NCA Launches 'Cybersecurity Research and Innovation Pioneers Grants' Initiative

NCA Launches 'Cybersecurity Research and Innovation Pioneers Grants' Initiative
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NCA Launches 'Cybersecurity Research and Innovation Pioneers Grants' Initiative

NCA Launches 'Cybersecurity Research and Innovation Pioneers Grants' Initiative

The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) announced the launch of the "Cybersecurity Research and Innovation Pioneers Grants" initiative. This initiative aims to empower outstanding researchers and innovators to develop breakthrough research and disruptive innovations for current and emerging cybersecurity challenges, accelerating their impact both nationally and internationally, SPA reported.
NCA is launching this initiative in collaboration with its technical arm, the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE), as part of the "National Program for Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) in Cybersecurity."
The national program serves as a launch pad for transformative initiatives that unlock new horizons and foster cybersecurity industry development on a national level. Its aim is to solidify Saudi Arabia's standing as a secure global economic driver built on innovation and cybersecurity excellence.
The program prioritizes eight areas: NextGen Cyber Defense, Cyber Resilience, Cyber-Physical Technologies and IoT, AI x Cyber, Cryptography and Quantum Security, Behavioral Cyber, Future of Cyber Threats and Attacks, and Cyber Order. By nurturing robust national and international partnerships in cybersecurity RDI, the program is described as "the cornerstone of building an attractive innovation ecosystem in this critical field."
The Cybersecurity Research and Innovation Pioneers Grants initiative will provide grants for researchers, academics, experts, and university students at various levels in cybersecurity or related fields. It will nurture broader-scale advancements in cybersecurity RDI under three primary tracks: Scientific Research and Projects, Postgraduate Research Theses, and Bachelor's and Master's Graduation Projects.



Apple at All-time High after Morgan Stanley Calls Stock 'Top Pick' for AI Efforts

Apple's shares rose 2.5% to a record high on Monday (The AP/File)
Apple's shares rose 2.5% to a record high on Monday (The AP/File)
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Apple at All-time High after Morgan Stanley Calls Stock 'Top Pick' for AI Efforts

Apple's shares rose 2.5% to a record high on Monday (The AP/File)
Apple's shares rose 2.5% to a record high on Monday (The AP/File)

Apple's shares rose 2.5% to a record high on Monday after Morgan Stanley raised its price target on the iPhone maker's shares and designated the stock as a "top pick," citing the company's AI efforts as a boost to device sales.

In what was seen as a move to catch up with Alphabet's Google and Microsoft-backed OpenAI, the iPad maker last month unveiled Apple Intelligence, luring customers to upgrade their devices to be able to use the new technology.

Apple's shares, which have jumped nearly 20% this year, rose to $236.30, giving the company a market value of $3.62 trillion, the highest in the world.

"Apple Intelligence is a clear catalyst to boost iPhone and iPad shipments," Morgan Stanley analysts said, Reuters reported.

The new technology is compatible with only 8% of iPhone and iPad devices and Apple has 1.3 billion units of smartphones currently in use by customers, the analysts said, adding that the company could sell nearly 500 million iPhones over the next two years.

Morgan Stanley, which previously expected Apple to sell between 230 million and 235 million iPhones annually over the next two years, raised its price target on the company's shares to $273 from $216.

The stock has an average rating of "buy" with a median price target of $217, and has outperformed the S&P 500 index this year, according to LSEG data.

Industry analysts expect Samsung and Apple to lead the charge in global smartphone market recovery this year given the buzz around GenAI-enabled smartphones.

Apple sold 45.2 million smartphones globally in the three months ending June, up from 44.5 million a year earlier, but its market share fell to 15.8% from 16.6% in the same period, according to IDC data.