• Azelio’s Thermal Energy Storage-Power on Demand (TES.POD), produces zero emissions and is already scalable and competitive
• Abu Dhabi’s desert environment provides the project with ideal solar conditions
• The new technology represents an important part of the renewable transition
• The project will run at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi’s only planned and approved R&D cluster

An innovative R&D project by Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Sweden’s Azelio long duration energy storage company, and Masdar to demonstrate 24/7 affordable clean energy utilization was launched at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi. The cutting-edge distributed and scalable Thermal Energy Storage-Power on Demand (TES.POD) system is part of a three-party research and development agreement.

Now officially in operation, the Azelio storage system is used with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and enables renewable and cost-efficient electricity 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The system will undergo extensive testing and demonstration at the Khalifa University’s Masdar Institute Solar Platform (MISP), in a desert environment that provides ideal solar conditions to generate full daily cycles of clean energy in combination with solar PV.

Dr. Nicolas Calvet, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, and Founder & Chair of the MISP, Khalifa University, said, “The Khalifa University’s Masdar Institute Solar Platform provides a convergence of renewable energy research, development and demonstration, and serves as a foundation for the UAE’s ambition to achieve world-leading innovation in clean and renewable energy. The Azelio demonstration project is our flagship project and a success story for the MISP.”

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President, Khalifa University, said, “This collaboration builds on Khalifa University’s expertise in energy-related research and innovation, and reflects our efforts to leverage our state-of-the-art concentrating solar power and thermal energy storage research facility – the Masdar Institute Solar Platform. It will bridge the gap between idea and implementation, to deliver tangible, commercially-viable solutions that will drive the sustainable energy sector in the UAE and the wider region.”

Jonas Eklind, CEO and President of Azelio, said, “The strong position and deep knowledge in renewable energy of Masdar and Khalifa University make the MISP platform a perfect place to showcase and test our technology. We look forward to demonstrating our TES.POD together with other groundbreaking solutions and taking further steps towards a global establishment of the solution.”

Abdulla Balalaa, Executive Director, Masdar City, said, “Masdar City is committed to facilitating R&D projects that bring ground-breaking new technologies to the market and positively contribute to regional and global energy security. Azelio’s TES.POD system is another excellent example of what collaboration and innovation can achieve. Developing technologies that both protect and guarantee a constant, secure, and affordable source of electricity is extremely important and this project is set to bring us closer to that goal. As the regional home of technology innovation and R&D, at Masdar City, we are proud to be working with Azelio and Khalifa University to initiate and progress the TES.POD system.”

Over the next twelve months, Khalifa University researchers will continuously operate Azelio’s electrical thermal energy storage system, collecting and analyzing the data, while conducting an independent validation of the system. At the end of the year, Khalifa University will provide a report on the system’s performance in the desert environment.

The system’s storage units will be demonstrated and evaluated on several criteria, including supplying renewable electricity round-the-clock to a system for atmospheric water generation that captures humidity and condensates it to usable water. The capabilities of Azelio’s technology represent an important part of the renewable transition by making sustainable energy from, for example, cost-effective solar PV available at all hours of the day.

Azelio’s energy storage TES.POD stores energy as heat in a metal alloy made from recycled aluminum and silicon. The heat from the storage is transferred to a Stirling engine that enables supply of electricity and usable heat on demand at all hours of the day, without emissions and at an affordable price. The system is scalable and competitive from 0.1 to 100 MW_e.

Khalifa University’s MISP at Masdar City offers a valuable resource to equipment manufacturers, system integrators and installers, project developers, utility companies, investors, private end users, research organizations, and the public.

Staff Report
19 January 2022

The post Khalifa University, Masdar and Azelio launch electrical thermal energy storage system technology that enables 24/7 clean energy utilization, at Masdar City appeared first on Khalifa University.

Project Framework to Integrate Computer Vision, Machine Learning, and Expert Systems, Capable of Accurately Locating Markings and Symbols on Aircraft ��

Khalifa University and Lockheed Martin today announced the signing of an agreement to create a framework to utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) and computer vision to inspect and verify measurements, in order to improve the speed and accuracy of logo inspections during aircraft production cycle.��

The agreement was executed by Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, and Dr. Steve Walker, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Lockheed Martin, at Dubai Airshow 2021, held from 14-18 November 2021 at DWC.��

Lockheed Martin and Khalifa University will collaborate on a Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (CVPR) project using AI reinforcement learning and training sets. CVPR techniques have become more ubiquitous as computer hardware and software techniques have improved over the past 20 years. CVPR has been applied to biometrics, target identification, aimpoint refinement and automated control. It is of interest to Lockheed Martin for use across all domains.��

“Khalifa University’s collaboration agreement with Lockheed Martin signifies our status not only as a top-ranked research-intensive university but also as a center for academic and innovation excellence in advanced technologies such as machine learning and augmented reality systems through our research centers,” said Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi. “We believe this partnership will lead to an outcome that will benefit industry stakeholders while ushering in quality systems to assist professionals in the global aviation sector.”��

“We are excited by the opportunity to collaborate with Khalifa University on this AI project based on the Memorandum of Understanding we signed last year,” said Dr. Steven Walker. “Khalifa University is a leading research institute in the region and the results will be applicable to the production line and a variety of technology developments efforts across space, air, land, sea, underwater and cyber.”��

This effort will research techniques to improve the ability of CVPR to accurately register standard symbology in imagery. The techniques developed can then be applied to any product that is attempting to accurately locate markings and symbols.��

Dr. Naoufel Werghi, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, Khalifa University, will be the Principal Investigator, while Dr. Ernesto Damiani, Director, Research Center on Cyber-Physical Systems (C2PS), will be the Co-PI.

