In an exclusive interview with Sal Jafar, CEO of ESG Mena, Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of Tech Innovation Institution, shares her perspective on the challenges and benefits of integrating AI and sustainability in the Middle East.
Barbara Frei of Schneider Electric highlights the global commitment to safety, leveraging digital twins, AI, and partnerships to enhance resilience and cybersecurity in challenging environments.
In an effort to support start-ups harnessing cross-sector AI innovation, Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s global tech ecosystem, has launched Hub71+ AI.
The platform was launched during Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), providing start-ups with the necessary infrastructure and resources to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy. The Initiative underscore’s Abu Dhabi’s commitment to advancing AI across priority sectors , aligning with the UAE’s capital’s broader economic vision.
Between 2021 and 2023, the number of AI companies in Abu Dhabi increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 67 per cent. Furthermore, studies indicate that, on average, one AI company was established every two days in Abu Dhabi during the first half of 2024. Hub71+ AI is set to accelerate this momentum by supporting startups and developing the infrastructure required to drive AI adoption across various sectors.
AI71 joins as an anchor partner of Hub71+ AI and will offer compute power credits for their API Hub, which provides pay-as-you-go access to the globally ranked Falcon series of Large Language Models and other tools. AI71 will also provide access to their team of AI researchers.
In addition, Core42 joins Hub71+ AI as an anchor partner, empowering regional startups with preferential access to Core42’s advanced products and solutions. Core42 will offer startups cloud credits that can leverage the deployments of next-generation digital infrastructure for AI including current deployments of training and inference capacity in the UAE, USA, and a growing global footprint.
Additionally, Core42’s Sovereign Public Cloud offering which leverages Microsoft Azure, can be utilised for startups that are in need to offer a sovereign implementation for regulated industries and the public sector. Core42 will also support startups in accessing relevant facets of the broader G42 ecosystem including Presight, M42, AIQ, CPX, Space42, and others where relevant.
Hub71+ AI is supported by a network of leading partners, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google for Startups, Nvidia, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), and 42 Abu Dhabi. Together, these strategic partners aim to support the specialist ecosystem and advance the growth of AI startups, contributing to Abu Dhabi’s economic transformation, underpinned by advanced technology.
Through these partnerships, startups will gain access to technical and industry expertise, digital infrastructure, strategic market entry pathways, and hands-on regulatory guidance. Hub71’s collaborations with global technology leaders will further benefit startups, providing opportunities to pilot new technologies in real-world settings. Additionally, startups will be exposed to a network of investors and corporate partners that can help accelerate their growth from Abu Dhabi. These partnerships will enable Hub71+ AI startups to leverage digital infrastructure and cloud credits to strengthen the AI ecosystem and expand their business from Abu Dhabi to the world.
“AI is transforming industries and rapidly shaping the future of our world”, said Ahmad Ali Alwan, Chief Executive Officer of Hub71. “Abu Dhabi is not just keeping pace but setting the standard as a global leader in advancing AI for meaningful impact.”
“Hub71+AI is our commitment to bold, pioneering founders, providing startups with unparalleled access to resources, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities with tech giants and national champions. We aim to scale and drive AI innovation that resonates globally from Abu Dhabi’s dynamic tech ecosystem.”
Sustainable Square announced its participation as the sole ESG Partner of the Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA) 16th Annual Conference. This event is set to take place at the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers Hotel from 11-12th December.
More than 500 delegates are registered to attend the event in 2024, the MEIRA Annual Conference is the largest Investor Relations (IR) event in the Middle East, gathering Investor Relations Officers and professionals from the entire region. Regional and international corporates, investors, analysts and regulators will attend the conference.
“We are thrilled to support the MEIRA community and its members in embedding ESG into their investor narratives”, said Monaem Ben Lellahom, Founder and Group CEO of Sustainable Square. “At Sustainable Square, we recognise the value of equipping the investor relations community with best practices, emerging trends, and innovative tools to align ESG principles with financial success.”
“We are excited to engage in conversations that drive meaningful impact and help businesses create long-term value.”
Sustainable Square plan to engage participants through an exclusive ESG workshop aimed at equipping IR professionals with the tools to streamline ESG implementation for their clients, titled ‘ISSB Reporting, Ratings and Regulations. Integrating ESG Principles for Financial Success’. The session will be led by Monaem Ben Lellahom and Rach ElGolli, Senior Responsible Finance and Sustainability Advisor.
