Latest news with #XPANCEO
Zawya
12-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
XPANCEO partners with the University of Dubai to propel deep tech innovation
Dubai— XPANCEO, a leading deep tech company pioneering the next generation of computing via the development of smart contact lenses, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Dubai. This strategic partnership underscores a shared commitment to driving innovation at the nexus of academia and industry. Ranked among the UAE's top six academic and corporate organizations by the Nature Index, XPANCEO is on track to unveil the world's first fully integrated smart contact lens by 2026. Its partner, the University of Dubai — established by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce in 1997 — is one of the region's most forward-thinking academic institutions. It is internationally accredited by AACSB and ABET, and is a key player in the UAE's thriving innovation ecosystem. Key areas of collaboration include joint R&D projects and co-authored publications that target high-impact scientific and technological advances. The partnership also includes internship and mentorship programs designed to integrate students into active research settings and provide co-supervision for senior research projects. Both parties will share access to laboratory facilities to support collaborative innovation. They will also organize and participate in conferences, workshops, and expert lectures to facilitate knowledge exchange. Additionally, the partnership will focus on joint involvement in innovation challenges and international hackathons. This partnership reinforces XPANCEO's ongoing commitment to building an ecosystem of visionary thinkers and innovators, while supporting the UAE's broader ambition to become a global innovation hub. 'At XPANCEO, we don't just build breakthrough technologies — we help shape the minds that will define the future. That's why we put a strong focus on cultivating new talent across our core research areas. Our collaboration with the University of Dubai gives students direct access to live challenges in optics, nanomaterials, and bio-integration. They bring curiosity, fresh perspective, and the drive to push science beyond today's limits. We bring deep expertise, infrastructure, and a set of ambitious tasks. This partnership is a hands-on step toward growing local talent and developing the kind of innovation ecosystem that the future demands.' Valentyn Volkov, Co-Founder, Scientific Partner at XPANCEO "As a leading academic institution committed to research-driven innovation, we see this partnership as an opportunity to contribute to the advancement and responsible application of next-generation wearable technologies. This initiative aligns closely with our strategic goals to bridge the gap between academia and industry, foster emerging tech ecosystems in the UAE, and prepare our students to become pioneers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution." Dr. Eesa Al Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai
Mid East Info
12-06-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
XPANCEO Partners with the University of Dubai to Propel Deep Tech Innovation - Middle East Business News and Information
Dubai, June 11, 2025 — XPANCEO, a leading deep tech company pioneering the next generation of computing via the development of smart contact lenses, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Dubai. This strategic partnership underscores a shared commitment to driving innovation at the nexus of academia and industry. Ranked among the UAE's top six academic and corporate organizations by the Nature Index, XPANCEO is on track to unveil the world's first fully integrated smart contact lens by 2026. Its partner, the University of Dubai — established by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce in 1997 — is one of the region's most forward-thinking academic institutions. It is internationally accredited by AACSB and ABET, and is a key player in the UAE's thriving innovation ecosystem. Key areas of collaboration include joint R&D projects and co-authored publications that target high-impact scientific and technological advances. The partnership also includes internship and mentorship programs designed to integrate students into active research settings and provide co-supervision for senior research projects. Both parties will share access to laboratory facilities to support collaborative innovation. They will also organize and participate in conferences, workshops, and expert lectures to facilitate knowledge exchange . Additionally, the partnership will focus on joint involvement in innovation challenges and international hackathons. This partnership reinforces XPANCEO's ongoing commitment to building an ecosystem of visionary thinkers and innovators, while supporting the UAE's broader ambition to become a global innovation hub. 'At XPANCEO, we don't just build breakthrough technologies — we help shape the minds that will define the future. That's why we put a strong focus on cultivating new talent across our core research areas. Our collaboration with the University of Dubai gives students direct access to live challenges in optics, nanomaterials, and bio-integration. They bring curiosity, fresh perspective, and the drive to push science beyond today's limits. We bring deep expertise, infrastructure, and a set of ambitious tasks. This partnership is a hands-on step toward growing local talent and developing the kind of innovation ecosystem that the future demands.' Valentyn Volkov, Co-Founder, Scientific Partner at XPANCEO 'As a leading academic institution committed to research-driven innovation, we see this partnership as an opportunity to contribute to the advancement and responsible application of next-generation wearable technologies. This initiative aligns closely with our strategic goals to bridge the gap between academia and industry, foster emerging tech ecosystems in the UAE, and prepare our students to become pioneers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.' Dr. Eesa Al Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai
Tahawul Tech
12-02-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
LEAP 2025: NEOM, DataVolt announce deal to establish first sustainable AI data centre in KSA
The second day of LEAP 2025, Saudi Arabia's award-winning global tech event, produced further announcements totalling US$6.13 billion of investments in technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Leading the roll call of mega investments to continue the evolution of the Kingdom's technology ecosystem, DataVolt and Saudi Arabian giga-project NEOM announced a US$5 billion partnership to establish the first fully sustainable AI data centre with a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts in Oxagon – the floating industrial city being developed in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, Mobily, the Saudi Arabian telecommunications services company, announced an investment of US$911 million in strategic projects to develop digital infrastructure, including submarine cable projects and the development of data centres across the Kingdom. Elsewhere, Zoom announced a US$75m investment to boost AI and innovation, and establish new data centres to support technology companies and government entities; Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) announced a US$51m investment in private fibre-optic networks; while SKYFive, the leading telecommunications and internet services provider for aircraft, revealed a US$100m investment in non-terrestrial communications services focused on championing the advanced air mobility sector. 'As we enter the halfway mark of LEAP 2025, we have already surpassed confirmed investments of previous editions and have surpassed US$40 billion in total confirmed investments since we launched LEAP four years ago,' said Michael Champion, CEO of Tahaluf, which co-organises LEAP with the Saudi Ministry for Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP). 'What we're seeing this year is commitments being made across sectors, with AI and data centres taking the lead and larger collaborations between local and international businesses, which is at the heart of what LEAP is offering as a platform.' Smart Contact Lens Advances Offer Unique Vision of Future At LEAP'S all-new Tech Arena, a dedicated space for advanced multi-sector technology demonstrations, Dr Valentyn Volkov, Co-Founder of XPANCEO, explained how an evolution in technology, materials, and AI-based machine-learning is fast-tracking rapid advances in smart contact lenses. 'At LEAP, we see the future happening in front of our eyes; today, we see that future literally on our eyes with revolutionary technology that will completely evolve the way we interact with real and digital worlds,' Dr Volkov told enthralled spectators during a packed session entitled Beyond Silicon: How Smart Contact Lenses Are Shaping the Next Generation of Computing. With XPANCEO planning to deliver the first working prototype by the end of 2026, Dr Volkov said the company is developing soft and rigid contact lens versions with a goal of producing a final product no more than one millimetre in thickness despite housing an ultra-compact integrated projector, biosensors, camera, adaptive prescription lens, batteries, and data and power antenna. The invisible and almost weightless device prototype has thousands of potential uses, added Dr Volkov: 'We believe the next step is not about making smart devices smaller; it is more about ensuring seamless integration of those devices into our everyday life – and that's where the smart contact lens comes in. The product can deliver a full-screen, full-colour, augmented reality experience, with potential for private health monitoring, or even superpowers, such as increased night-time visibility, or zooming into objects far in the distance. The device gives the user ultimate control over everything in their field of vision. This is no longer science fiction; it is almost ready-made reality.' Describing the XPANCEO team as 'modern day alchemists', Dr Volkov outlined a future where smart contact lens users will be able to control their ophthalmic devices through advanced neural interfacing. He added: 'They say the eyes are the mirror of the soul, which is very true, but from a genetic point of view, the eyes are part of the brain. Therefore, if we can connect our neural interfaces onto the lens, users will be able to communicate with the device via their brain,' concluded Dr Volkov. Saudi Gaming Ecosystem Witnessing Unprecedented Growth In an opening keynote session on LEAP's CODE Stage, which is highlighting speakers and companies empowering digital national capacities to accelerate the process of digital transformation, Mohammed Robayan, Deputy Minister for Technology at MCIT, reiterated Saudi Arabia's aim to leverage the US$220bn global gaming market to drive job creation and GDP growth. 