Clarence Michael
English Editor Specialist
12 December 2021

The post Khalifa University and Lockheed Martin to Collaborate on Image Analysis System for Aircraft appeared first on Khalifa University.

Project to Offer Numerous Advantages in Performance, Productivity, Efficiency, and Safety, in Line with UAE’s 4th IR and ‘Operation 300bn’ Strategies ��

Khalifa University today announced researchers at its are exploring the deployment of industrial robots guided by computer vision to perform high-precision manufacturing tasks for Strata Manufacturing, in line with the UAE’s 4th IR and the ‘Operation 300bn’ strategies.��

These industrial robots, also called vision-guided cobots or collaborative robots, will be used in automated cyber-physical manufacturing and machining processes that will offer numerous advantages in terms of performance, productivity, efficiency, and safety. The aim of this project is to develop things at the lab then deploy them at Strata. These cobots will be used for solving real-world industrial challenges, especially through Khalifa University’s collaboration with the Al Ain-based composite aero-structures manufacturer Strata, which is wholly-owned by Mubadala Investments. ARIC is jointly funded by Khalifa University, Strata, and Mubadala.

At the same time, the project is also building industrial know-how and expanding knowledge base locally through providing students with learning at different stages of their campus life. Two graduate students and four UAE national undergraduate students are also involved in this project. Ameera Al Shehhi, Nouf Al Mesafri, Bushra Al Dhanhani, Mouza Al Zaabi and Anoud Al Zahmi are senior engineering students from Khalifa University who have conducted their summer internship program with Strata. They are currently working on automating repetitive and labor-intensive tasks with advanced computer vision-based technologies that enable robots to operate smarter and safer in the factory.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, said: “This vision-guided collaborative robots project is another stellar example of Khalifa University’s research projects that are not only industrially-relevant but also economically and financially significant. The outcome of this project will prove beneficial to our partners Strata, through technology enhancements. This project is also in line with the UAE’s 4th IR strategy that aims to work towards advancing the national economy, while making the industrial sector the driving force that contributes to sustainable development.”��

This project is among several projects currently being executed at ARIC where researchers from Khalifa University and Engineers at Strata work hand-in-hand to develop groundbreaking solutions for practical problems in advanced manufacturing.��

Mr. Ismail Ali Abdulla, CEO of Strata said: “ARIC has a unique model for joint R&D between industry and academia in the whole region. It provides an innovative environment for integrating science and engineering to develop practical solutions in addition to developing human capital know-how that is critical for the growth of the advanced manufacturing industry in UAE.”��

The Principal Investigator of the project is Dr. Yahya Zweiri, Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering, and the Co-PI is Dr. Cesare Stefanini, Professor, Biomedical Engineering, while the lead researcher is Abdulla Ayyad, Research Associate. Strata Engineers Dewald Swart, and Gordon Ferguson are also involved in this project.

Researchers at ARIC use artificial intelligence and computer vision to develop guidance and control strategies for these industrial robots to perform manufacturing tasks quicker with higher reliability for a wide range of shop-floor applications. In addition, the collaboration with Strata allows validation of these technologies in natural living environments that capture the complexity of the end-use applications.��

Concurrently, researchers are also laying the groundwork for the use of vision-based tactile sensing in robotic machining. Tactile sensing is crucial for the success of precise and sensitive machining operations to guarantee repeatability and to avoid damaging delicate work-pieces. It brings advantages in bandwidth, resolution, and cost-efficiency, compared to conventional tactile sensing approaches.

Clarence Michael
English Editor Specialist
11 December 2021

The post Khalifa University and Strata Researchers Develop Vision-Guided Cobots for High-Precision Manufacturing Tasks appeared first on Khalifa University.

• The collaboration will establish a fully compliant origin-to-destination pharma air corridor between Abu Dhabi and Brussels��
• The collaboration enhances Abu Dhabi’s positioning as a world-class pharma logistics hub and a destination focused on global welfare��
• Led by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the Hope Consortium, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, and Abu Dhabi Airports Company collaborate to strengthen the emirate positioning as a life science hub��
• “Pharma Logistics Masterclass” hosted by Khalifa University to take place in Abu Dhabi in September 2022

Abu Dhabi has set its sights on Belgium, as a leading global pharmaceutical hub, to establish a global distribution corridor to serve the world in vaccine delivery and future life science needs. The collaboration builds on the capabilities of Abu Dhabi’s healthcare sector as a leading life sciences hub and the efforts of the HOPE Consortium in providing vaccine solutions for the world.

