ae
#UAE #R&D - Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) signed an agreement with America's biggest chip maker, Intel, to speed up the pace of digital transformation in the emirate. ADDA and Intel will conduct studies to support ADDA’s AI Lab and accelerate the application of “high-impact practices”. (The National)
Transport
King Fahd Causeway capacity increased by 45% ahead of reopening — saudigazette.com.sa
#Bahrain #Saudi transport - Bahrain Customs has installed AI scanners at the King Fahd Causeway, automating data collection and allowing shipment inspections to take place before reaching the border. The move has greatly increased both the speed and capacity for processing. (Saudi Gazette)
AI in Dubai Taxis to Curb Spread of Covid-19 — www.transportandlogisticsme.com
#UAE #coronavirus - Dubai's RTA is using AI devices to scan human faces and verify if the face masks are being worn correctly. AI also calculates the distance between passengers and the driver. (Transport and Logistics)
Robotics
Now, robots help with firefighting in Abu Dhabi — gulfnews.com
#UAE #robotics - The Abu Dhabi Civil Defence is using a number of robots for firefighting and national stesterilisation purposes during the pandemic in the emirate. These include EmiControls' TAF35 firefighting robot, which is made up of a firefighting turbine mounted on a caterpillar vehicle. (Gulf News)
Drones
Will drones be ready for last-mile Covid-19 vaccine delivery? — www.thenational.ae
#UAE #drones - ‘In a crisis such as Covid-19, where time plays a critical role, drones are proving to be essential,’ says Raissa Mendes, regional manager for DJI. The drone giant's partnerships with Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police and Sharjah Police have seen drones deployed for inspections, supply delivery, disinfection and temperature checks on individuals. (The National)
Education
‘One Million Coders’ initiative an opportunity for youth for post-COVID-19 period: Omar Al Olama — www.zawya.com
#UAE #education - Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, and Deputy Managing Director of the Dubai Future Foundation, DFF, stated that the initiatives, "One Million Jordanian Coders" and "One Million Uzbek Coders" initiatives will create opportunities for the youth wishing to learn the language of the future. (Zawya)
Chatbots
DEWA’s virtual employee 'Rammas' answers 3.6 million enquiries — www.wam.ae
#UAE #chatbots - Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA), virtual employee 'Rammas', which uses AI has answered about 3.6 million enquiries from January 2017 to mid-June 2020. (WAM)
UAE Securities and Commodities Authority launches upgraded chatbot — mondovisione.com
#UAE #chatbots - The UAE Securities and Commodities Authority's upgraded digital platform provides customers with automated responses to their general and legislation-related questions via chatbot, using the SCA’s legislation database. (Mondovisione)