Sustainable Square reports a track record of over 380 successful projects and a 92.3 per cent customer satisfaction rate. The firm works to shape the ESG landscape by working closely with ESG teams, C-suite executives and IR officers. Sustainable Square uses an AI-driven ESG reporting software, SQUARELY, which is a platform that has accelerated data collection, management and analysis. The software auto-drafts reports aligned to global reporting standards and frameworks, enabling clients to boost investor confidence.
Leaders from governments, the private sector, civil society and global stakeholders are meeting to accelerate progress on sustainable land management at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16, which is being hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
COP16 is a critical moment for governments and non-state actors to slow and reverse land degradation, with hopes to halt the loss of fertile land globally, following the UNCCD COP 15 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire in 2022. During COP15, 38 decisions highlighting the role of land sustainability in addressing multiple challenges were adopted through a unified global pledge to strengthen drought resilience and increase investment in land restoration and conservation for prosperity for all.
Established in 1994, the UNCCD is the only legally binding treaty – signed by 197 countries plus the European Union – linking environmental conservation and sustainable land management for development, promoting good governance to avoid, minimise and reverse land degradation, thus ensuring the continued availability of land-based natural resources that are essential for human survival.
Saudi Arabia Elected to Presidency of COP16
This year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was officially elected as the President of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), during the opening ceremony in Riyadh.
With this announcement, Saudi Arabia begins its two-year term to advance international action on land rehabilitation, restoration, fertility and resilience to desertification and drought.
During the official opening of the conference, COP16 President Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli urged the international community to take significant action to achieve the UNCCD’s goal of rehabilitating 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030.
“We are at a critical juncture for the earth we live on and for all our people”, said Minister Al-Fadhli. “Restoring land fertility and strengthening our resilience to drought are essential to prevent many of the crises currently plaguing societies around the world.”
Global Partnership for Drought Resilience
The Riyadh Global Partnership for Drought Resilience is set to accelerate a shift in how drought challenges are addressed around the world. Drawing on the collective influence of major global institutions, drought response mechanisms will be radically transformed, and instead of an emergency response after a crisis has occurred, it will be addressed in a proactive approach, by strengthening early warning systems, financing, vulnerability assessments, and drought risk mitigation.
“The initiative will facilitate collaborative and coordinated joint action around the world and will serve as a ‘one-stop-shop’ to strengthen capacities and preparations to address drought challenges”, said Dr Osama Fakiha, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Environmental Affairs, and Advisor to the COP Presidency.
“It will also play a very important role in supporting efforts to shift from emergency response, which is limited to providing aid and relief after a drought crisis, to pre-preparedness. At the same time, we endeavour to mobilise global resources to save lives and livelihoods around the world.”
The Partnership will also prioritise the launch of new drought financing mechanisms, as well as increased access to credit, equity financing, insurance products and grants, and Saudi Arabia will cover the expenses of the office for at least 10 years.
“While no country is immune to drought, 85 per cent of people affected by drought live in low-and-middle-income countries”, said Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD. “In today’s interconnected world, we have a collective responsibility and common interest that requires the participation of everyone, everywhere, to address the catastrophic effects of drought, which spares no country.”
Droughts affect almost every corner of the globe affecting 1.84 billion people in 2022. More than 55 countries have been declared drought emergencies between 2020 and 2023, according to the UNCCD. In Africa, 28 per cent of the continent’s land area was affected by drought between 2016 and 2019, according to official reports. Latin America and the Caribbean saw similar devastation, with 37.9 per cent of land area affected during the same time period. Drought is the leading cause of food and water insecurity, and has displaced millions, with affected countries incurring huge economic losses.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered Observatory Launched to Combat Drought
The International Drought Observatory is the first global AI-powered platform dedicated to the proactive management of droughts. Projections from world-renounced research centres indicate that 75 per cent of the world’s population will be affected by severe droughts by 2050, unless swift and effective action is taken.
During the opening ceremony of the Observatory, the conference presidency called on the representatives of countries to provide data and expertise to enrich the work mechanisms of this project based on the latest AI technologies, in order to enhance the capabilities of countries and governments to confront drought.