This initiative entailed a delegation visit from Belgium to Abu Dhabi, hosted by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH). The visit saw the signing of two declarations of collaboration between Belgium and Abu Dhabi, Witnessed by H.E. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of DoH and H.E. Peter CLAES, Ambassador of Belgium in the UAE.

The first agreement was between the HOPE Consortium, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), Brussels Airport Company and Pharma.Aero. Led by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate, the collaboration aims to establish a fully compliant origin-to-destination pharma air corridor between Abu Dhabi and Brussels Airports. The dedicated pharma trade lane will unite key compliant and sector certified supply chain stakeholders, including forwarders and ground handling agents.

“Our goal is to enhance Abu Dhabi’s positioning as a world-class pharma logistics hub and a destination focused on global welfare by investing in strategic public and private sector collaborations, and the allocation of expertise and resources,” commented H.E. Dr. Jamal Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.

Earlier this year, a delegation from the HOPE Consortium met with pharmaceutical industry stakeholders in Brussels to showcase Abu Dhabi’s global vaccine distribution success. Thanks to its network of partners, the HOPE Consortium has handled over 200 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, contributing to vaccination programmes in over 40 global destinations.

Western Europe currently ranks as the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical export market with a total export value of nearly EUR 42 billion in 2020. “, Brussels Airport is the leading hub serving the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry in Europe with over 750 million vaccines handled at the airport, serving 60 destinations worldwide” said Nathan De Valck, head of cargo at Brussels Airport.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Chairman of the HOPE Consortium Executive Committee and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, added that the proactive sharing of knowledge and expertise among stakeholders remains vital to the partnership’s ongoing success. “The HOPE Consortium, along with our partners, has developed one of the most extensive end-to-end vaccine supply chains, capable of delivering millions of Covid-19 vaccines anywhere around the globe.”

“Working together, we have successfully resolved some of the major challenges associated with vaccine logistics, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to showcase our capabilities and pass on our learnings to students attending the Masterclass. At the same time, we look forward to further strengthening the relationship between Abu Dhabi and Belgium through the establishment of a future pharma corridor, benefiting the region and the world,” said Capt. Al Shamsi.

The development of the dedicated Pharma Air Corridor will leverage API-IoT devices-webforms-internet shared with all relevant stakeholders to monitor pharma shipments closely. “Our relationship with Etihad Cargo and the HOPE Consortium sharing best practices makes us confident that the corridor will promote commitment for transparency with customers and stakeholders.” said Nathan De Valck who also serves as Chairman of Pharma.Aero.

The other declaration of collaboration was signed by the HOPE Consortium, Pharma.Aero, Khalifa University of Science and Technology and the University of Antwerp to host the second edition of the “Pharma Logistics Masterclass”, a course focused on critical challenges and developments in pharma supply chains and logistics, by Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi from 5th to 9th September 2022.

“We are excited to bring the second Masterclass to Abu Dhabi. The HOPE Consortium partners and Khalifa University have extended great support and offer a unique platform to be shared with the participants of the next Masterclass,” said Prof. Dr. Roel Gevaers, University of Antwerp and Chair of the organizing Committee.

Frank Van Gelder, Secretary General of Pharma.Aero and co-chair of the “Pharma Logistics Masterclass”, continues: “Pharma.Aero’s vision and mission underline fostering collaboration. By continuously giving insights and sharing the latest changes between pharmaceutical companies, industry stakeholders and the academic world, the overall knowledge and the quality of the pharma and MedTec supply chain improves. Bringing the 2nd edition of the masterclass to Abu Dhabi and bringing academics and business again together, contributes significantly in achieving this vision.”

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, said: “We are pleased to bring the next Pharma.Aero Logistics Masterclass to Abu Dhabi in September 2022, in collaboration with our partners. Khalifa University has the necessary expertise, especially through our Digital Supply Chain and Operations Management (DSOM) research center, which provides real-world, cutting edge work on the digital transactions, management, and optimization in multiple domains such as maritime logistics, production lines, and healthcare delivery systems. We believe the Masterclass in Abu Dhabi will further affirm our strong commitment to delivering top quality academic and professional programs that benefit students and youth interested in charting their future career in this area.”

The agreement was welcomed by Dr.��Ghalia��Ali��Al Humaidan, Chargé d’affaires of the��UAE��Mission to Belgium, who said: “The strategic ties between the UAE and Belgium are vital in supporting trade routes between the Middle East and Europe. This commitment further expands the effectiveness of a collaborative approach to addressing pharmaceutical demand flows between the two regions.”

H.E. Peter Claes, Belgium’s Ambassador to the UAE, added: “Abu Dhabi has developed into a world hub for the distribution of pharmaceuticals. The emirate has done so in close cooperation and synergy with Brussels Airport. I am therefore pleased to know that at the invitation of Pharma.Aero and its partners, distinguished executives of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, Etihad and Rafed participated in the 1st International Masterclass on Pharma Logistics, held in Antwerp in September.”

