Cisco, KAUST Launch AI Institute; 500K Upskilling in KSA

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Under the patronage 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, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide chief in networking and safety, and KAUST, the worldwide graduate-level analysis college, in the present day introduced a big growth of their strategic collaboration with the institution of a cutting-edge AI Institute. This initiative will convey collectively Cisco’s international management in networking, cybersecurity and cloud-scale synthetic intelligence infrastructure with KAUST’s world-class tutorial analysis, superior amenities, and pivotal function in training. The attendance of His Royal Highness underscores the nationwide significance of the initiative in supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in analysis, innovation, and expertise growth.

Located on the KAUST campus in Saudi Arabia, the Institute might be devoted to advancing AI analysis, growth and training, representing a significant milestone in fostering innovation and creating a extremely expert AI workforce inside the Kingdom. Building on greater than twenty years of collaboration between Cisco and Saudi Arabia — and a shared imaginative and prescient for digital transformation — the brand new AI Institute at KAUST goals to grow to be 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,” stated KAUST President, Sir Edward Byrne AC. “Since our inception, we have pioneered a digital-first approach, leveraging advanced technologies to redefine how our campus community connects, collaborates, and conducts research. 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,” stated Chuck Robbins, Cisco Chair and CEO. “AI is poised to unlock groundbreaking opportunities for economic growth, accelerating KSA’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 concentrate on utilized analysis for AI-native communication programs, superior edge infrastructure for Industry 5.0, together with clever factories, in addition to autonomous mobility and clever transport programs. It may even prioritize AI-driven use circumstances addressing important public-interest sectors together with water, vitality, meals, and well being. Cisco’s contributions to the Institute will embody the donation of its newest know-how, together with a Cisco AI POD. This is a modular, pre-validated AI infrastructure answer, a ready-to-go AI “factory” that streamlines the method of constructing information facilities to run complicated AI workloads, enabling innovation to occur quicker and extra securely at scale.

This initiative additionally goals to develop native AI expertise, constructing on Cisco’s recent commitment to offer free digital upskilling for 500,000 learners in Saudi Arabia over 5 years via Cisco Networking Academy, specializing in AI, cybersecurity, information science, and programming. This builds on the Academy’s sturdy observe document, having educated over 480,000 learners in KSA, with 36% feminine participation.

The AI Institute is a part of Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program that has been a driving pressure for digital transformation in Saudi Arabia since 2016, delivering 23 high-impact tasks throughout important sectors like healthcare, training, good cities, and authorities companies. The Institute might be overseen by a joint governing board comprising representatives from KAUST and Cisco, to offer strategic route and collaborative oversight.

About Cisco  

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide know-how chief that’s revolutionizing the best way organizations join and defend in the AI period. For greater than 40 years, Cisco has securely related the world. With its business main AI-powered options and companies, Cisco allows its clients, companions and communities to unlock innovation, improve productiveness and strengthen digital resilience.  With goal at its core, Cisco stays dedicated to making a extra related and inclusive future for all. Discover extra on The Newsroom and observe us on X at @Cisco.

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About King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

Established in 2009, KAUST is a graduate analysis college dedicated to discovering options for a few of the world’s most urgent scientific and technological challenges in the areas of meals and well being, water, vitality, atmosphere, and the digital area. The University brings collectively the most effective minds and concepts from around the globe with the purpose of advancing science and know-how via distinctive, collaborative analysis. KAUST is a catalyst for innovation, financial growth and social prosperity in Saudi Arabia and the world. Visit www.kaust.edu.sa to study extra.

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SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc.