Business & Money | Monday 15 February, 2016 12:12 pm |

With the advent of Saudi Arabia’s knowledge economy, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), the top university in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Huawei—a global leader of information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider–have signed a strategic MOU for Technology Cooperation, Project Funding, Knowledge Transfer and Talent Training in KSA to demonstrate how ICT can benefit the Oil & Gas industry in Saudi Arabia. 

This strategic MOU was signed by H.E Dr. Khalid S. Al-Sultan, Rector and CEO of King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) and Ramadan Ding, CEO of Huawei Saudi Arabia, at KFUPM in KSA. 

The Oil & Gas technology cooperation and education alliance between Huawei and KFUPM will cover the Digital & Intelligent Oil Fields, High Performance Computing, Mobility, Safety & Security, amongst other technology solutions.

The collaboration supports Huawei’s annual ‘Seeds for the Future’ education program in KSA, which offers  selected students each year the opportunity to develop practical skills that will prepare them for a career in the Oil and Gas industry. As part of the MOU, Huawei has committed to help fund the student’s Programs, by providing them the technical environment, guidance and funding to develop new ICT Proof of Concepts (PoCs), which will expedite new Oil and Gas sector technology development. In addition, each year 100 students from KFUPM will be selected and trained in the Huawei O&G Joint Innovation Center located in Dhahran Techno Valley.

To launch the initiative KFUPM has already sent five of its best and brightest students to begin a seven month internship program in Huawei, where they will build on their knowledge about its Oil and Gas ICT solution capabilities.

Developing a local talent pool of educated and technologically-skilled individuals is a leading priority in Saudi Arabia as the rise of science-focused development offers fresh career opportunities within the regional ICT industry. 

“Dhahran Technology Valley is the best place for Oil and Gas Research and Development, we are glad to partner with Huawei, which is a company that is taking steps in building strong educational training initiatives that will lead to development of innovative solutions and projects. Furthermore, We can invite Saudi Aramco and other O&G Service Companies in DTV  to participate in this forum in an effort to jointly develop innovative solutions based on Industry requirements,” said by H.E Dr. Khalid S. Al-Sultan, Rector of King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM).

Ramadan Ding, CEO of Huawei Saudi Arabia, said: “Based on Huawei’s successful experience globally, we have learned that it’s important to understand the specific requirements for our clients in the Oil & Gas industry. This is why Huawei built the Oil and Gas R&D joint innovation center in Dhahran Techno Valley and continues to invest there, supporting the young talents of the future and their sustainable growth. We believe that by working closely with KFUPM, the right technology can help to support its business globally. This MOU with the King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals is testament to our commitment to build a true knowledge economy in Saudi Arabia and supporting the development of the ICT industry in the Kingdom.”

The MOU with KFUPM follows another recent collaboration between Huawei, KFUPM and Saudi Aramco, with the opening of Oil & Gas Joint Innovation Center (JIC), which is part of the ICT vendor’s commitment to invest in developing R&D projects and knowledge Transfer in Saudi Arabia. The JIC plays a key role in technology development and knowledge sharing of broad technical industry areas through structured training and knowledge transfer programs that can effectively add value to Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas industry.