Staff Report
8 December 2021

The post Abu Dhabi to Strengthen its Capabilities as a Life Sciences Hub Through a Pharma Collaboration with Belgium appeared first on Khalifa University.

• Students and alumni of Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi will gain access to Hub71’s community to participate in programs and receive dedicated support to bring their tech ideas to life
• Hub71 startups will benefit from special upskilling and technical support from the university’s students
• Partnership was signed during Hub71’s participation at Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) 2021

Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, and the Khalifa University of Science Technology signed a strategic partnership at Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) to enable students and alumni to work alongside tech startups, and opening the private sector and entrepreneurship door for their career paths.

Signed by Badr Al-Olama, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Hub71 and Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President, Khalifa University, the partnership will accelerate the development of entrepreneurial talent among students and will promote new technologies entering the market through expert mentorship and guidance, as well as Hub71’s value-driven programs.

The partnership will explore the use of Khalifa University’s state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for Hub71 startups and will increase opportunities for the university’s network of students and alumni to participate in Hub71’s programs aimed at increasing access to Abu Dhabi’s marketplace. Both Hub71 and Khalifa University will collaborate in workshops, talent exchange programs and events that will increase the exposure of entrepreneurial students and professors to Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem.

Badr Al Olama, Acting CEO, Hub71, commented: “Talent is the bedrock of a thriving tech hub, which is why we are committed to ensuring students have the ability to prosper as entrepreneurs and take their solutions to market. This partnership is a clear reflection of the value we place on nurturing young entrepreneurial talent who can contribute to the continuous development of our economy. Khalifa University is a prestigious institution in Abu Dhabi, and through its leadership in cutting-edge research and development, we can effectively position the Emirate as a global knowledge economy anchored in entrepreneurial and academic excellence.”��

Hub71’s technology startups will be significantly relevant to the Khalifa University community. In the calendar year 2020 alone, Khalifa University had a total of 36 awarded patents, with the number of patents filed touching 100. As of May 2021, Khalifa University has 202 issued patents, 270 patent applications pending, and 478 inventions disclosures.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi said: “Khalifa University is delighted to enter into this arrangement with Hub71 to provide further momentum to Abu Dhabi’s drive for establishing technology startups. As a research-intensive university, with innovation sourced from 20 dedicated research centers that are focusing on various technologies and solutions, Khalifa University is rightly placed in the UAE to commercialize research outputs. We believe this MoU will facilitate tapping the synergy of the partners that will benefit both researchers and entrepreneurs, especially students who are keen to explore the commercial world for their new laboratory-bred technologies.”

Khalifa University’s 20 research centers drive research and innovation in several areas including clean energy and sustainability, oil and gas, robotics, healthcare, machine intelligence, data science, supply chain logistics, aerospace technologies, advanced materials and manufacturing, as well as water and environment, in addition to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).��

Staff Report
28 November 2021

The post HUB71 and Khalifa University to Accelerate Opportunities for Exceptional Students to Become CEOs of their Own Companies appeared first on Khalifa University.

• KUEC Will be Investment and Business Platform for Investors, Private Partners, Government Entities and Entrepreneurs to Accelerate Economic Impact of Research and Intellectual Property;
  

• KUEC Will Leverage the Support of BlackRock, J.P. Morgan and Techstars to Speed Up Commercial Potential of University’s Cutting-Edge Technical and Scientific Resources, Assets and Patents

Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced the launch of ‘Khalifa University Enterprises Company – KUEC’, which will act as the business and investment arm of the University. The new company is backed by an endowment of AED100-million.

KUEC will include ‘Innovation Acceleration and Startups’ and ‘KU Ventures’, which will support establishing and operating non-IP technology companies. KUEC also includes the Endowment Fund that will allocate funds for investments and operations.

The mission of KUEC is to boost and speed up business engagement with the University to accelerate innovation and create impact on the University’s scientific research assets and resources. Furthermore, KUEC will also aim to encourage technology investors and entrepreneurs to partner with the University to commercialize its growing patent portfolio in areas such as energy, advanced manufacturing, health, artificial intelligence and robotics through creation of technology startups.��

Established and structured in consultation with three partners, KUEC will leverage the support of the leading asset manager, BlackRock, and global financial services leader JPMorgan. On the innovation side, Techstars will play a pivotal role in growth and scaling of UAE startups.

BlackRock will invest the endowment assets on behalf of KUEC in a diversified global portfolio, while J.P. Morgan will provide custodial services to KUEC, supporting the asset management part of the endowment. Techstars will focus on reviewing Khalifa University’s patents, conducting research to identify commercial suitability and viability, as well as in market assessment and validation that will then lead to development of prototypes and use cases.

