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Saudi Arabia Launches First Regional Program for Electronic Chips

The Saudi Semiconductor Program aims to support research, development and qualification of human cadres in the field of designing and localizing electronic chips. (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Semiconductor Program aims to support research, development and qualification of human cadres in the field of designing and localizing electronic chips. (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Launches First Regional Program for Electronic Chips

The Saudi Semiconductor Program aims to support research, development and qualification of human cadres in the field of designing and localizing electronic chips. (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Semiconductor Program aims to support research, development and qualification of human cadres in the field of designing and localizing electronic chips. (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat)

The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) announced on Wednesday the launch of the Saudi Semiconductor Program - the first of its kind in the region – which is aimed at supporting research, development and qualification of human cadres in the field of designing and localizing electronic chips.

President of the City of Science and Technology Dr. Mounir El-Desouky inaugurated the Future of Semiconductors Forum - an event organized by KACST and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) - with the participation of Dr. Shuji Nakamura, Nobel Prize winner in physics and specialist in semiconductor technologies, and Dr. Omar Yaghi, winner of the King Faisal Prize in 2015 and the Albert Einstein International Prize for Science in 2017, and Dr. David Ruchien Liu, winner of the King Faisal Prize in Medicine for Gene Editing Technique.

The inauguration ceremony was also attended by the winners of the same prize in the field of science this year, Dr. Nader Masmoudi and Dr. Martin Heyer, as well as a number of local and international experts.

The program aims to conduct scientific research in electronic chip technologies, and qualify human cadres in the field of design and production to support the localization of the semiconductor industry in the Kingdom.

Addressing the forum, Saeed Alshihri, Director of Materials Science Research Institute at KACST, stressed that the localization of the electronic chip and semiconductor industry would contribute to achieving the goals of the Vision 2030 programs.

“Semiconductor technologies are changing the world as they form the basis of vital fields such as energy, sensors, and information technology, and the foundation of the third and fourth industrial revolutions,” he stated.

The forum will continue its work on Friday with three sessions discussing automotive and space electronics, photovoltaic efficiency, sensors and micro-electromechanical systems.

On Wednesday, agreements were signed between a number of government, private and international entities, to promote and localize the semiconductor industry in the Kingdom.

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EU May Suspend Syria Sanctions on Energy and Transport

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
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EU May Suspend Syria Sanctions on Energy and Transport

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the commercial harbor of Syria's coastal city of Tartous, Syria, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

The European Union may soon suspend sanctions on Syria related to energy and transport but has yet to agree on whether to ease restrictions on financial transactions, according to three diplomats and a document seen by Reuters.
EU foreign ministers will discuss the matter at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. The bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Reuters on Wednesday she hopes a political agreement on easing the sanctions can be reached at the gathering.
Europe’s approach to Damascus began to shift after Bashar al-Assad was ousted as president in December by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which the United Nations designates as a terrorist group.
Officials see transport as key for helping Syria’s airports become fully operational, which in turn could facilitate the return of refugees. Energy and electricity are similarly seen as important for improving living conditions to help stabilize the country and encourage citizens to come back.
According to an EU document seen by Reuters, diplomats from the bloc's 27 members recommended taking swift action towards suspending the restrictions "in sectors necessary for economic stabilization and launch of economic reconstruction of Syria, such as those regarding energy and transport”.
The diplomats, who are part of a group that negotiates the EU’s foreign policy positions on issues related to the Middle East and North Africa, also recommended “assessing options for reopening banking and investment relations with Syria”.
“The easing of EU restrictive measures would be rolled out in a staged approach and in a reversible manner, regularly assessing if the conditions in Syria allow for further suspension,” the diplomats wrote, pointing to the need for respect for fundamental freedoms and an inclusive transition.
The wording of the document represents a compromise among EU capitals. Some governments want to move quickly to suspend sanctions, while others prefer a more careful and gradual approach to ensure Europe retains leverage.
If a political agreement is announced on Monday, European officials would proceed to work on the technical details of a suspension.
A number of sanctions should remain in place, according to the document, including measures related to the Al-Assad regime, illicit drug trade and arms trade.