Google has signed an agreement with the Saudi Federation for Cyber Security and Programming to set up five Innovation Hub centres in different parts of the kingdom.
The move aims to incorporate local talent in the production of prototypes, mobile applications and artificial intelligence.
The agreement, which was signed by Matt Prater, president of Google for Europe and MENA, and Saud Al-Qahtani, adviser at the Royal Court, took place following Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s visit to the US.
It will help attract Saudi students with innovative skills, according to Al-Qahtani.
The first centre, which will be set up at the headquarters of the federation in Riyadh, will be the largest of its kind in the world, with the capacity to accommodate 40,000 trainees in a year.
It will provide educational and technical materials and advanced technology curricula, with a training laboratory where local IT professionals will receive support and guidance for the development of advanced software and artificial intelligence.
The centres will target all segments of society, including school students as young as 8 years old.
Young Saudis are expected to ‘reap the fruits’ of the agreement and make use of rare opportunities provided to them, said Faisal Al-Khamisi, member of the board of the federation and chairman of the Initiatives Committee.
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