UAE Leads AI Innovation in Telecom with Launch of Region’s First Arabic AI for Customer Experience Transformation

Clarence Michael
English Editor – Specialist

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Researchers at Khalifa University have developed a smart wearable material that changes color in response to heat and ultraviolet light, offering an alternative to bulky electronics in environmental modelling

Wearable sensors are becoming essential tools for monitoring personal exposure to environmental hazards. A team of researchers from Khalifa University has developed a novel wearable material that senses temperature and ultraviolet radiation using color-changing hydrogels enhanced with artificial intelligence. The device, manufactured through advanced 4D printing, is built from a hydrogel composite that mimics the strength of plastic and shifts color in response to environmental conditions.��

 

Mohamed Elnemr, Ragi Adham Elkaffas, Rami Elkaffas, Dr. Yarjan Abdul Samad, Muhammed Hisham, Prof. Baker Mohammad and Prof. Haider Butt comprised the team from Khalifa University, working with Yasmin Halawani from the University of Dubai. They published their results in .��

 

The new material offers strength similar to nylon and its durability means it functions reliably in everyday settings as part of rings, wristbands, or glasses. The key innovation lies in embedding thermochromic and photochromic powders into hydrogels. Thermochromic dyes change color with temperature, while photochromic dyes respond to UV light. These changes are interpreted by an artificial intelligence model trained to classify temperature ranges based on the color spectrum. In testing, it reached 98.75 percent classification accuracy.��

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“Our goal was to create a material that communicates environmental risks in real time, without needing electronics. By combining color-shifting chemistry with AI, we’re turning simple materials into smart sensors.”

— Haider Butt, Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering

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In practical use, the wearable changes color visibly as temperature rises or UV exposure intensifies, serving as a real-time alert for environmental risks. Under high midday UV exposure, for example, the material turns dark blue. Under weaker sunlight or artificial light, there’s barely any change in color. This specificity makes the system useful as a quick, low-tech check on UV levels, which is ideal for outdoor workers or anyone concerned about sun exposure.��

 

The team’s wearable works without batteries, circuits, or screens. It’s entirely passive and self-contained, and a concentration of just 2.5 percent of the chromic powders was enough to deliver visible changes without weakening the material, so the sensors are robust and inexpensive too. There are limits, of course. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can degrade the dyes over time, much like how transition lenses slowly lose effectiveness. But in most practical scenarios, the material would only need to last for a day or two, making it perfect for semi-disposable applications.��

 

The research team sees this as a first step. Future versions could link with smartphone apps, expanding functionality while keeping the hardware minimal. For now, it’s a promising proof of concept, paving the way for low-cost, battery-free environmental monitoring.

 

Jade Sterling
Science Writer

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Nearly 50% of Total 120 Papers for GSRC 2019 Came from Khalifa University Students and Faculty

Khalifa University students and faculty have won five out of 11 Best Paper Awards at the fifth UAE Graduate Students Research Conference (GSRC 2019) that concluded recently.A total of 120 papers were presented at GSRC 2019, of which nearly 50% came from Khalifa University graduate students across various engineering disciplines.

In the ‘Information Technology, Computer Science, And Information Systems Track’, Khalifa University won both the first and second places, while in the Engineering And Physical Sciences Track, the university won the first and third places. The other second place award came in the Business And Management Track.

Khalifa University won first place in the Information Technology, Computer Science, And Information Systems Track for the paper titled ‘Automatic Arabic Text Summarization Based on Fuzzy Logic’ submitted by Lamees Al Qassem, Di Wang and Dr. Hassan Barada, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The other first place award came in the Engineering And Physical Sciences Track for the paper titled ‘Lipoic Acid and Ascorbic Acid as Inhibitors of Human Amylin Aggregation and Cellular Toxicity’ submitted by Sarah Azzam, Suryani Lukman and Dr. Sung Mun Lee, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering.

