Latest news with #emergingTechnologies
Tahawul Tech
16 hours ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
American University of Sharjah, Ghaf Labs partner to boost student industry exposure
Sharjah – American University of Sharjah (AUS) has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Ghaf Labs–FZCO, a Dubai-based blockchain advisory and consultancy firm, paving the way for students to gain hands-on experience in emerging technologies. The collaboration will provide AUS students with greater access to internships, research initiatives, industry field visits, and expert-led knowledge-sharing opportunities, strengthening their readiness for careers in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. The agreement was signed under the AUS Engineering Al Nukhba Program, which establishes industry collaborations in research, development, training programs, internships, exchange of information and personnel, joint supervision of students' capstone projects and field trip visits. Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of the AUS College of Engineering, said, 'This collaboration with Ghaf Labs opens valuable pathways for our students to interact directly with the frontiers of digital innovation. We are very excited about this collaboration because it involves Web3, blockchain, AI and advanced technologies—areas we have strategically embedded into all 24 of our programs under CEN 2.0major curriculum revamp. By engaging with professionals in these emerging sectors, our students will enhance their technical competencies and gain insights into real-world applications that complement their academic training.' Under the agreement, Ghaf Labs will offer internship opportunities that align with students' academic and professional goals. The collaboration also includes joint supervision of selected capstone and research projects whenever feasible, cooperation on research and development initiatives, expert-led sessions and organised visits to industry settings. 'At Ghaf Labs, we believe that shaping the future of technology starts with empowering the next generation. Partnering with AUS allows us to co-create a space where innovation meets education. This collaboration reflects our commitment to cultivating regional talent in blockchain, Web3, and AI. By mentoring students through real-world projects, we're building not just careers—but a thriving safe digital economy,' said Feras Al Sadek, Co-Founder, Board Member and Managing Partner at Ghaf Labs. Ghaf Labs specialises in management consulting, marketing research and consulting, and Distributed Ledger Technology services. They also offer IT consulting for industries involved in Web3, blockchain, the metaverse and other digital asset sectors. This partnership is part of the College of Engineering's broader mission to foster meaningful engagement between academia and industry. Through initiatives like the Al Nukhba Program, the college continues to provide students with access to cutting-edge technologies, real-world challenges and professional networks that prepare them to lead in a rapidly evolving global workforce.
Al Bawaba
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
NBB and Fab Lab Bahrain Launch Second Edition of TechStride to Empower Future Innovators
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has partnered with Fab Lab Bahrain to launch the second edition of the TechStride programme, an educational initiative that aims to empower young Bahrainis with practical knowledge and hands-on experience in emerging technologies. Building on the success of its inaugural edition last year, the programme has returned with an expanded curriculum designed to strengthen technical proficiency and inspire a generation of confident and creative at high school and university students aged 15 to 24 years, TechStride offers a dynamic six-week learning experience from 12 July to 21 August 2025. This year, more than 60 students will participate in 48 hours of weekly training delivered in small, focused groups. The programme's project-based structure allows participants to apply new concepts in real time while gaining exposure to real-world applications of advanced initiative fosters an environment where participants are encouraged to turn their original concepts into working prototypes. Structured into four groups, each team receives 12 hours of weekly instruction across four-hour sessions that ensure a focused, collaborative, and immersive experience. Participants are selected based on their personal statements and submitted project ideas in areas such as Robotics, AI, or Game Design, followed by an interview process to assess their readiness and on the occasion, Hisham Abu Alfateh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer at NBB, stated, 'NBB continues to invest in projects that build long-term value for our youth and our community. TechStride is a unique platform that introduces students to emerging technologies while encouraging them to think independently and creatively. By supporting this programme for the second consecutive year, we reaffirm our belief in the power of education, innovation, and opportunity to shape a more inclusive and forward-looking economy.'For his part, Salman Oraibi, Fablab Bahrain Co-Founder, said, 'TechStride represents our commitment to building local capacity in science, technology, and the creative industries. The programme gives students a space to learn, experiment, and connect their interests to real-world possibilities. With NBB's valued partnership, we are proud to continue creating environments where curiosity leads the way and skills are developed through action.'TechStride is an initiative of Fab Lab Bahrain, one of the most active nodes in the global Fab Lab network and the first in MENA to offer the MIT-affiliated Fab Academy diploma. With a strong emphasis on creativity, critical thinking, and iterative design, the programme cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset among youth and encourages lifelong learning in the face of rapid technological change. NBB's ongoing support of TechStride underscores the Bank's broader commitment to national development and focus on fostering a future-ready generation equipped to excel in the digital economy.
