Hopes of turning Bahrain into a hub for artificial intelligence (AI) received a boost with the signing of an agreement to bolster research and development in the field.
The Nasser Vocational Training Centre (NVTC) and Derasat (Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies) signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at uniting efforts to establish the Nasser Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Centre (Nasser AI R&D Centre).
The centre will be Derasat’s focal location for all its AI research and projects.
“Through this partnership, Derasat aims to integrate its efforts with NVTC and accomplish a set of research related to developing AI applications by and for Bahraini youth, as well as examining local market needs and exploring favourable opportunities to enhance Bahrain’s placement and competitiveness in the Gulf region,” said Derasat’s executive director Dr Hamad Ebrahim Al Abdulla.
The memorandum was signed at the NVTC campus in Jaw by Dr Al Abdulla and NVTC’s executive director Dr Abdulla Al Noaimi alongside other managers and directors from the organisations.
Dr Al Noaimi also emphasised the importance of the partnership, as it will help unlock new prospects to increase contributions to the national economy by enriching the kingdom with AI applications in various fields.