The paper titled ‘Cryptomining Detection in Container Clouds Using System Calls and Explainable Machine Learning’ submitted by Rupesh Karn and Dr Ibrahim Elfadel, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, won the second place in the ‘Information Technology, Computer Science, And Information Systems Track’. The other second place award came in the Business And Management Track for the paper titled ‘Utilizing System Modelling Techniques in Lean Healthcare Applications’ submitted by Maitha Alkaabi, Dr. Raja Jayaraman, Associate Professor, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Dr. Mecit Can Emre Simsekler, Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

A paper titled ‘Engineering an Artificial Biomimetic Lymph Node’ submitted by Aya Shanti, Dr.Cesare Stefanini, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Khalifa University, Bisan Samara, Amal Abdallah, Dr. Jeremy Teo, and Dr. Jiranuwat Sapudom won the third place in the Engineering And Physical Sciences Track.

Khalifa University continues to be a frontrunner in producing cutting-edge research. The University had earlier won five Best Paper Awards at the 2018 GSRC, an exciting interdisciplinary academic platform to share the research being conducted at universities across the UAE.

The GSRC aims to provide opportunities for graduate students to share their research work,receive scholarly feedback and network professionally.

News Writer
22 April 2019

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Research-Focused University Becomes One of 30 Pride of Zayed Award 2018 Winners

Khalifa University of Science and Technology was honored among the 30 Emirati achievements for the UAE Pioneers Award 2018.

The University was recognized for being the national nerve center for scientific research in the country, and introducing meticulously planned programs as per the requirements of Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s employment market.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, honored the university’s achievements during a ceremony held in Abu Dhabi, following the conclusion of the Annual Government Meetings. The UAE Pioneers ceremony coincided with 47^th UAE National Day celebrations.

A total of a total of 30 organizations had won individual Pride of Zayed awards. Residents were able to nominate institutions that they felt the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, would most likely be proud of today.

Khalifa University has been able to contribute significantly to the UAE’s intellectual and human capital development since its founding in February 2017 through the merger of three leading universities. During 2017, Khalifa University became the single largest contributor to the UAE’s total patents, when it registered 32 patents with the US Patent and Trademark Office, accounting for approximately 30.3% of the country’s total patents.

More recently, the university became one of only two academic institutions from the UAE to launch a satellite when the MYSAT-1 CubeSat, developed by the students and faculty, was sent to the International Space Station. It will be used for educational and research purposes once it makes its final ascent to its orbital position in the beginning of 2019. The nanosatellite carries two payloads, including a camera to take images of the UAE from space, demonstrating the process of remote sensing, as well as an innovative lithium-ion battery developed at Khalifa University.

Khalifa University already shares the top spot with 11 other select international institutions in the ‘industry income’ pillar, which signifies knowledge transfer, according to the 2019 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings that was released in September 2018.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
29 November 2018

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University Announces Key Research Collaborations as Faculty Led Knowledge-Sharing Sessions across Various WFES 2019 Platforms

His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Khalifa University, and His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, visited the Khalifa University stand at the World Future Energy Forum 2019 that was held from 14 – 17 January as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week (ADSW) 2019 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). The event brought together investors and service providers in the global sustainability sector.

Khalifa University showcased a total of five sustainable concepts in research innovation at the event. The university also announced key research collaborations with local and international organizations, marking its prime role advancing new solutions and technologies in the renewable energy and sustainable technologies areas.

The four-day WFES, inaugurated on 14 January focused on the intellectual leadership of sustainability while facilitating partnerships between innovators and investors in energy platforms, climate change, water and the future of mobility, space, bio-technology and technology sectors.

Some of the projects that were featured at the Khalifa University stand (Hall 4; Booth A401) include advance material for CO2 capture, the Masdar Institute Solar Platform, the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium’s (SBRC) flagship Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (SEAS) project and its path-breaking commercial flight with biofuel, conversion of waste cooking oil to biodiesel in the UAE and a condition monitoring system with multi-agent mechanism for external non-contact smart inspection of buried oil and gas pipelines.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “For Khalifa University, the premier gathering of the global sustainability sector at World Future Energy Summit 2019 offers the perfect platform to interact with energy industry leaders and explore potential collaborations. It is also an occasion to highlight Masdar Institute’s research accomplishments and showcase its capabilities in clean energy and sustainable technologies for the benefit of the international corporate majors. We believe this year’s participation in WFES activities will give us the impetus to further advance our research and innovation expertise in areas such as energy storage, mobility, solar, energy efficiency, waste-to-energy, water and environment, advanced materials, as well as carbon capture to help increase the contribution of clean energy to the UAE’s total energy mix in an efficient, safe and economical manner.”