KUEC will work in collaboration and partnership with Khalifa University’s Technology Management and Innovation Office to help generate commercial outputs of University intellectual property and introduce university spin-outs to the market. Similarly, KUEC will work with the University’s Finance and Business Development Office to ensure external partners and entities benefit from university resources and assets.��

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, said: “The Khalifa University Enterprises Company will usher in a new research-education-economy ecosystem paradigm in Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the region. In line with the best practices of some of the globally high-ranked universities which have similar companies to maximize their economic development mission, we have launched this new entity not only to work within our mandate and benefit the country and the region, but most importantly to realize the vision of our leaders in creating a knowledge-based economy. The intellectual, innovation and financial revenue coming out of KUEC will advance and enhance the University’s mission in research and innovation.”��

Paschalis Bouchoris, Managing Director, Country Head for BlackRock in Dubai, said: “We are delighted to be able to support the university with this endowment. The commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship will inevitably benefit not just the students, but also the broader economy. We thoroughly look forward to watching the endowment flourish.”

Bouchoris’ responsibilities include BlackRock’s business operations, strategy and senior client relationships across the Middle East (ex-Saudi) region. In his previous role at BlackRock since May 2015 he led the activity of Financial Market Advisory (FMA) in Southeastern Europe and Middle East and served as a senior oversight in multiple client engagements with financial and official institutions focusing on risk management and policy advisory, capital markets, asset valuations and transactions.

“J.P. Morgan has been providing custodial services to some of the most prestigious University endowments and foundations for many years, and we are delighted that the Khalifa University Enterprise Company has selected us to partner with them for this important initiative.” – Timothy Peters, head of Securities Services CEEMEA at J.P. Morgan.

“Techstars’ global reach coupled with our passion of supporting the development of entrepreneurs, provides a highly engaged experience to unlock their entrepreneurial potential as we support these teams through validating and invalidating their theories to launch new ventures for growth” said Esther Lim, Director of Engagement for Techstars.

Leading global universities have played a vital role in translating intellectual property into successful business ventures. According to PitchBook, a research and technology company covering private capital markets, between 2006 and 2017, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) produced 907 company founders as alumni or current students, creating 780 companies – the third most among all universities in the world. An earlier MIT study in 2015 reported that 30,000 companies founded by MIT alumni were active as of 2014, employing 4.6 million people and producing annual revenues of US$1.9 trillion, equivalent to the world’s 10th largest economy.

The newly launched Khalifa University Enterprises Company is expected to work along similar lines, encouraging innovation and stimulating the creation of technology startups while further motivating students and alumni to explore entrepreneurship based on university research outputs.��

Clarence Michael
English Editor Specialist
25 November 2021

The post Khalifa University Launches ‘Khalifa University Enterprises Company’, Backed by AED100-Million Endowment appeared first on Khalifa University.

Partners Agree on Sponsorship of Students, Internships, and Capacity Building and Development ��

Khalifa University of Science and Technology and global aerospace leader Dassault Aviation today announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish academic cooperation in developing aeronautical education and related research in the UAE, involving industrial experience as well as advanced technologies.

The two partners will jointly promote and implement cooperation in areas including collaborative high-skilled research programs, student sponsorships and internships, support to academic programs as well as capacity building and development. The MoU will build on existing strengths within Khalifa University in the critical aviation, space, and defense systems sectors, covering aeronautics and astronautical engineering, as well as the Aerospace Research and�� Innovation Center (ARIC) that drives innovation in these areas.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, and Philippe Perrin, Executive Vice-President International, on behalf of Eric Trappier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dassault Aviation, at Dubai Airshow 2021.

Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi said: “The collaboration with France-based global aerospace leader Dassault Aviation reflects our internationalization efforts to collaborate with best partners around the world to bring great minds and expertise to the UAE and our strong commitment to developing human capital in the UAE’s strategic areas. The partnership will benefit our researchers and scientists to explore new frontiers in this industry, while helping students to augment their knowledge and understanding of this vital sector. Through this MoU, we believe we will be able to contribute to the UAE and the region with innovative technology solutions and skilled manpower, capable of handling challenges specific to aerospace and aviation.”

Eric Trappier stated : “Dassault Aviation, as a reliable partner of the UAE for over 45 years, is committed for more than 20 years in contributing to human capital development of the UAE through the development of local capabilities and the enhancement of knowledge, technologies and industrial know-how. Our products, from Rafale fighter as well as Mirage 2000-9 brilliantly operated by the United Arab Emirates Air Force & Air Defence (UAE AF & AD) to Falcon family jets demonstrate our expertise in research and development in the field of Aeronautics and Systems with innovative solutions and a pragmatic and dynamic approach to cooperation. Today this new agreement illustrates our determination to share our expertise providing Khalifa University’s students with the highest education standards within the ambitious projects developed by the UAE industry for the benefit of strategic sectors of the UAE economy.”

Among other initiatives, Dassault Aviation intends to sponsor a cooperative research program on Smart and Advanced materials for aeronautic applications to be jointly conducted at Khalifa University. This activity, benefiting from the skills and outstanding expertise developed at the university, is seen as an important stepping-stone for the maturation of disruptive technologies and future integration on aircraft.

Clarence Michael
English Editor Specialist
22 November 2021

The post Khalifa University and Dassault Aviation Sign MoU on Aeronautical Education and Research Collaboration at Dubai Air Show 2021 appeared first on Khalifa University.

