RIYADH, KSA – October 29, 2025 – 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, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the world chief in networking and safety, and KAUST, the worldwide graduate-level analysis college, at this time introduced a major growth of their strategic collaboration with the institution of a cutting-edge AI Institute.
This initiative will carry collectively Cisco’s world management in networking, cybersecurity and cloud-scale synthetic intelligence infrastructure with KAUST’s world-class educational analysis, superior amenities, and pivotal position 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 talent growth.
Located at the KAUST campus in Saudi Arabia, the Institute shall be devoted to advancing AI analysis, growth and training, representing a significant milestone in fostering innovation and growing a extremely expert AI workforce inside the Kingdom. Building on greater than 20 years of collaboration between Cisco and Saudi Arabia — and a shared imaginative and prescient for digital transformation — the new AI Institute at KAUST goals to develop into 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,” mentioned 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,” mentioned 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 give attention to utilized analysis for AI-native communication methods, superior edge infrastructure for Industry 5.0, together with clever factories, in addition to autonomous mobility and clever transport methods. It will even prioritize AI-driven use instances addressing very important public-interest sectors together with water, power, meals, and well being. Cisco’s contributions to the Institute will embrace the donation of its newest know-how, together with a Cisco AI POD. This is a modular, pre-validated AI infrastructure resolution, a ready-to-go AI “factory” that streamlines the course of of constructing knowledge facilities to run complicated AI workloads, enabling innovation to occur quicker and extra securely at scale.
This initiative additionally goals to develop native AI talent, constructing on Cisco’s recent commitment to present free digital upskilling for 500,000 learners in Saudi Arabia over 5 years by Cisco Networking Academy, specializing in AI, cybersecurity, knowledge science, and programming. This builds on the Academy’s robust observe report, having educated over 480,000 learners in KSA, with 36% feminine participation.
The AI Institute is an element of Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program that has been a driving drive for digital transformation in Saudi Arabia since 2016, delivering 23 high-impact initiatives throughout very important sectors like healthcare, training, good cities, and authorities providers. The Institute shall be overseen by a joint governing board comprising representatives from KAUST and Cisco, to present strategic course and collaborative oversight.
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About King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Established in 2009, KAUST is a graduate analysis college devoted to discovering options for some of the world’s most urgent scientific and technological challenges in the areas of meals and well being, water, power, surroundings, and the digital area. The University brings collectively the finest minds and concepts from round the world with the objective of advancing science and know-how by 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 be taught extra.
For additional data, please contact:
Abdullah Alsobahi
Director of Strategic Communications
KAUST Global Branding and Communications
+966(0) 54 027 2550
[email protected]