Additionally, Khalifa University higher officials and faculty lead knowledge exchange across various WFES platforms. Dr Steve Griffiths, Senior Vice-President for Research and Development and Professor of Practice, Khalifa University, shared his perspectives in a session titled ‘In Conversation: The foreign relations of energy transition – positioning the Gulf’ at the Energy Forum.

Dr. Steve Griffiths said: “Khalifa University is proud to showcase new technologies at the World Future Energy Summit, which has gathered leaders across key technology and sustainability platforms that include artificial intelligence, energy, environment, water, health and space. These leaders are contributing to knowledge exchange, highlighting innovations and advancing solutions to global challenges in sustainability. We believe participation in this year’s summit effectively showcases Khalifa University’s capabilities in research, development and innovation across the sustainability spectrum.”

Dr. Nicolas Calvet, Assistant Professor, College of Engineering, and Chair of the Masdar Institute Solar Platform – Khalifa University, is speaking about concentrated solar power (CSP) industry during a session titled ‘’ at the Solar Forum. Dr. Mohammad Abu Zahra, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, and his team are presenting their work on advance materials for CO2 capture, including three individual projects.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
16 January 2019

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Participants Showcase Prototypes and Scientific Concepts across Various Think Science Competition Categories

A large number of school students from grades 9-12 as well as university students from undergraduate and diploma levels showcased their prototypes and scientific concepts at the 2019 Think Science Competition that was hosted at Khalifa University today. Winners in various categories were declared at the competition that aims to engage more talented youth from across the UAE for innovative ideas in different applied sciences and technology disciplines.

The winners from each Emirate now qualify to showcase their projects at the Think Science National Competition 2019 Awarding Ceremony, which will be held in April 2019.

Participants displayed their innovative skills in all the categories including robots and artificial intelligence, applied chemistry, applied physics, industrial and mechanical systems, smart systems, safety systems, transportation and road safety systems, systems for the benefit of the determined ones, energy, environmental sciences, health and biomedical systems, material sciences, as well as aviation, aerodynamics, and vehicles designs.

Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “We are honored to host the 2019 Think Science Competition, enabling the youth to test their creative skills in science and technology. The range of projects showcased here by these students illustrate the impact of scientific knowledge and their enthusiasm to obtain practical solutions. We believe such challenges help nurture budding talents, paving the way for their appetite for innovations to multiply even more when they enter their professional lives.”

The 2019 Think Science Competition was part of Khalifa University’s calendar of events and activities organized as part of the 2019 UAE Innovation Month to inspire, educate, and engage the community on innovations in science, technology, arts, and engineering.

The globally top-ranked university earlier this month hosted the 2019 UAE Hackathon themed ‘Data for Happiness and Well-being’ that was organized by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). As an academic partner to Mubtakir and Abu Dhabi Science Festival (ADSF)

2019, Khalifa University presented three innovative engineering students projects – Farming Robot, Search and Rescue (SAR) Drone Project and Pollination DRONE (PD-Drone) at the Mubtakir 2019.

The university also provided around 100 volunteers to work as science communicators during ADSF 2019. Moreover, Ankabut organized its 15th Annual Users Meeting, gathering nearly 300 stakeholders to discuss the role of technology in education.

With research and innovation remaining the core strategic areas, Khalifa University continues to excel in the development of human and intellectual capital while entering into advanced technology collaborations with industry leaders. The university has so far attracted over US$80 million in industry and government sponsored research contracts with more than 50 organizations based in the UAE and worldwide. At the same time, its 16 dedicated research centers have so far facilitated over 70 patents, more than 350 invention disclosures and published over 5,000 articles in top journals.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
24 February 2019

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Top 50 Talented Students Selected from UAE Schools to Learn about Innovation Process, Business Development, Commercialization Skills and IP Issues at Four-Day Bootcamp

The Emirates ICT Innovation Center (EBTIC) and Khalifa University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Education, are organizing the fourth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp to teach the young Emirati students ways to turn fledgling ideas into a feasible business ventures in the future.