H.E Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, witnessed the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC) and Khalifa University of Science Technology that is made to identify better ways for both parties to work together in various public health aspects.

The agreement was signed by H.E Matar Saeed Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC), and Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President of the Khalifa University of Science Technology. The agreement was signed in the presence of representatives of both parties.

تم توقيع اتفاقية التعاون الاستراتيجي بين كل من مركز أبوظبي للصحة العامة و”جامعة خليفة للعلوم والتكنولوجيا” بحضور معالي عبدالله آل حامد رئيس دائرة الصحة ود. جون روك، عميد كلية الطب والعلوم الصحية.

— مركز أبوظبي للصحة العامة (@adphc_ae)

This MoU acts as a documentation of the joint strategic cooperation between ADPHC and the University. Khalifa University is a research-based educational institution that seeks to graduate Emirati leaders and critical thinkers in applied sciences and engineering field, while stimulating the growth of the fast-evolving knowledge economy in Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.

Under the agreement, both partners shall cooperate in producing academic programs and research results made by the research team, members of the academic staff and scientists in the public health field.

H.E Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, commended this agreement and said: “Thanks to its distinguished and advanced academic and research programs, Khalifa University is highly placed among the leading educational institutions on both regional and global levels. In our pursuit to play a leading role in the world Public Health (through the efforts of Abu Dhabi Public Health Center “ADPHC”), we signed this agreement to add a new momentum to the field of knowledge and research. This leaping step will serve the interests of the Emirate and the UAE as a whole.”

For his part, H.E Matar Saeed Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC), said: “Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (ADPHC) is pleased to cooperate with Khalifa University to ensure the implementation of strategic cooperation and information interchange in a way that creates a synergy and a collaborative partnership between both partners. Through this MoU, we have defined the major areas, disciplines and topics of special or common interest through which we can exchange activities in the fields of teaching, learning and research productively.”

His Excellency added: “Cooperation in joint activities will contribute to the advancement of research and innovation processes that will benefit both the country and the region.”

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President of Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “We are delighted to partner with ADPHC; one of the country’s leading government entities regarding research and awareness efforts amid the ongoing pandemic. We believe in the importance of strategic cooperation among entities to ensure a healthy future of our country.”

Both parties have agreed on cooperating in multiple projects aimed at supporting the UAE’s vision, including public health, infrastructure, and research cooperation. That is to be done by providing supervision and guidance for the development and application of relevant standards in research methodologies and protocols to help ADPHC enhance its position as a strong regional research institution in public health, health, intelligence, and health informatics fields. In addition to education and training in the field of public health, organizational development, and cooperation in various activities related to capacity building.

This agreement embodies ADPHC efforts to continue exchanging experiences and knowledge with its partners, in order to ensure the continued consolidation of the foundations of public health among members of Abu Dhabi community.

It is worth noting that ADPHC, through this cooperation, seeks to continue working alongside its growing tasks, which calls for more cooperation in various fields between the two parties in the future.

Staff Report
9 November 2021

The post Khalifa University and ADPHC Sign MoU to Collaborate in the Fields of Public Health appeared first on Khalifa University.

MoU Signed in Abu Dhabi to Focus on Promotion of Partnership with Italian Universities, Research Centers, Companies and Start-Ups ��

Khalifa University and the Commissioner General’s Office for Italy’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai today announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a view to setting up joint initiatives during the six-month period when the Universal Exposition will be taking place from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University, Paolo Glisenti, Commissioner-General for Italy’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Al Hammadi said: “We are delighted to sign this MoU with the Commissioner General’s Office for Italy’s participation in Expo 2020 on collaboration activities for Expo 2020 Dubai. As a world-class research-intensive academic institution, Khalifa University’s research strengths in strategic economic sectors are widely acknowledged globally, and this MoU will further strengthen our resolve to reach out to more stakeholders in Italy and Europe for educational, research, and industrial collaboration.”

“Khalifa University is already collaborating with Italian universities, research centers and companies and we believe this MoU will help further consolidate our status as the most preferred academic institution for expertise in advanced technologies, while highlighting the UAE’s profile as a knowledge-economy that welcomes innovation in emerging areas of science,” Dr. Al Hammadi added.

Commissioner Glisenti said: “The partnership with Khalifa University opens a fundamental channel of Scientific Diplomacy between Italy and the UAE and sets the conditions for making Expo 2020 Dubai a milestone in the collaborative international model of innovation, which will guide and inspire the course of history after the pandemic.”

Under the agreement, the partners commit themselves to scientific and cultural collaboration and plan joint activities, initiatives and projects during Expo 2020 Dubai.

Khalifa University and the Commissioner General’s Office for Italy’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai will promote exchange of know-how between the countries of the expanded Mediterranean and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, and in particular in the UAE, with scholarships, internships, exchange and cooperation programs between students, teachers, researchers and other support systems.

The MoU also focuses on the development of new business models and the training of new skills and themes of Expo Dubai before and during the six-month period of the Universal Exhibition.