The National
5 days ago
- Business
- The National
Grip on disruption: UAE and World Economic Forum launch global AI regulatory platform
In a bid to future-proof regulation amid rapid technological disruption, the World Economic Forum has teamed up with the UAE to launch an initiative that aims to overhaul how governments around the world respond to emerging technologies such as AI. Unveiled in Geneva on Friday, the Global Regulatory Innovation Platform (Grip) promises to reimagine regulatory systems for the "Intelligent Age" – one increasingly defined by advances in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and digital finance. The aim of Grip is to close the gap on policy and industry advancement by bringing together government, industry leaders and tech experts to co-design tools and frameworks that are as agile and adaptive as the technologies they seek to govern. "Innovation moves fast – regulation must too,' said Børge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum. 'Grip enables governments to co-create policy frameworks that are agile, anticipatory and ready for the technologies shaping our future.' Among GRIP's deliverables over the next two years are a global regulatory playbook, offering practical frameworks and case studies for innovation governance; a future readiness index to assess countries' preparedness for emerging technologies; and a regulatory innovation hub, where pilot solutions can be tested and scaled in partnership with industry. 'Sustainable economies thrive only within forward-looking and agile regulatory ecosystems. The quality of life of our communities in the future exponentially depends on the work conducted by regulators,' said Maryam Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary General of the UAE Cabinet. 'Grip will strive to empower legislators globally, providing them with cutting-edge regulatory tools and data to keep pace with a world of relentless technological breakthroughs.' Boston Consulting Group will contribute as knowledge partner, alongside a network of leading legal, policy and tech experts. UAE leading the charge on AI Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, Ms Al Hammadi told delegates at the World Economic Forum that the UAE had emerged as one of the most digitally advanced in the world, having accelerated well ahead of schedule in rolling out online services. The country's ambitious strategy has already delivered billions of dollars in savings, improved efficiency, and positioned the UAE as a global magnet for top talent in advanced technology and artificial intelligence. From January, the UAE's National Artificial Intelligence System will be an advisory member of the UAE Cabinet, the Ministerial Development Council and the boards of government firms and federal bodies – a move announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. It marks the latest step in a long-term national push to embed AI across governance and society. In 2017, the UAE became the first country in the world to have a Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence. Since then, it has launched a national AI strategy and a dedicated AI university.
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Superblocks Is Democratizing Software And App Development For The Masses
Superblocks is aiming to redefine the enterprise application development paradigm. Superblocks One of the most challenging aspects of running a successful healthcare organization is how quickly the enterprise often needs to adapt to changing technologies and update its IT infrastructure. This is especially true in the landscape of healthcare systems and hospitals, where organizations are increasingly reliant on emerging technologies to run their day-to-day services. Superblocks is aiming to disrupt the game in this arena by providing enterprises of all types an easier means to build internal applications. Its platform enables individuals to rapidly build applications with minimal to no coding: users can simply use natural language to build out an app, edit it visually and can further make advanced refinements with code, if they desire. This means that even non-engineering or non-technical staff can easily build out customized internal tools and applications. For healthcare organizations specifically, this has the potential to transform the way technology is approached and may help save hundreds of millions of dollars in annual IT costs. Notably, studies indicate that the average hospital dedicates nearly $9.5 million towards its IT budget, taking into account hospitals and clinics of all sizes and forms; when looking at hospital IT expenses for systems with over 250 beds (alluding to most larger hospital systems in the country), the average budget is approximated to be closer to a whopping $33 million. A big portion of these dollars is often allocated to IT staff and engineers that are needed to develop mission critical applications and infrastructure. These figures are jarring at a time when AI agents have made application development and maintenance easier than ever before. In fact, an entire micro-industry has emerged from this phenomenon known as 'vibe coding'—referring to how consumers without much coding experience can interact with generative AI tools to easily create applications. Many such platforms exist to enable code generation, including famed Claude by Anthropic, OpenAI's Codex platform, and Cursor. These tools have revolutionized software development, as users can simply provide basic prompts to generate code and create complex applications. But applications that are being built at an enterprise level and for larger organizations cannot be made casually; they require significant IT, compliance and regulatory oversight, and the ability to deeply understand the back-end infrastructure and modify it as needed. This is where Superblocks' platform goes even further with its AI Agent Clark, which can help IT and enterprise teams build production-ready internal applications. Applications built with Clark can readily connect with existing APIs and private databases, are compatible with existing security and sign-on procedures and infrastructure, and are also built with enterprise grade security features in mind, such as audit logging. Brad Menezes, co-founder and CEO of Superblocks, explains that he and his other co-founder (now CTO) Ran Ma, first thought of the idea when they realized that large companies were burning a lot of cash trying to just understand and build out their own internal application stacks; there was simply nothing on the market that