MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman was crowned with one of the World Summit on the Information Society Awards 2023 in Geneva, for choosing the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in Suhar among 72 winning projects out of 900 projects submitted from various countries of the world.
The award was received by Ambassador Idris bin Abdulrahman al Khanjari, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva.
The laboratory was established in cooperation with Sohar Port and the Free Zone within the framework of strengthening partnership between the public and private sectors, and within the development goals of UTAS aimed at building a knowledge economy, investing in artificial intelligence technologies, and keeping pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its accompanying developments in the field of artificial intelligence, in line with the priorities of Oman Vision 2040 related to education, learning, scientific research and national capacity building.
Dr Saeed bin Hamad al Rubaie, UTAS President, confirmed that the laboratory was established to enhance the digital transformation process using artificial intelligence, and aims to support university research and enable students and researchers to hone their skills and conduct advanced learning and research in the same field through graduation projects. It is equipped with high-capacity data processors and advanced devices that contribute to the development of research based on the use of artificial intelligence.
Al Rubaie added that the university's participation in the 2023 Summit Award comes as confirmation of the university's endeavour towards developing the teaching and learning process, enabling its outputs and keeping pace with the requirements of the next stage.
Dr Ali bin Amer al Shaithani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, said: The lab's winning of this award is evidence of the relentless pace of the Sultanate of Oman to use, manufacture and develop modern technologies, noting that the Ministry launched in 2022 the Executive Programme for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies as one of the executive programmes of the National Programme for the Digital Economy, which is the strategic direction for artificial intelligence and advanced technologies in the Sultanate of Oman, with the aim of accelerating the adoption and localization of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.
Sohar Port and Free Zone provided UTAS Suhar the necessary equipment to establish an artificial intelligence laboratory and inspire students to innovate and build applications that benefit various sectors in the Sultanate of Oman.
The WSIS Prizes 2023 competition was created to create an effective mechanism for evaluating projects and activities that harness ICT to advance sustainable development. — ONA
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