Siemens and UAE sign agreements to support higher education, develop 3D printing

The MoU was signed in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul, Minister of State for Higher Education, and Joe Kaeser, President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens AG, in Abu Dhabi.

“Siemens has been a trusted partner of the UAE for more than 40 years, pioneering innovation, technology and successful infrastructure projects in the country,” said His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul. “Through this MoU for collaboration on higher education, I look forward to partnering with Siemens to equip university graduates with the skills and professional experience to help drive the UAE’s sustainable economic growth.”

Under the first MoU, the parties will set up a joint taskforce that includes representatives from Siemens and the ministry to achieve a number of objectives in line with the UAE National Youth Agenda, the UAE Economic Vision 2021 and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Through education and training activities, the parties will seek to enhance the future employability of UAE youth and contribute to developing a highly-skilled UAE workforce. The activities will also aim to increase Emirati nationals’ participation in the private sector and contribute to creating a sustainable knowledge economy with a strong emphasis on innovation. These include visits to Siemens’ sites in the UAE and Germany, rolling out the Siemens Mechatronics Certification Program at selected universities, providing internships and Siemens Graduate Program opportunities to UAE students and graduates, as well as hosting academic roundtables.

“The UAE has a clear vision to diversify its economy and build up national talent. Innovation is part of our DNA and we are proud to support these ambitions through meaningful contributions to education and knowledge transfer,” said Dietmar Siersdorfer, CEO of Siemens in the Middle East and UAE.

In addition, Siemens partnered with UAE government-owned Mubadala Development Company to develop business opportunities in 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, in the Middle East and North Africa region. Siemens and Mubadala will also explore opportunities related to additive manufacturing to strengthen the global competitiveness of both parties.

“With a growing manufacturing sector in the UAE and the wider region, 3D printing is a disruptive technology that is set to have a significant impact on the industry. The UAE has recognized the potential of 3D printing from industry to infrastructure, and Siemens looks forward to providing its digital expertise in the area,” said Siersdorfer.

Siemens manufactures spare parts, including for industrial gas turbines and rail vehicles, using 3D printing in Germany. Additive manufacturing has emerged over the past years and is revolutionizing the manufacturing of components. The technology allows design improvement and rapid manufacturing of parts, enabling quick upgrades to existing assets. Its advantages include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, using fewer resources in the production process, cutting development time and faster repairs.

In fiscal 2015, Siemens invested more than 500 million euros in training and development activities worldwide. This amount was divided into 242 million euros for youth training and education and 265 million euros for continuing the education of its employees.

Siemens AG  (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of efficient power generation and power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2016, which ended on September 30, 2016, Siemens generated revenue of €79.6 billion and net income of €5.6 billion. At the end of September 2016, the company had around 351,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.