'As the Kingdom tries to diversify from oil as part of Vision 2030, gaming and esports hold massive potential and are being driven through projects and initiatives such as the Ignite Digital Content Programme, and the Saudi Digital Academy, which has so far trained more than 1,500 people in the field,' said Deputy Minister Robayan. When it comes to investment, Robayan also highlighted Ignite's 'Gaming Sector Financing Programme', which is seeking to support growth in the private sector through gaming and esports with an investment budget of SAR300 million, increasing the amount of funding and options available to small and medium enterprises operating in the digital content sector. Accenture Technology Vision 2025 Report Predicts AI Will Unleash Unprecedented Business Autonomy in Future Workplaces New research from Accenture, announced on the second day of LEAP 2025, has pointed to a new era of digitisation — where AI continuously learns and drives new levels of autonomy across organisations. The Accenture study suggests trust in AI's performance is the single most important measure organisations need for the technology to achieve its promise. The Accenture Technology Vision 2025 report explores how the future is being shaped by AI-powered autonomy. As diffusion of AI accelerates across the enterprise sphere and wider society faster than any prior technology, 65 per cent of Saudi-based executives believe it brings new urgency to reinvention and how technology systems and the processes they enable are designed, built, and operated. The research also predicts the technology will increasingly act as a development partner, power robotic bodies in the physical world, and foster a new symbiotic relationship with people to bring out the best in each other. 'The Accenture Technology Vision 2025 gives leaders a look into what's ahead when AI continuously learns, acts autonomously with, and on behalf of, people, and pushes enterprises and people into new and exciting ways to continuously reinvent,' said Julie Sweet, chair and CEO, Accenture. 'But unlocking the benefits of AI will only be possible if leaders seize the opportunity to inject and develop trust in its performance and outcomes in a systematic manner, so businesses and people can unlock AI's incredible possibilities.' More than 1,800 tech brands and 680 start-ups are exhibiting at LEAP 2025 this week, alongside a stellar lineup of 1,000-plus expert speakers across 15 stages, highlighting the tech that is shaping tomorrow. For more information on the event and ticket options, visit
Zawya
11-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
LEAP 2025: NEOM, DataVolt anounce $5bln deal to establish first sustainable AI data centre in Saudi
LEAP's new Tech Arena spotlights gamut of future tech solutions and products, including revolutionary smart contact lens prototype Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – The second day of LEAP 2025, Saudi Arabia's award-winning global tech event, produced further announcements totalling US$6.13 billion of investments in technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Leading the roll call of mega investments to continue the evolution of the Kingdom's technology ecosystem, DataVolt and Saudi Arabian giga-project NEOM announced a US$5 billion partnership to establish the first fully sustainable AI data centre with a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts in Oxagon – the floating industrial city being developed in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, Mobily, the Saudi Arabian telecommunications services company, announced an investment of US$911 million in strategic projects to develop digital infrastructure, including submarine cable projects and the development of data centres across the Kingdom. Elsewhere, Zoom announced a US$75m investment to boost AI and innovation, and establish new data centres to support technology companies and government entities; Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) announced a US$51m investment in private fibre-optic networks; while SKYFive, the leading telecommunications and internet services provider for aircraft, revealed a US$100m investment in non-terrestrial communications services focused on championing the advanced air mobility sector. 'As we enter the halfway mark of LEAP 2025, we have already surpassed confirmed investments of previous editions and have surpassed US$40 billion in total confirmed investments since we launched LEAP four years ago,' said Michael Champion, CEO of Tahaluf, which co-organises LEAP with the Saudi Ministry for Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP). 'What we're seeing this year is commitments being made across sectors, with AI and data centres taking the lead and larger collaborations between local and international businesses, which is at the heart of what LEAP is offering as a platform.' Smart Contact Lens Advances Offer Unique Vision of Future At LEAP'S all-new Tech Arena, a dedicated space for advanced multi-sector technology demonstrations, Dr Valentyn Volkov, Co-Founder of XPANCEO, explained how an evolution in technology, materials, and AI-based machine-learning is fast-tracking rapid advances in smart contact lenses. 'At LEAP, we see the future happening in front of our eyes; today, we see that future literally on our eyes with revolutionary technology that will completely evolve the way we interact with real and digital worlds,' Dr Volkov told enthralled spectators during a packed session entitled Beyond Silicon: How Smart Contact Lenses Are Shaping the Next Generation of Computing. With XPANCEO planning to deliver the first working prototype by the end of 2026, Dr Volkov said the company is developing soft and rigid contact lens versions with a goal of producing a final product no more than one millimetre in thickness despite housing an ultra-compact integrated projector, biosensors, camera, adaptive prescription lens, batteries, and data and power antenna. The invisible and almost weightless device prototype has thousands of potential uses, added Dr Volkov: 'We believe the next step is not about making smart devices smaller; it is more about ensuring seamless integration of those devices