Oman launches ‘Artificial Intelligence Makers’ initiative

Oman’s MTCIT launches “Artificial Intelligence Makers” initiative

Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), in cooperation with the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, launched the “Artificial Intelligence Makers” initiative to develop, stimulate and localize artificial intelligence technologies, build capabilities in this field, improve the quality of innovative projects, maximize the economic return from them, and effectively contribute to the establishment of startup companies. in artificial intelligence technologies and raising the targets of relevant indicators in the Executive Program for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies.

Hassan bin Fida Hussein Al Lawati, Head of the National Program for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said that this initiative is within the royal directives to localize artificial intelligence technologies and one of the outcomes of the memorandum of cooperation between the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, which was signed on July 23, 2023. It included many important items to enhance cooperation and integration of efforts between government institutions, including working to launch incentive programs to raise the quality of projects related to artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.

The implementation of this initiative comes to encourage academics from the University of Technology and Applied Sciences to increase their contributions to scientific research in the fields of artificial intelligence, which reflects Positively evaluate the Sultanate at the international level in the field of artificial intelligence.

He stressed that the initiative includes a mechanism to stimulate artificial intelligence activities at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, and it is expected to enhance academic and student capabilities at the university, in addition to encouraging creativity and innovation in the fields of artificial intelligence. It is hoped that the program will contribute to raising the level of artificial intelligence activities and raising the status of the Sultanate of Oman as a center. A pioneer in artificial intelligence and modern technologies at the regional and international levels.

Regarding the importance of the initiative, Dr. Saeed bin Salem Jaaboub, Vice President of the University for Postgraduate Studies, Scientific Research and Innovation, said, “This initiative is one of the main outcomes of the strategic partnership between the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in supporting the movement of the Executive Program for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies to enhance the fields of precise artificial intelligence.” Developing and localizing its technologies and applications, regulating legislation and ethics for its use, and building specialized national capabilities in its various fields, as it focuses on research and development in artificial intelligence technologies and applications, marketing and commercializing innovative outputs, and enhancing knowledge investment by creating new knowledge in this field with added value and return. A sustainable economy, especially since the huge and qualitative global transformations and national priorities support the movement of the digital economy, digital assets, and the digital infrastructure of the research and innovation system, which in turn enhances the production and manufacturing sectors and sustainable development in societies.

He added that we seek for the initiative to contribute to the localization of artificial intelligence technologies in the areas of huge global transformations such as climate change and digital transformation through research and development in the fields related to energy transformations and emissions reduction, zero neutrality, energy management systems, smart city modeling and building management, and finding innovative models for the digitization of services and operations. In sectors, supporting digital manufacturing, using digital twins, promoting a culture of financial technology, and transforming logistics sectors into digital and smart sectors through the use of precise artificial intelligence applications.”

Hamdan bin Mohammed Al-Alawi, Director of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies Programs at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, pointed out that the aim of the initiative is to promote innovation in artificial intelligence and stimulate the projects of students, interested parties and academics working at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences with all its branches in the Sultanate of Oman. In addition, the initiative is one of It is hoped that it will expand to other public and private universities after measuring its effectiveness at this university.