Saudi Arabia Signs Contracts Worth $426.6 Mln to Boost Defense Research and Development

GADD hosts the second edition of the JISR 2025 Forum on Sunday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
GADD hosts the second edition of the JISR 2025 Forum on Sunday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Saudi Arabia Signs Contracts Worth $426.6 Mln to Boost Defense Research and Development

GADD hosts the second edition of the JISR 2025 Forum on Sunday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
GADD hosts the second edition of the JISR 2025 Forum on Sunday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi General Authority for Defense Development (GADD) has signed contracts worth over SAR 1.6 billion ($426.6 million) in 2024 to support research in five key areas addressing military and security priorities. These efforts align with Saudi Arabia’s broader goal of localizing 50% of its military spending by 2030.

Established four years ago, GADD is responsible for regulating, supervising and promoting research, development, and innovation in defense technologies and national security. It aims to advance these fields while fostering the localization of defense sector outputs.

On Sunday, GADD hosted the second edition of the JISR 2025 Forum, bringing together 29 local universities, research centers and national companies, alongside international institutions from the UK and France. The event showcased the scientific achievements of over 90 students.

Speaking at the forum in Riyadh, GADD Governor Dr. Faleh Al-Sulaiman highlighted Saudi Arabia’s progress in scientific and technological research, noting that the Kingdom has published over 55,000 research papers and registered more than 2,700 patents.

The first edition of the forum led to 23 research projects across six Saudi universities, strengthening ties between academia and the defense industry, he remarked.

Dr. Abdullah Aba Al-Khail, Director of Corporate Communications at GADD, stressed to Asharq Al-Awsat the authority’s commitment to enhancing Saudi Arabia’s defense self-sufficiency by fostering collaboration between academia and industry.

Over the past year, students have contributed 68 research projects across five main fields and 40 specialized topics addressing military and security needs, he revealed. These projects, supported by previously signed contracts worth SAR 1.6 billion, aim to integrate university expertise into industrial applications.

Students at the forum presented research projects aimed at advancing security and military technology. Iman Al-Attas, a PhD student at King Abdulaziz University, developed a deepfake detection model capable of identifying AI-generated fraudulent videos, helping to prevent identity fraud and misinformation.

Mansour Al-Harithi, a PhD researcher at King Saud University, is working on nano-sensors designed to detect hazardous pollutants in water with extreme sensitivity, even at minimal concentrations.

Nouf Al-Hibad, an AI master’s student at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, is developing wearable authentication technology that verifies user identity based on movement patterns and sensor data, complementing facial and retinal recognition.

Students praised GADD’s financial and logistical support, which has enabled them to turn research concepts into marketable products, contributing to the localization of Saudi defense spending. Founded in 2021 under a government decision, GADD operates as an independent entity directly linked to Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. It plays a central role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s defense research, innovation and localization efforts.



Downloads of DeepSeek's AI Apps Paused in South Korea Over Privacy Concerns 

People watch a TV reporting DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (AP)
People watch a TV reporting DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (AP)
TT

Downloads of DeepSeek's AI Apps Paused in South Korea Over Privacy Concerns 

People watch a TV reporting DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (AP)
People watch a TV reporting DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. (AP)

DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, has temporarily paused downloads of its chatbot apps in South Korea while it works with local authorities to address privacy concerns, South Korean officials said Monday.

South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission said DeepSeek’s apps were removed from the local versions of Apple’s App Store and Google Play on Saturday evening and that the company agreed to work with the agency to strengthen privacy protections before relaunching the apps.

The action does not affect users who have already downloaded DeepSeek on their phones or use it on personal computers. Nam Seok, director of the South Korean commission’s investigation division, advised South Korean users of DeepSeek to delete the app from their devices or avoid entering personal information into the tool until the issues are resolved.

DeepSeek got worldwide attention last month when it claimed it built its popular chatbot at a fraction of the cost of those made by US companies. The resulting frenzy upended markets and fueled debates over competition between the US and China in developing AI technology.

Many South Korean government agencies and companies have either blocked DeepSeek from their networks or prohibited employees from using the app for work, amid worries that the AI model was gathering too much sensitive information.

The South Korean privacy commission, which began reviewing DeepSeek’s services last month, found that the company lacked transparency about third-party data transfers and potentially collected excessive personal information, Nam said.

Nam said the commission did not have an estimate on the number of DeepSeek users in South Korea. A recent analysis by Wiseapp Retail found that DeepSeek was used by about 1.2 million smartphone users in South Korea during the fourth week of January, emerging as the second-most-popular AI model behind ChatGPT.