Siemens and KFAS support Kuwait’s digital transformation

Yesterday, Siemens in collaboration with Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and Sabah Alahmed Center for Giftedness and Creaztivity held its Innovation Day in Kuwait City to demonstrate how it is supporting Kuwait’s digital transformation through technology and knowledge transfer. The event was also a platform to hold insightful discussions into new technologies that are transforming companies and industries, and the opportunities and challenges they present. 

“We are now speeding up digitalization even further, recognizing the transformational impact it will have on our cities and industries," said Roland Busch, Chief Technology Officer and Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG. “As one of the world’s top 10 software companies, we are using our industry know-how to scale our digital solutions and further broaden the business. We look forward to extending more support to Kuwait with digital and innovative solutions that contribute to its economic diversification goals." 

Dr. Adnan A. Shihab El-Din, Director General of KFAS, said in his opening remarks that KFAS aims to promote a stronger knowledge based economy and ultimately contribute to a sustainable Kuwait through enhancing public awareness of science, improving math and science education, focusing research funding on national priorities and accelerating the deployment of beneficial technology. For these reasons KFAS has signed an agreement with Siemens as a technology partner towards digitalization part of the transformation of Kuwait’s economy and to develop a highly-skilled local workforce. As an industrial giant in the field of automation and digitalization, Siemens will cooperate with KFAS in R&D and innovation, as well as training and development of the local workforce.

The Innovation Day kicked off with opening remarks from Dr. Adnan A. Shihab El-Din, Director General of KFAS, and Herbert Klausner, CEO of Siemens in Kuwait. Siemens’ CTO Roland Busch delivered the keynote address, highlighting how digitalization and innovation are enabling companies and organizations to reduce costs, increase speed and develop new business models. Insightful presentations on the Internet of Things (IoT), cyber security and additive manufacturing (3D Printing) followed. The event falls under the umbrella of the collaboration agreement between SAC, a KFAS center, and Siemens.

Siemens has been operating in Kuwait since 1959, contributing to key infrastructure projects. Among its recent contract wins is supplying technology to Kuwait-based EQUATE Petrochemical Company, a global producer of petrochemicals, to enhance its protection from cyber security threats. 

“Our presence in Kuwait goes beyond supplying technology. Earlier this year, we joined efforts with KFAS to strengthen our cooperation in the area of workforce development in industrial, services and private sectors as well as education. We are pleased to contribute to the development of a highly-skilled workforce in Kuwait, an essential element to a sustainable knowledge-based economy,” said Klausner. 

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for 170 years. The company is active around the globe, 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 2017, which ended on September 30, 2017, Siemens generated revenue of €83.0 billion and net income of €6.2 billion. At the end of September 2017, the company had around 377,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.