into our everyday life – and that's where the smart contact lens comes in. The product can deliver a full-screen, full-colour, augmented reality experience, with potential for private health monitoring, or even superpowers, such as increased night-time visibility, or zooming into objects far in the distance. The device gives the user ultimate control over everything in their field of vision. This is no longer science fiction; it is almost ready-made reality.' Describing the XPANCEO team as 'modern day alchemists', Dr Volkov outlined a future where smart contact lens users will be able to control their ophthalmic devices through advanced neural interfacing. He added: 'They say the eyes are the mirror of the soul, which is very true, but from a genetic point of view, the eyes are part of the brain. Therefore, if we can connect our neural interfaces onto the lens, users will be able to communicate with the device via their brain,' concluded Dr Volkov. Saudi Gaming Ecosystem Witnessing Unprecedented Growth In an opening keynote session on LEAP's CODE Stage, which is highlighting speakers and companies empowering digital national capacities to accelerate the process of digital transformation, Mohammed Robayan, Deputy Minister for Technology at MCIT, reiterated Saudi Arabia's aim to leverage the US$220bn global gaming market to drive job creation and GDP growth. 'As the Kingdom tries to diversify from oil as part of Vision 2030, gaming and esports hold massive potential and are being driven through projects and initiatives such as the Ignite Digital Content Programme, and the Saudi Digital Academy, which has so far trained more than 1,500 people in the field,' said Deputy Minister Robayan. When it comes to investment, Robayan also highlighted Ignite's 'Gaming Sector Financing Programme', which is seeking to support growth in the private sector through gaming and esports with an investment budget of SAR300 million, increasing the amount of funding and options available to small and medium enterprises operating in the digital content sector. Accenture Technology Vision 2025 Report Predicts AI Will Unleash Unprecedented Business Autonomy in Future Workplaces New research from Accenture, announced on the second day of LEAP 2025, has pointed to a new era of digitisation -- where AI continuously learns and drives new levels of autonomy across organisations. The Accenture study suggests trust in AI's performance is the single most important measure organisations need for the technology to achieve its promise. The Accenture Technology Vision 2025 report explores how the future is being shaped by AI-powered autonomy. As diffusion of AI accelerates across the enterprise sphere and wider society faster than any prior technology, 65 per cent of Saudi-based executives believe it brings new urgency to reinvention and how technology systems and the processes they enable are designed, built, and operated. The research also predicts the technology will increasingly act as a development partner, power robotic bodies in the physical world, and foster a new symbiotic relationship with people to bring out the best in each other. "The Accenture Technology Vision 2025 gives leaders a look into what's ahead when AI continuously learns, acts autonomously with, and on behalf of, people, and pushes enterprises and people into new and exciting ways to continuously reinvent," said Julie Sweet, chair and CEO, Accenture. 'But unlocking the benefits of AI will only be possible if leaders seize the opportunity to inject and develop trust in its performance and outcomes in a systematic manner, so businesses and people can unlock AI's incredible possibilities." More than 1,800 tech brands and 680 start-ups are exhibiting at LEAP 2025 this week, alongside a stellar lineup of 1,000-plus expert speakers across 15 stages, highlighting the tech that is shaping tomorrow. For more information on the event and ticket options, visit -Ends- About LEAP: Saudi Arabia's desire to shoot for something beyond the realms of the possible presents the ultimate backdrop for LEAP. LEAP showcases the Kingdom's technology ambition on a global stage as it continues to grow as a hub connecting three continents. The figures speak from themselves as LEAP 2024 had an attendance of over 215,000, making it the most attended tech event in the world. LEAP features the inspiring tech of tomorrow across all major sectors including health, finance, energy, education, digital entertainment, transport, smart cities and more. The event is also led by a speaker faculty of globally celebrated technology innovators, focussing on the most innovative tech case studies from around the world. LEAP is not like any other tech event, from the ground up the community, stakeholders and project team are challenged every day to do something wildly creative and bold, something that reflects the seismic advances in tech adoption being seen in Saudi Arabia. About Tahaluf: Headquartered in Riyadh, Tahaluf brings together strategically important commercial communities from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the wider Gulf region, and from around the world to a portfolio of world-class exhibitions and digital platforms. Tahaluf is a joint venture partnership between Informa PLC, the world's largest trade show organiser, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP), and Events Investment Fund (EIF). Sela, the Saudi-owned event production company renowned for its creation of spectacular event experiences, intends to join the joint venture in the near future. In 2024 Tahaluf was responsible for the award-winning tech events LEAP & DeepFest, as well as 24 Fintech, the Global Health Exhibition, Cityscape Global, Black Hat MEA and CPHI.
