Siemens transfers industrial software to first Saudi universities
The partnership between the National Industrial Clusters Development Program (NICDP) and Siemens was formalized at a signing ceremony in the presence of King Salman and Chancellor Angela Merkel in April.
The move has achieved a major milestone with the handover of digital industrial software by Siemens to the first recipient universities in Saudi Arabia.
Siemens announced its €100 million ($118.5 million) investment in industrial software earlier this year, which aims to build up the most advanced local digital capabilities and prepare Saudi students and future leaders.
Effat University and King Saud University were the recipients at the “digital groundbreaking ceremony” that took place during the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh on Oct. 24.
The ceremony was attended by Khalid Al-Falih, minister of energy, industry and mineral resources and chairman of the NICDP, and Joe Kaeser, president and CEO of Siemens AG.
According to Siemens, software investment in the fields of digitalization and automation will drive knowledge transfer and the localization of technology, and create high-skill jobs in line with Vision 2030.
Kaeser said: “With its Vision 2030, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has one of the most advanced and ambitious strategic development programs in the world. Siemens is supporting this vision in multiple ways. Providing digital education and ingenious software, Siemens elevates its commitment as a long-term strategic partner of the Kingdom.”
Dana Juffali, who moderated the ceremony, said “Siemens is responding to the imperative for education and training among the Kingdom’s youth. As a graduate of the Siemens education system, I can only urge my fellow youth to grab the opportunities whether in vocational education, internships abroad or by accessing digital software. This truly is about preparing us for a brighter future under Vision 2030.”
Arja Talakar, CEO of Siemens Saudi Arabia, said: “As a father of young children, I was touched by the visible enthusiasm and pride of the students who received the software on behalf of their universities.
One student referred to how she would use the software to create engineering models during her term of study and we are very proud to be part of this initiative.”