The Observatory can be utilised to help stakeholders establish a foundation of press practices to protect communities, economies, and ecosystems, and work to continuously enhance them to reach the required sustainability.
ADIA Lab, the independent Abu Dhabi-based institute dedicated to basic and applied research in data and computational sciences, hosted its second annual symposium in Abu Dhabi in November, with an agenda focussed on the power of research and technology to address global challenges.
The event took place at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) as part of ADIA Lab’s commitment to playing an active role in the international data and computational science community, contributing to Abu Dhabi’s digital ecosystem and raising opportunities for collaboration between the UAE and global organisations.
The event brought together some of the world’s most respected scientists, thought leaders and researchers to confront critical issues like climate change and the need for trustworthy AI, while discussing how AI is transforming key industries.
“At the symposium, some of the world’s brightest minds in science and technology, will explore how AI and data science can be harnessed to solve critical societal issues”, said Dr Horst Simon, Director of ADIA Lab, ahead of the event.
“This year’s symposium has expanded not only in scope, but also in our potential impact, as wee look deeper into the technological advances and innovations that are shaping our future.”
The 2024 symposium explored three themes over three days, such as trustworthy AI, which explored the need to address the urgent need for secure and reliable ecosystems. The event also included discussions based on the environment, with a focus on sustainability in AI, and topics ranging from climate monitoring to risk modelling.
The energy industry faces great challenges in light of climate change, the increasing demand for energy, and the urgent need to shift to sustainability and reduce carbon emissions. Can artificial intelligence play a role in achieving these goals?
In an interview with ESG Mena, Ron Beck, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Aspen Technology Inc., explains how his company uses industrial AI to achieve energy efficiency and emissions reduction in heavy industry, focusing on successful experiences in the region.
- How is Aspen Tech’s Industrial AI technology specifically contributing to reducing carbon emissions in industries? Can you provide specific examples of successful implementations?
AspenTech Industrial AI solutions are already significant contributors to reducing carbon emissions. Aspen Hybrid Models combine AI algorithms with first principles modeling systems Aspen Plus and HYSYS. Hybrid models are increasing the speed and accuracy of digital twin on and offline models; hybrid models are resulting in up to18% energy efficiency savings in economic units in plants, hybrid heat exchanger (HX) train models are providing guidance for better HX cleaning, saving up to 15% energy use. Hybrid reactor models in chemical plants are reducing waste materials and water use. Industrial AI-powered adaptive process control is improving energy use an incremental 5-10%. AI neural network powered renewable energy forecasting for power distribution with the AspenTech ADMS system are optimising utilisation of wind and solar power to reduce carbon intensity of electricity provided to electrical powered equipment. Machine-learning powered prescriptive maintenance, the Aspen Mtell product, provides 10-60 days advance warning of equipment degradation, reducing unplanned downtime by 50-80% and therefore avoiding over 50% of site flaring. Each unplanned shutdown can force flaring, emitting as much carbon as up to six months of normal operations. Eliminating these unplanned shutdowns has huge impact.
A number of companies have reported on the significant contributions AspenTech Industrial solutions have provided in reducing carbon emissions. Let me share several examples:
Socar, Azerbaijani Energy Company, has implemented hybrid models achieving 36% waste heat recovery in certain chemical units.
Tupras, Turkish refining giant, has implemented hybrid models for refining heat exchanger networks, for 1-2% CO2 emissions and associated energy savings of over $1M per year.
Sardeolica, Italian utility scale wind farm operator, has implement Aspen Mtell AI-based machine learning that is extending the lifetime of their wind turbine systems by an estimated 8% life extension, with associated incremental renewable electricity production.
Saudi Aramco and AspenTech are collaborating on the release and further development of the Aspen Strategic Planning for Sustainability Pathways (SPSP), this helps energy and chemical enterprises to map 10-20 year plans for incorporating low carbon process technology and process units into energy and production operations.
These are just four of many examples of industrial AI strategically reducing carbon emissions.
2. What are the challenges facing the use of AI and technology in carbon reduction processes, especially since there are accusations against technology that it contributes significantly to increasing the production of carbon emissions?