The partners will collaborate to implement initiatives and partnerships between the network of Italian universities, research centers, companies and start-ups that participate in Expo 2020 Dubai with the Italian Pavilion and Khalifa University in strategic sectors of common interest including aerospace, biomedical, health, life science, materials science, human and social sciences, creative burns, sustainable energy, protection of biodiversity and the environment, nanosciences and biotechnologies, as well as information technologies.

Khalifa University is already collaborating with several Italian partners including the University of Salerno, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, University of Milan, and the Ca’ Foscari University of�� Venice, as well as the Ambienthesis Group.

Staff Report
17 February 2021

The post Khalifa University Working with Italy Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai to Promote International Scientific Cooperation appeared first on Khalifa University.

DhabiSat CubeSat to Enable Students to Design, Implement, and Test Software Modules for Attitude Determination and Control Systems ��

DhabiSat, the second CubeSat designed and developed by Khalifa University students with support from Al Yah Satellite Company (Yahsat) and Northrop Grumman, launched on 20 February from aboard the Cygnus spacecraft.

The primary mission of the second CubeSat, previously known as MYSat-2, is to enable students to design, implement, and test software modules for attitude determination and control systems (ADCS). The work has been conducted at the Yahsat Space Lab, which is part of the Khalifa University Space Technology and Innovation Center (KUSTIC).

DhabiSat will assess the accuracy of various ADCS pointing control strategies and validate the same by taking images using a digital camera onboard pointed in specific directions. The new ADCS algorithms shall improve the pointing accuracy of the CubeSat and its response time to attitude changes as compared to conventional algorithms. In terms of system resources, DhabiSat will require less power to achieve the targeted pointings and if successful, the algorithms will gain flight heritage on board DhabiSat, which then can be used as a baseline in future CubeSat missions.

��

DhabiSat took off from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, US, on the Northrop Grumman Antares rocket, to the International Space Station (ISS) on 20 February 2021. It will then be deployed from the resupply spacecraft Cygnus NG-15, following departure from the ISS in approximately two to three months.

Khalifa University’s MYSat-1, the first mission that was conceptualized, designed, integrated, tested and operated as part of an academic program in the UAE, was deployed in February 2019. It carried an experimental coin cell battery, based on technology developed by Khalifa University students along with a VGA camera developed at the Yahsat Space Lab based on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components.

Clarence Michael
English Editor Specialist
14 February 2021

The post Khalifa University’s DhabiSat Set for Launch on 20 February from Aboard Cygnus appeared first on Khalifa University.

As our cities become ‘smarter’ and increasingly connected by Internet of Things (IoT) devices that collect and transmit data every second, governments across the world are figuring out the best way to keep this new IoT infrastructure secure and sustainable.

.

In the UAE, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) – part of the Abu Dhabi Government’s Advanced Technology Research Council, which oversees research in the emirate – is partnering up with Khalifa University on a number of strategic research projects in cryptography, digital security, and secure communication, to help the country develop efficient and secure communications infrastructure.

Seven projects have been funded by TII as part of this partnership, each spanning a period of years across various topics.

Project 1: Energy-Aware IoT Devices

To have a powerful communications infrastructure, IoT devices need to communicate sustainably in an energy-efficient manner. The short battery lifetime in most IoT devices, however, still pose a major design challenge. In response, researchers are turning their attention to developing energy-aware, self-sustaining devices that can harvest and recycle energy from various sources.

One such technology under development is BackCom, which has emerged as a new communications paradigm for low-power wireless networks. BackCom is based on the concept that a transmitter sends data to its receiver by backscattering ambient signals, consuming significantly less power than traditional transceivers.

BackCom systems suffer from several drawbacks though, which a team from Khalifa University aims to solve by integrating radio frequency-powered transmission systems and optimizing them for network scenarios.

Dr. Sami Muhaidat, Professor, Dr. Paschalis Sofotasios, Assistant Professor, Dr. Lina Bariah, Postdoctoral Fellow, and Dr. Ernesto Damiani, Professor, Senior Director of the Robotics and Intelligent Systems Institute and Director of the Center for Cyber-Physical Systems (C2PS), will develop scalable solutions that can accommodate power-constrained wireless mesh networks (networks where a group of devices act as a single Wi-Fi network) with protocols that are energy aware and security systems that are lightweight, among other solutions to these challenges.

Project 2: Machine Learning to Optimize IoT Connectivity

Another project looking at wireless mesh networks and IoT devices aims to use machine learning to optimize IoT connectivity. Dr. Muhaidat, Dr. Sofotasios, Dr. Bariah, and Dr. Damiani are joined by Dr. Hany Elgala, Assistant Professor from the University of Albany, to address key challenges in mobile wireless mesh networks, with particular emphasis on unmanned aerial vehicle networks.

Current wireless technologies cannot meet the demands of the envisioned IoT where devices are more reliable with higher data-rates, extended coverage and better security. Machine learning techniques can address the various design challenges of mobile wireless mesh networks, and deep learning, a subset of machine learning, allows machines to learn complex functions with high accuracy and online self-optimization.