Arab News
11-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
LEAP 2025: AI, smart lenses, and wearable tech take center stage
RIYADH: Advanced technologies and innovative solutions were in focus at LEAP 2025, showcasing ideas that could shape industries and the future. Among the key presentations was the Saudi Accelerated Innovation Lab, which introduced Aramco's Robotics Assistant, or SARA. SAIL, launched during LEAP 2024 by Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser, also houses AramcoMetaBrain, a proprietary generative artificial intelligence model designed to enhance operational efficiency. SARA, an AI-powered voice assistant, was introduced by Ibrahim Al-Sowayigh, innovation and commercialization leader at SAIL. He highlighted its potential to meet the highest cybersecurity and operational standards. 'In enterprises and highly regulated environments, there was one persistent problem: trust. That's why one of the very first business opportunities we were introduced to was securing a device that can be trusted to connect to our internal Aramco network and comply with best-in-class cybersecurity requirements,' Al-Sowayigh said. 'We needed a device that is secure, industrial-grade, with intuitive-personalized interactions. That's when we decided to build, not buy, and SARA — our very own industrial Gen-AI tabletop voice assistant — was born.' AramcoMetaBrain powers SARA, enabling it to process vast amounts of industry-specific data, interpret complex queries, and provide highly contextualized responses. The model is trained in Aramco's proprietary operational language, equipping it to navigate the company's guidelines and processes. SARA is poised for commercialization through Aramco Digital, offering enterprises a secure, integrated AI solution. 'SARA ensures that queries and data are processed and protected on-premise, giving organizations full control over their information while benefiting from cutting-edge AI capabilities,' Al-Sowayigh said. 'This makes SARA the ideal digital companion for industries requiring the highest levels of data security and operational efficiency.' Smart contact lens Tech innovation at LEAP 2025 extended beyond AI, with XPANCEO, a Dubai-based computing firm, unveiling a smart contact lens that aims to revolutionize vision enhancement and health monitoring. The lens offers a full-screen, full-color augmented reality experience while functioning as a miniature laboratory for the eye. Integrated neuro-interfacing jet electrodes enable enhanced vision, including night vision and zoom capabilities. 'This is not actually science fiction, but rather what I will try to show you today. So this is already a rapidly developing reality,' said Valentyn Volkov, scientific partner at XPANCEO. The smart lenses, set for development in three phases, will initially improve vision in low-light conditions. The second iteration will incorporate health-tracking features such as stress levels, blood sugar, body temperature, and dry eyes. The final version aims to display visual content directly on the lenses, delivering a seamless augmented reality experience. Despite progress, technological and biological challenges remain, as developers seek to miniaturize smartphone capabilities into a contact lens while ensuring biological compatibility. A prototype was showcased at LEAP, with XPANCEO targeting a market release by the end of 2026. Wearable technology Dutch designer Anouk Wipprecht brought a futuristic vision to LEAP 2025 with her collection of robotic dresses that merge fashion and engineering. Her designs include a heartbeat-monitoring dress featuring a central crystal that blinks in sync with the wearer's pulse. Another highlight, the Spider Dress, incorporates animatronic mechanical limbs and 3D-printed sensors to monitor and protect the wearer's personal space. Using proximity and respiration sensors, the dress responds to external stimuli, adjusting its movements accordingly. Wipprecht noted that such designs are practical for crowded urban environments like New York, where wearers can use them to maintain personal space. LEAP 2025 continues to showcase innovations that challenge the status quo, reinforcing Riyadh's position as a global hub for technological advancement.