Asset-intensive industries, for instance, companies with refining, LNG, hydrogen chemical, mineral processing, and power generation assets, have been slower to embrace AI in the key processing and optimization business functions. The reasons are logical. These industries have a “safety first” mindset closely followed with focus on operational excellence. To overcome that AI reluctance, AspenTech has focused on delivering AI within the framework of our highly trusted first principles engineering model-based systems, such as Aspen HYSYS and Aspen Unified PIMS and we call that INDUSTRIAL AI.
One of the key principles that AspenTech follows is what we called “purpose built AI”. What we mean by that is to apply the right digital technology solution to the right problem. Some problems are inherently linear, and not difficult to model and make effective decisions.
The more powerful AI algorithms, including generative AI and large language models, should only be applied to the right problems that they are best suited to solve. Yes, large language models are electric consumers; but AspenTech (and others) are also pursuing more efficient approaches, including small language models (SLMs) and hybrid models based on simulation data.
Such approaches can be extremely efficient in their use of data and compute power, and when applied to sustainability problems such as increasing energy efficiency have an extremely positive net benefit toward sustainability outcomes.
Our solutions are interestingly, also being applied by organisations we partner with such as Microsoft to model and develop solutions for conserving and recycling the waste heat generated by massive data centers, improving their carbon footprint.
3. How can Industrial AI and other digital technologies assist the MENA region in meeting the increasing demand for energy while also reducing carbon emissions?
Industrial AI and associated digital technologies are already creating significant and measurable value, both in making better decisions around the growth and optimisation of increasingly complex assets, as well as in reducing emissions.
A key challenge in the region is to master turning these AI solutions into business value. There is a lot of staff upskilling required. There is also a crucial role for executive leadership to embrace and guide the business and organisation change process required to embrace AI.
As key Middle East players expand their energy networks into other regions, especially SE Asia and the Pacific Rim, the value and supply chains become more complex and stretched. The opportunity is huge, but it comes with the challenges of understand and manage the increased complexity. Here is where applying industrial AI, to increase organisational agility, to be able to understand and make optimal decisions across business complexity is crucial. We believe industrial AI plays a necessary and strategic role in making this happen.
4. You have a program named “Innovate for sustainability”, how could this program help companies and organisations to use AI to achieve sustainability?
Some of the key sustainability trends and forces, such as circularity and the energy transition, require not incremental improvements but step-change improvements. This requires embracing innovation and change and the companies that can be agile and creative will win.
We are embracing a new way of co-innovating with customers to support the need for faster innovation and for companies to work together to achieve that. One very concrete outcome of this is our partnership with Saudi Aramco on digital innovation to support strategic planning. We are working on others in the region and globally.
5. Why is upskilling the workforce crucial for successful decarbonisation, and how can AI technologies support this process?
Successful decarbonisation of an enterprise requires leadership from the top – namely executive vision and commitment. But the companies that are being most successful are the ones where every person in the workforce is made to feel that their role and impact matters.
The right digital tools are absolutely crucial here, to provide the visibility and transparency such that each worker can see the impact that their actions, on a daily basis, have on a company’s operational excellence and decarbonisation journey.
Industrial AI software is designed to be easy to adopt and use. At the same time, explainability and transparency are crucial concepts. For that to work in an organisation, all technical, knowledge, and operational workers need to have the new skills needed to understand and interpret how AI software is interpreting data and recommending action.
The upskilled workforce will be the key players in making sure the full value of industrial AI innovation can be captured by an organisation.
AspenTech has introduced, and is continuing to introduce, a wide range of ways for providing education and “just in time” advice to the workers who are striving to get the most from these new tools.
6. What differentiates Industrial AI from general AI?
Industrial AI from AspenTech combines the speed and power of AI algorithms with the efficiency and guardrails of real-world domain expertise (i.e., engineering fundamentals, asset operational insight and industry knowledge). These Industrial AI solutions address the risks of AI via guardrails, robustness and trusted results. The unique advantage of AspenTech’s engineering models in the AI journey, is that these models will generate simulated data that leverage laws of chemistry and physics while filling gaps in the range of scenarios needed to extrapolate insights. They augment historical and real time asset data. Also, by seamlessly integrating AI applications into existing optimisation software already in wide use, industrial AI applications become easy to adopt by both experienced users and the next-generation workforce.
Abu Dhabi-based AI solutions company AIQ and G42 company Inception announced a partnership this week focused on advancing AI models in the energy sector.
