Page 77 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

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The Fourth Industrial Revolution is Coming to the Middle East

Saudi Arabia will soon be the host of one power to create mass production. The the four main hubs or affiliate centers,
of the most prestigious institutions at Third used electronics and information thus enabling a continuous exchange of
the heart of the World Economic Forum’s technology to automate production. “Now insights and knowledge sharing. “Having
(WEF) effort to shape the development a Fourth Industrial Revolution is building such a center is very important to Saudi
and application of emerging technologies on the Third … It is characterized by a Arabia, given the heightened levels of
for the benefit of humanity. The Saudi fusion of technologies that is blurring the tensions as well as recent attacks on the
branch of the Center for the Fourth lines between the physical, digital, and Aramco pipeline,” said Matthew Cochran,
Industrial Revolution (C4IR) — a network of biological spheres.” Muhammad Khurram CEO and co-founder of URS Laboratories
technology-governance hubs and affiliate Khan, CEO of the Global Foundation in the UAE. By virtue of its location, the
centers — will be the outcome of an for Cyber Studies and Research in center will facilitate customized solutions
agreement reached late last year between Washington, said the decision to establish based on real-world requirements that are
the Kingdom and the Swiss-based non- a 4IR center in Saudi Arabia demonstrated different for Saudi Arabia to other places
profit organization. The agreement heralds the leadership’s commitment, in line with in the world, he said. Citing the September
a new era of cooperation between the WEF its National Transformation Plan (NTP) 2019 drone strikes on Saudi Aramco’s oil
and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Saudi Vision 2030, to “developing facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, and the
and Technology (KACST), supported effective solutions to the challenges many cyber-attacks on the Kingdom in
by the Saudi Center for International faced by organizations, while creating the past, Cochran said: “The 4IR and the
Strategic Partnerships (SCISP). At the capacity and capability in the Kingdom.” ability for countries and governments to
50th annual WEF meeting in Davos, it According to Khan: “Governments around react quickly is a challenge globally. “Saudi
was also announced that a conference on the world are investing heavily in cutting- Arabia has shown, especially in the past
“the Middle East in the Fourth Industrial edge and emerging technologies to boost 12 months that they are willing to change
Revolution” would be convened in Riyadh gross domestic product and diversify their and adapt their responses to threat levels
on April 5-6. The WEF’s website says: economy. “The 4IR could help governments with new ways of protecting their assets.
“Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency in 2020, and organizations to drive economic “It must be a coordinated approach across
the first time an Arab and Middle East development, competitiveness and social all government agencies and, just as in
country has such a mandate, presents a progress.” “This will help overhaul the the US, we have an increasing landscape
unique opportunity for the entire region to national economy by investing in modern of commercial security working with
take a global view of its future.” technologies to create alternative sources government security to protect vital
4IRTECH of revenue, as well as new jobs and assets.” That being said, Cochran expects
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine opportunities.” The Saudi government the C4IR’s Saudi center to face challenges
Learning. has said KACST will manage the affiliate similar to what many other technology-
• Autonomous and Urban Mobility. center in cooperation with the WEF, governance institutions are grappling with.
• Blockchain and Distributed Ledger providing space for the development of 4IR “As AI and machine learning become faster
Technology. Data Policy.and digital mechanisms, plans and applications in the and better, we will have machines talking to
trade, plus drones and Tomorrow’s Kingdom. It is also expected to “contribute robots and robots speaking to unmanned
Airspace. to the adoption of technology and best vehicles, in the air, on sea and land,” he
• Fourth Industrial Revolution for the practices in the region and the world, said. “The potential challenges will be, in
Earth. reinforcing the directives of the leadership some ways, simply setting up the ability
• Internet of Things, Robotics and Smart and harnessing the tools provided by for those machines, robots and vehicles
Cities; and precision medicine. the 4IR to serve the Kingdom.” The C4IR to deliver their requirement safely, with
The April meeting is billed as “a crucial network, which is headquartered in San humans either in the middle or as the end-
opportunity to rise above the fog Francisco, currently has hubs in India, user.” As a host government, Saudi Arabia
of geopolitical uncertainty and the China and Japan, in addition to the affiliate will be expected to commit to supporting
gravitational forces of legacy conflicts centers. The network “brings together and advancing the development and
and scale up the efforts of the region’s governments, business organizations, deployment of pilot frameworks on topics
outstanding thinkers and practitioners dynamic startups, civil society, academia aligned with projects launched by the C4IR
who are committed to a can-do, positive and international organizations from network, according to the WEF’s website.
agenda for the region and its people.” In a around the world to work together across “The Kingdom’s participation in this global
2015 essay in the magazine Foreign Affairs nine emerging technology areas,” including initiative of the WEF is a golden opportunity
the founder and executive chairman of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine for extending economic relations, exploring
the WEF, Klaus Schwab, had defined the learning, autonomous mobility, data investment prospects and learning from —
4IR thus: “The First Industrial Revolution policy, drones, the Internet of Things (IoT) and sharing experiences with — industrially
used water and steam power to mechanize robotics, and smart cities. Furthermore, developed countries,” Khan said.
production. The Second used electric C4IR partners can send fellows to any of

77 FEBRUARY 2020