Siemens has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and Sabah Al Ahmad Centre for Giftedness and Creativity (SACGC)for coperation in the field of R&D and innovation.

The agreement establishes a strategic partnership between KFAS, SACGC and Siemens in different fields, designed to contribute to the digital transformation of Kuwait and to develop a highly-skilled local workforce, said a statement.

Siemens will cooperate with KFAS and SACGC in R&D and innovation, digital technologies as well as training and development of the local workforce. The move also highlights Siemens’ role as a technology partner for Kuwait, supporting the State’s Vision 2035, it said.

This milestone agreement was signed by Dr Adnan A Shihab-Eldin, director general of KFAS; Dr Omar Al-Bannai, general manager of SACGC; and Herbert Klausner, CEO of Siemens Electrical and Electronics Services in the presence of Joe Kaeser, president and chief executive officer of Siemens AG.

To support Kuwait’s pursuit of a knowledge economy, Siemens will also provide technical education for local workforce through Siemens Power Academy and Siemens Training for Industry (SITRAIN), in addition to collaborating with several Kuwaiti universities to develop future-focused curriculums that meet the requirements of industry, it said.

Under the agreement, Siemens will also roll out Siemens Mechatronics Systems Certification Program (SMSCP) at Sabah Al Ahmad Centre for Giftedness and Creativity (SACGC) to all students interested in advancing their skills in automation and manufacturing, it added.

Under the long-term vision of the agreement, Siemens will set up a Digital Innovation Center which will feature state-of-the-art facilities and provide training for Kuwaiti youth in advanced technical skills critical to meeting the needs of the country’s growing economy. Through hands-on experience with advanced technologies, students would gain an opportunity to boost their digital skills and promote knowledge exchange to support increasingly-digitalized industries.

Shihab-Eldin said: “Our youth are our most vital resource. We are pleased to team up with Siemens to enhance the digital and technical capabilities of Kuwaiti youth, who will form the cornerstone of our economy in the future.”

“The agreement also reflects our strategy to partner with leading and innovative companies that can support Kuwait’s sustainable growth in line with our development strategy,” he said.

Klausner said: “Education and youth empowerment are key to a sustainable future.”

“Collaborating with KFAS and SACGC to train and nurture Kuwaiti talent for the digital world is a great opportunity to highlight public-private partnerships and what they can achieve. Our company has been a partner of the state of Kuwait for the last 60 years and this MoU reinforces our commitment to the country,” he added.

Siemens provides training and education programs globally. Over the past 125 years, some 160,000 people in Germany alone have undergone training with the company. In fiscal 2016, Siemens worked with 11,428 apprentices and students, making it one of the largest and most innovative providers of professional education for secondary-school graduates in the world. – TradeArabia News Service