Cisco and KAUST establish AI research institute

AI research programme targets 500,000 learners over five years

Oct 30, 2025

#SaudiArabia #R&D - US technology company Cisco and Saudi Arabia research university King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have launched the Cisco AI Institute at KAUST, a dedicated facility for AI research, development and education. The initiative includes donation of Cisco’s latest technology including an AI POD modular infrastructure solution, and builds on Cisco’s commitment to provide free digital upskilling for 500,000 learners in Saudi Arabia over five years through Cisco Networking Academy.

SO WHAT? - Cisco’s new partnership with KAUST reflects both the networking giant’s commitment to the Saudi Arabian market and the company’s effort to position itself as an essential enabler of AI architecture. By combining advanced infrastructure donation with large-scale training programmes, Cisco’s approach provides both the technical foundation for research and the talent pipeline needed to sustain AI innovation. The AI Institute is part of Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme that we can also expect to define new AI-focused projects across healthcare, education, smart cities, and government services.

Here are some key points about the new institute:

Announced in the presence of Minister of Energy and KAUST Board Chairman Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Cisco AI Institute has been launched at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), with attendance from Minister of Communications and Information Technology H.E. Abdullah Amer Alswaha.
The institute new combines Cisco’s global leadership in networking, cybersecurity and cloud-scale AI infrastructure with KAUST’s academic research capabilities and advanced facilities.
Located at the KAUST campus, the institute will advance AI research, development and education, representing a major milestone in fostering innovation and developing skilled AI workforce.
The institute’s agenda focuses on applied research for AI-native communication systems, advanced edge infrastructure for Industry 5.0 including intelligent factories, autonomous mobility and intelligent transport systems, plus AI-driven use cases addressing water, energy, food and health sectors.
Cisco will donate its latest technology including an AI POD, a modular pre-validated AI infrastructure solution described as a ready-to-go AI factory for complex AI workloads, enabling faster and more secure innovation at scale.
The initiative builds on Cisco’s 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 capabilities. The Academy has trained over 480,000 learners in Saudi Arabia with 36% female participation.
The AI Institute forms part of Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration programme operating in Saudi Arabia since 2016, which has delivered 23 high-impact projects across healthcare, education, smart cities and government services sectors.
A joint governing board comprising representatives from KAUST and Cisco will oversee the institute, providing strategic direction and collaborative oversight for research priorities and operational activities.

ZOOM OUT - KAUST has established itself as a centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s AI ecosystem, offering multi-level AI education programmes covering machine learning, deep learning and natural language processing. The university’s Computer Science department and Centre of Excellence for Generative AI drive foundational and applied research in scalable models, neural networks and optimisation,. KAUST has strengthened capabilities through a wide-range of industry partnerships including Deloitte and Google. The institution’s Accelerating Impact Strategy ensures research translates into actionable innovations addressing the Kingdom’s economic, social and environmental needs.

[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]

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