Microsoft to Invest 3.2 Bln Euros in Germany in AI Push

Microsoft's vice chair and president Brad Smith speaks on the day German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Microsoft Berlin office, in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen
Microsoft's vice chair and president Brad Smith speaks on the day German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Microsoft Berlin office, in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen
TT
20

Microsoft to Invest 3.2 Bln Euros in Germany in AI Push

Microsoft's vice chair and president Brad Smith speaks on the day German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Microsoft Berlin office, in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen
Microsoft's vice chair and president Brad Smith speaks on the day German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits Microsoft Berlin office, in Berlin, Germany, February 15, 2024. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen

US software giant Microsoft will invest 3.2 billion euros ($3.44 billion) in Germany in the next two years with a focus on artificial intelligence, Microsoft chairperson Brad Smith said at an event in the German capital on Thursday.
In the biggest investment made by the company in Germany in the last 40 years, Microsoft will spend mostly on setting up data centres and on training people in artificial intelligence in 2024 and 2025.
"We are doing this today because of the enormous confidence we have in Germany," said Smith.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed the move, saying it represented a vote of confidence for Europe's biggest economy.

Marianne Janik, CEO of Microsoft Germany, declined to say exactly where the investments would be made, but said they were mostly looking in the western Rhineland region and around the banking hub of Frankfurt.



KFSHRC Performs World’s First Robotic-Assisted BiVAD Implantation

The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies - SPA
The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies - SPA
TT
20

KFSHRC Performs World’s First Robotic-Assisted BiVAD Implantation

The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies - SPA
The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies - SPA

‏King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) in Riyadh has performed the world’s first implantation of two artificial pumps for biventricular support (BiVAD-HMIII) using robotic technology on a patient with advanced heart failure.

According to a press release, this groundbreaking procedure opens new horizons in circulatory support techniques for patients with complex cardiac conditions, marking a significant medical achievement that culminated in the patient’s recovery within a short period following the surgery.

‏The procedure represents a major advancement in the treatment of bilateral heart failure, which was traditionally performed through full sternotomy, an approach associated with higher surgical risks and prolonged recovery.

The cardiac surgery team at KFSHRC, led by Prof. Feras Khaliel, successfully performed the operation through small incisions using remotely controlled high-precision robotic arms, resulting in reduced blood loss, lower risk of infection, and faster patient recovery.

The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies, real-time surgical navigation, and innovative solutions for safely securing the mechanical assist devices, added the release.

‏KFSHRC aims to publish the results of this procedure in peer-reviewed medical journals and present them at global cardiology conferences to promote knowledge exchange and establish innovative partnerships with leading international centers in robotic care and advanced heart failure management.

According to SPA, these milestones serve as evidence of its leadership in adopting cutting-edge cardiac technologies and managing critical conditions with the highest standards of precision and safety, further reinforcing its position as a leading academic medical center both regionally and globally.