could help ease enterprise level customized software. Menezes comments that 'especially in healthcare, there has always been an IT constraint,' limiting what can ultimately be done for patients and constituents. Although 'healthcare organizations often have very large IT teams, many are often missing hardcore CS backgrounds…with Superblocks, teams can develop entire enterprise applications without a hardcore coding background.' Brad Menezes, CEO and co-founder of Superblocks, has helped secure nearly $60 million in funding ... More from institutional names such as Kleiner Perkins, Spark Capital and Meritech Capital. Superblocks Mamoon Hamid, Partner at Kleiner Perkins and key investor in Superblocks, explains that 'custom internal software powers nearly every function within a business, yet it has remained time-consuming and costly to build. Superblocks is solving that with a programmable platform that gives employees everything they need to build internal apps, and automate workflows.' Hamid is known for his thoughtful and visionary counsel to founders, perhaps most notable for his early investments in Slack, Figma and Box. Menezes explains that Clark is being leveraged for a variety of uses in healthcare settings. One organization is using it to develop patient intake software, an incredibly crucial aspect for any healthcare entity. Another is using it to optimize its core clinical operations, including to support back-office administrative applications. Another example is Synapse Health, an innovator in the durable medical equipment (DME) space, which adopted Superblocks' platform early on; the company has leveraged Clark to replicate the work of nearly 5-7 engineers. Tim Frederick, chief technology officer at Synapse, explains that the platform has 'unleashed our ability to build internal tools quickly while giving us the ability to maintain control and supportability.' He also describes how Superblocks' capabilities have significantly augmented the integration of AI workflows for high-yield business needs, such as for the company's customer service functions. This type of technology has significant potential to disrupt and transform archaic IT infrastructure practices at healthcare organizations globally. Especially given that hospital systems typically run on razor-thin margins, the platform has the potential to significantly aid in improving workflows and tangibly freeing up engineering capacity. Given the rapid success Superblocks has seen, scalability will be crucial, especially as the competition in the arena stiffens further. However, if executed with the customer in mind, there is indeed significant value that can be attained.
Zawya
22-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
QRDI Council conclude Third Innovation Day at the Fifth Qatar Economic Forum
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation (QRDI) Council hosted its third consecutive Innovation Day, on the final day of the 5th Qatar Economic Forum. Innovation Day served as a dedicated platform featuring a dynamic lineup of expert panels, strategic discussions, and interactive sessions aimed at encouraging collaboration and advancing innovation. Omar Al Ansari, Secretary General at QRDI Council said: 'Innovation Day has become a staple of QRDI Council's efforts to encourage collaboration, spark dialogue, and drive forward Qatar's innovation agenda. This year's event highlighted the critical role of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in shaping the future of industries and economies, not just in Qatar but globally. As we reflect on the outcomes of this year's Innovation Day, I am confident that the insights gained, and the partnerships made will play an important role in advancing our shared vision of a sustainable, innovation-driven future.' The Innovation Day began with an opening address by QRDI Council's Secretary General, Omar Al-Ansari, who reflected on last year's discussions surrounding the ethics of innovation, and how these questions remain highly relevant today; setting the tone for conversations that unfolded throughout the day. Throughout his address, he provided a broad perspective on the GCC region, emphasizing that innovation is not merely a concept but an active, operational reality. He highlighted Qatar's strong commitment to advancing innovation, driven by two key national frameworks: the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy. Whilst also outlining the role of the QRDI Council, noting that while the Council does not position itself as the sole hub of innovation, it serves as a strategic enabler and bridge, facilitating progress across sectors. Following a morning filled with engaging discussions and activities, the event transitioned into two breakout sessions: 'AI IRL: From Innovation to Application' and 'The Venture Capital Outlook.' Both sessions saw participants actively engaging in meaningful dialogue, networking opportunities, and the day's initiatives. Key topics included the future of biotech, explored in a conversation with James Flynn, Managing Partner at Deerfield, as well as AI in action, focusing on practical applications of innovation within the GCC region to drive impactful outcomes. Additionally, the future of AI in the region was explored during the session "Qatar – Realizing AI's Potential Today," highlighting how Qatar's technology leaders are driving growth and connectivity through innovative applications. Innovation Day is a strategic initiative that reflects QRDI Council's dedication to advancing Qatar's National Vision 2030 and its National Development Strategy. By fostering collaboration, promoting advanced research, and exploring transformative technologies like AI and biotech, the event shows Qatar's commitment to building a diversified, knowledge-based economy. About QRDI Council QRDI Council is a government entity with the mission to support research, development and innovation (RDI) activities as well as to develop RDI talent in Qatar. The Council strives to make Qatar a top destination for global talent and a pioneering research, innovation, and development hub with its motto 'locally empowered, globally connected'. Playing a pivotal role within the Qatar National Development Strategy, the QRDI Council is actively shaping the Innovation component of the Economic Diversification goal. The Council's commitment underlines its unwavering dedication to the Qatar National Vision 2030. QRDI Council aims to make Qatar a global innovation hub and a top choice for R&D centers worldwide, seeing RDI as vital for Qatar's growth and prosperity.