Organized under the patronage of His Excellency Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education, the bootcamp will be held from March 31 – April 3. It will teach participating students the innovation process, business development, commercialization skills, entrepreneurship and Intellectual Property (IP) issues.

A total of top 50 talented students have already been selected from schools across UAE to participate in the four-day bootcamp. Their selection was based on the winning projects they had submitted for the UAE National Science, Technology and Innovation (NSTI) Festival 2019, an event modelled after Ireland’s successful BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE). The Bootcamp will be developed and delivered in partnership with British Telecommunications (BT) and EBTIC.

Dr. Nawaf Al Moosa, Acting Director of EBTIC and Assistant Professor at Khalifa Universitysaid: “The fourth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp by EBTIC is designed to inspire young students to effectively plan and execute their business concepts through the path of innovation. We are delighted to host this event for the students, offering them a platform for charting their future course. We believe the bootcamp this year will help nurture the talented students who can hone their skillsets for developing into full-fledged professionals in various business sectors.”

The students will be divided into teams of six each, with a professional mentor, and they will be guided through a series of interactive workshops and challenges with the purpose of developing a business or investment proposition around a specific project. Expert speakers will also cover interesting and relevant topics such as innovation, intellectual property and creativity during the workshops.

On the final day of the bootcamp, students will present their business plans as a team to a judging panel comprising academics and senior business executives or professionals, selected from industry, academia, government and media.

EBTIC is an ICT research and innovation center founded by Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Etisalat and BT, and supported by ICT Fund.

News Writer
24 March 2019

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Panel of Judges Selects Student Team that Presents the Most Innovative and Pragmatic Business Concept for Top Award

Under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and Vice Chairman of the Khalifa University Board of Trustees, more than 40 students from across schools in the UAE participated in the fourth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp organized by the Emirates ICT Innovation Center (EBTIC) and Khalifa University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Education.

The bootcamp that opened on 31 March, successfully concluded with an awards ceremony on 3 April. It was attended by industry, academia and government stakeholders as well as technology leaders with an excellent track record in initiating and leading business start-ups.

The student team that presented the most innovative and pragmatic business concept was declared winners. In all, a total of six teams participated in the fiercely contested challenge in which the students showcased and presented their projects to a panel of judges. The judges’ panel comprised academics and senior business professionals, selected from industry, academia, government and the media.

His Excellency Al Hammadi said: “The fourth EBTIC Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is one of the pioneering initiatives that supports the UAE’s progress, through inspiring innovation, a key focus area in the country’s future strategy. The Ministry of Education always aims to achieve an innovative school community, in order to build a scientifically-tuned future generation. This bootcamp provides the right environment to students and guides them towards developing new capabilities and expanding knowledge, especially through research and investigation that help transform ideas into projects, benefiting the community.

“Initiatives such as this bootcamp are fertile grounds for encouraging creativity, helping students to expand their knowledge, especially through practical lectures and workshops in innovation, business development, marketing, entrepreneurship, intellectual property. The bootcamp also emphasizes strengthening the student’s connection with each new and enhancing aspect of planning, study and research in important developmental sectors,” he remarked.

His Excellency Al Hammadi added: “The participants, chosen through the National Festival of Science, Technology and Innovation (NSTI) held in February 2019, are already distinguished in knowledge and research. We expect them to have a scientifically and professionally promising future. And we believe the bootcamp will help build well-informed future leaders suitable for the UAE’s sustainable knowledge economy.”

Eng. Saleh Abdullah Al Abdooli, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat, said: “Etisalat has always believed in laying the foundation for the future, nurturing creativity and fostering the growth of tomorrow’s innovators, future scientists and engineers. Innovation and digital transformation are key to our success and a result of our vision at the next level of development that has led the company to play a greater role in the digital lives of consumers and enterprises.

