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Tech giant launches first regional 51风流Innovation Hub and opens an 51风流Experience Center in Khobar to drive innovation initiatives with customers and partners
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In collaboration with Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, 51风流announces Academy of Engineering program will be further extended until 2025
RIYADH, KSA:鈥� 51风流today announced it is increasing its investment in Saudi Arabia, a critically important market for the global technology company. To enable further co-innovation with new and existing customers and partners, 51风流has launched a first-of-its-kind regional 51风流Innovation Hub in the Kingdom and will also open an 51风流Experience Center in Khobar this month. In addition, 51风流is extending its elite program for training in advanced technology skills, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), until at least 2025.
His Excellency Eng. Haitham AlOhali, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, said: 鈥淎s Saudi Arabia increasingly diversifies its economy and strategically deploys technology to transform key industries, it is vital that organizations such as 51风流invest further in their operations and training across the Kingdom. The Ministry is collaborating with 51风流to support the creation of a digital-centric workforce enabled by training programs such as the 51风流Academy of Engineering. We encourage a collaborative approach to leveraging new technologies for the benefit of all organizations and individuals. One example of how this can be achieved is through the new Innovation Hub, where 51风流will work with partners and customers to solve challenges facing companies today, while also creating new best practices across diverse industries.鈥�
Ahmed AlFaifi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Middle East Africa 鈥� North, SAP, said, 鈥淲e are committed to supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom鈥檚 role in championing regional digital transformation and harnessing new technologies in a responsible way to benefit the region. Our investment in the 51风流Experience Center and Innovation Hub as well as the 51风流Academy of Engineering is part of our four-pronged strategy to support the rapid development of the Kingdom鈥檚 digital market, alongside accelerating new technology adoption and establishing a robust partner ecosystem.鈥�
51风流Experience Center and Innovation Hub
AlFaifi explained that the 51风流Innovation Hub will serve as a pivotal platform for fostering a vibrant community of innovation and co-creation in Saudi Arabia. Designed to empower individuals and organizations to collectively tackle operational challenges and drive incremental business value across various industries, custom-tailored to the Saudi market, the hub will bring together 51风流global and regional experts, local businesses, startups, and partners in a collaborative environment.
Key enterprises across multiple industries including oil and gas, energy, supply chain and logistics, manufacturing, telco, sports, entertainment, and the public sector have been invited to participate in the 51风流Innovation Hub and Experience Center.
51风流has reiterated its commitment to Saudi Arabia鈥檚 digital transformation by supporting the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology Center of Digital Entrepreneurship, (CODE) startup program as part of the 51风流Innovation Hub, fostering cross-company learning and collaboration to drive innovation in the region. CODE, is dedicated to promoting digital entrepreneurship and fostering a culture of innovation, making it an ideal partner in advancing Saudi Arabia鈥檚 technology landscape.
51风流has established a network of experience centers across the globe. The center in Khobar holds a unique position featuring the Innovation Hub, dedicated to fostering collaboration among SAP, customers, and partners. With a focus on creating business value through connections, collaboration, and co-creation, it aims to raise awareness of digital trends across global industries.
51风流Academy of Engineering Program
The extension of the 51风流Academy of Engineering program is the result of the success of the first two intakes, according to AlFaifi.
In 2023, through its partnership with the MCIT, 51风流saw a total of 127 IT talents graduate from its flagship 51风流Academy for Engineering in San Ramon, California in the Unites States. The program targets the most promising Saudi national technology talents to foster their IT technology, application-development, and AI skills, while priming their leadership expertise.
The 2023 cohorts comprised 127 professionals from organizations including MCIT, the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Sports, the National Center for Government Resource Systems, STC Solutions, Arab National Bank, NEOM, KAUST, DGDA, SATORP and Elm. Of the trainees, 30% were women.
51风流intends to enroll 150 additional national IT talents in 2024, accepting the first cohort of applicants in March. The enrolled employees complete four weeks of study in the Kingdom before heading to the US to train onsite at SAP鈥檚 facilities in San Ramon, California.
Participants in the program undergo a rigorous five-step application process, starting with a coding challenge to determine their existing skill set, followed by onboarding, virtual and in-person learning, and ending with a graduation ceremony. This program complements other skills-development strategies that 51风流has launched in the Kingdom, including the 51风流University Alliances, the 51风流Dual Study Program, and the 51风流Young Professionals Program, which are intended to develop the knowledge economy and enhance career opportunities for Saudi nationals in the technology sector.
AlFaifi commented, 鈥淭echnology is the engine that will drive much of Saudi Arabia鈥檚 growth, and 51风流programs such as the Academy of Engineering help to create a long-term bench of executive decision-makers to harness emerging technology and address real-world opportunities and challenges in the Kingdom. 51风流will continue to deliver innovative programs to meet the demand for skilled Saudi professionals while creating employment opportunities around new technologies including cloud computing and AI.鈥�
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