Project 3: Detecting Malware in Smart Phones

Also investigating machine learning are Dr. Damiani, Gabriele Gianini, Senior Researcher, and Hussam AlHammadi, Research Scientist, who will design a malware detection engine for Android phones based on machine learning techniques.

Data collected and routed by Android phones are targets for malware. Attacks targeting mobile phones often inject sleepers, malware modules that use open and cover channels, piggybacking legitimate protocols for infiltration and exfiltration (when malware carries out an unauthorized data transfer from a computer).

While periodically checking Android configuration can detect installed exfiltration code, only external monitoring systems, which continuously analyze the behavior of Android and onboard applications, can hope to detect and alleviate data leakage as it happens. The research team will design an exfiltration detection engine for Android phones based on machine learning to detect when exfiltration occurs.

Project 4: Protecting UAVs

Another team is conducting research on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). UAVs can play a vital role in shaping the future of wireless networks, which is why protecting the networks from malicious parties is crucial.

UAV networks contain elements which make them more vulnerable to several types of attacks, since a security issue in any one element may impact the entire system. Some attacks could be performed by directly tampering with the physical elements in the networks, such as batteries, or realized through malware and software.

Dr. Arafat Al-Dweik, Associate Professor, Dr. Baker Mohammed, Associate Professor, and Dr. Yousuf Alsalami, Assistant Professor, are evaluating the feasibility of adopting physical layer security (PLS) techniques for UAV-aided wireless communications networks. PLS exploits the intrinsic characteristics of wireless channels, such as noise, fading, and interference, to secure the communications. Using PLS, the team aims to design a novel communications system with high reliability, security and anti-jamming capabilities for use with UAVs.

Project 5: Protecting Drones

Further targeting drone vulnerabilities, Dr. Abdulhadi Shoufan, Associate Professor, Dr. Faisal Shah Khan, Assistant Professor, Dr. Damiani, and Hussam Al-Hammadi, Research Scientist, aim to provide a holistic security analysis of drone operations in the context of unmanned traffic management systems to form the basis of the security functions and objectives which should be implemented on the drone.

Flying a drone is associated with security, privacy, and safety risks which have shaped the progress of this technology over the last few years. Security is an especially critical requirement for drone operations because cyber and physical attacks on drones do not only present a threat to information security, but also to people, assets and infrastructure.

The first challenge in securing drone operations is understanding all the vulnerabilities of this technology. Once understood, the security objectives will be implemented using a dedicated system-on-chip, which will support important security functions.

Project 6: Securing Wireless Sensor Networks with Hash Chains

IoT technology is accompanied by numerous cybersecurity challenges that must be addressed to ensure the security and privacy of the network. Many possible solutions have been proposed and many of them address important fundamental security requirements such as authentication, confidentiality and authorization. However, no proposed security protocol completely satisfies all the cybersecurity requirements of an IoT network. Dr. Chan Yeob Yeun, Associate Professor, Dr. Yousof Al Hammadi, Assistant Professor and Dean of Graduate Studies, and Dr. Damiani are looking to provide more secure and flexible solutions for wireless sensor networks using a combination of high-level and low-level key chains.

Comprising hundreds or thousands of small devices each with sensing, processing, and communication capabilities, wireless sensor networks have varied applications, but due to their distributed nature and deployment in remote areas, these networks are vulnerable to numerous security threats. The research team will use hash chain techniques – a method to produce many one-time keys from a single key or password – to ensure continuity of authentication and enhance the security of the network.

Project 7: Securing Data on the Cloud

The final project considers cybersecurity in the cloud. A field-programmable gate array (FGPA) is an integrated circuit designed to be configured by a customer or designer after manufacturing.

The main security risk to using FGPAs in the cloud stems from the multi-user environment, where several users may be sharing the same physical hardware platform, with the possibility of one user sniffing the bitstream file.

A sniffing attack involves the theft or interception of data by capturing the network traffic using a sniffer, an application aimed at capturing network packets. When data is transmitted across networks, if the data packets are not encrypted, the data can be read using a sniffer. An attacker can analyze the network and gain information to eventually crash or corrupt the network or read the communications happening within. Encryption may be a possible defense, with Dr. Ibrahim Elfadel, Professor, Dr. Abdulhadi Shoufan, Associate Professor, looking at cryptography to secure the information on a cloud using FGPAs with the intent that the security will be robust against even quantum computers.��

Jade Sterling
Science Writer
10 February 2021

The post Solving Cybersecurity’s Biggest Challenges with KU-TII Projects appeared first on Khalifa University.

��Khalifa University of Science and Technology on this date signed a research agreement, which will be co-funded by Aldar properties and Sandooq Al Watan, to develop economical, reusable and disposable contact lenses for those suffering from colorblindness. The project team will include researchers from Khalifa University who are currently working in collaboration with researchers from Imperial College London.

Read full story here:

The post Khalifa University Signs a Co-funded Research Agreement with Aldar Properties and Sandooq Al Watan to Make Reusable Contact Lenses for Color Blindness appeared first on Khalifa University.