“This collaboration with EBTIC is in line with our strategy ‘Driving the digital future to empower societies’ that will pave the way for smarter solutions and applications, mentor the next generation of young UAE innovators and entrepreneurs and contribute towards an innovative knowledge-based economy. Etisalat is constantly looking to tap into the possibilities of the booming startup ecosystem. We are looking for avenues to support entrepreneurial growth by creating partnerships that will provide them the platform to grow and showcase their abilities. We are able to work together with these young innovators and entrepreneurs to imagine, design and co-create the future. This has led to Etisalat actively contributing to UAE’s national innovation strategy where digital technology is also one of the top seven primary national sectors.

“The association with EBTIC’s fourth ‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp’ will give a platform to the youth to develop STEM skills enabling them to translate their fresh and innovative ideas into solutions that will contribute to the development of the society and economy.”

Eyad Shihabi, Vice-President, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey, BT, said: “The innovation and entrepreneurship bootcamp is designed to bridge the gap between the worlds of education and business, as well as inspire and mentor the next generation of innovators. Over the past few days, some of the brightest young minds in the UAE presented their creative inventions and business propositions, and the talent on display was inspiring. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Khalifa University and the UAE Ministry of Education through EBTIC, to create a learning platform wherein students can develop skills for life.”

Dr. Nawaf Al Moosa, Acting Director of EBTIC and Assistant Professor at Khalifa University said: “The fourth EBTIC Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp proved even more successful than the previous years with enthusiastic participation by students who developed some of the most innovative business concepts. The student teams’ presentation skills, honed by the team mentors, were remarkable. We thank all the stakeholders and partners for their support to this bootcamp and we hope to continue our efforts towards building and nurturing young talent.”

Earlier, a BT official offered an overview of the bootcamp that aims to teach participating students the innovation process, business development, commercialisation skills, entrepreneurship and Intellectual Property (IP) issues.

The six participating teams had a professional mentor, who guided the students through a series of interactive workshops in order to help the students develop a business or investment proposition around a specific project.

EBTIC is an ICT research and innovation center, founded by Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Etisalat and BT, and supported by the ICT Fund.

News Writer
03 April 2019

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University Stand Offers Visitors Information about Wide Array of Academic and Research Offerings as well as Scholarship Options

Khalifa University is showcasing select research innovations and its overall academic offerings at the RAK Education, Training and Employment Exhibition 2019 that was inaugurated today by His Highness Sheikh Saqr Bin Saud Al Qasimi at the Ras Al Khaimah Exhibition Centre.
Organized from 23 – 25 April, the event provides an opportunity to interact with stakeholders in the academic sector including representatives from over 80 universities across the globe, as well as Khalifa University, and learn about employment and scholarship opportunities.
The Khalifa University stand is showcasing several innovations including a special climbing device to collect date palms from trees, an eco-friendly vehicle to easy transportation in cities, an automated solar PV cleaning system, and a sustainable device that can be used for desalination without electricity. In addition, the university offers visitors information about its
wide array of academic and research offerings as well as scholarship options. Khalifa University currently offers 12 bachelors, 16 Master’s and two PhD programs with 12 Concentrations across science, engineering and emerging technology areas.
In addition to the wide range of academic programs, Khalifa University’s 16 research centers offer students an entire gamut of options to undertake research in advanced technology areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, biotechnology, energy storage, wind and solar power, water and environment, desalination, petroleum geosciences, aerospace, cyber security,big data, and healthcare.
The research centers at Khalifa University provide students several avenues to seek innovations and new solutions in the most challenging science and technology areas. Such cutting-edge research centers and their remarkable outcome of intellectual capital (IP) keep the university in the forefront of research and innovation, thus gaining regional and global rankings.
Khalifa University is already ranked top in ‘research’ and ‘industry income’ – two key indicators that validate the research-intensive nature of the leading institution. In the most recent Times Higher Education (THE) Emerging Economies University Rankings 2019, Khalifa University is placed 13th out of 442 universities from 43 countries, thus remaining among the top 15 and the only one from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

News Writer
23 April 2019

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