“Joining forces with Inception in this strategic partnership will see AIQ unlock new opportunities for growth and transformation in the Energy sector, pushing the boundaries of AI innovation and driving real, impactful change,” said Magzhan Kenesbai, Acting Managing Director at AIQ, in a statement.
The partnership, unveiled at the Dubai tech event GITEX Global 2024, will reportedly utilise near-real-time data processing, advanced multi-modal insights, and AI-assisted automation across the energy value chain with the aim of enhancing efficiency, improving sustainability and safety, and reducing costs.
Ashish Koshy, Chief Operating Officer of Inception, said the partnership marks a “defining moment” in how combining AI with domain expertise can “accelerate innovation” in the energy sector.
“By combining our expertise in large language and advanced AI models with AIQ’s industry expertise and proven track record in the Energy sector, we are confident that together we will deliver solutions that will set new standards for operational excellence, efficiency, and sustainability.
Both companies will also explore opportunities to enhance AI models and accelerate the deployment of AI solutions in the value chain, it was shared.
According to research from DNV, while only 12 per cent of survey companies in the energy industry have already implemented advanced AI, 73 per cent are either piloting or planning activities for the future.
However, the AI boom also means a rise in energy demand. Recent Goldman Sachs research sees data centre power demand growing 160 per cent by 2030. In Europe alone, the investment bank forecasts that over $1 trillion in investment will be required to prepare the power grid.
Far from just a buzzword, AI is changing the world as we know it. It is increasingly integrated into everything from energy optimisation to plant-based food innovation while also informing decision-making and reimagining work processes.
So, it comes as no surprise that AI is also the star of the show at this year’s GITEX Global.
Dubbing itself the “largest AI event in the world,” GITEX Global opened its doors in Dubai on Monday and will feature 120 hours of AI-focused content—including “Super AI Tuesday”—positioning the technology front and centre of conversations across the five days.
Betting Big on AI
The UAE itself is betting big on AI. In 2023, the country’s AI market was valued at $3.47 billion, and looking ahead, it is pegged to contribute up to 14 per cent of the UAE’s GDP by 2030.
Indeed, this week, at Expand North Star, which runs alongside GITEX Global, over 400 AI startups presented their solutions and discussed using Dubai as a hub for global expansion.
“Dubai is at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. We’ve found that a lot of US and North American investors are here as well. We’re setting up a company here and meeting with consultants to determine the best free zone for our operations,” said Brian Keene, CEO of Diagen AI, a Canadian company specialising in AI-driven drug discovery.
More broadly, looking through a global lens, it has been forecast that AI investment could hit $200 billion globally by 2025, with AI projected to contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
However, according to Steven Hoffman, Venture Investor, Author, and Chairman and CEO of Founders Space, investment trends reveal that only a few are benefiting from the big bucks: “There is a lot of money going into AI but most of that is going into a handful of companies which are dominating the market and this is impacting the growth of startups.”
“As such, a lot of money is now going into vertical AI where the specialist area is only on one focus such as healthcare or hospitality and this is centred around this business model and adding AI on top of this,” he added.
Further, alongside its transformative potential, AI is also an energy- and water-guzzling giant, lacking in regulation and a source of quickly growing emissions—meaning that, despite the hype, AI is far from a silver bullet solution to the world’s problems.
Yesterday, a number of sessions at GITEX Global pondered on some of these issues, including one session on AI leadership, where H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President and Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), explored the socio-economic implications alongside governance, and regulation.
Similarly, at the 9th edition of Expand North Star, some sessions saw the focus shift to ‘AI for good,’ including from the likes of Manu Chopra, Founder and CEO of Karya, USA, with a conversation on democratising AI and grassroots innovation.
Reimagining Business Models
Beyond AI for good, conversations this week have also centred on business for good, and at a talk on Sunday, Sean O’Sullivan, Founder of US venture capital firm SOSV, underlined the importance of reimagining business models for the better.
“Climate change is an urgent, existential crisis for humanity – and unsustainable, nonsensical business models cannot continue. There are opportunities for tens of thousands of startups to immediately begin solving our problems and reinventing society – becoming profitable over time,” said O’Sullivan at Expand North Star.
“Open AI was founded in 2015 and was going nowhere until recently. Now it’s the most valuable company in the world. With perseverance, companies can suddenly be worth hundreds of billions – even trillions – of dollars,” he added.
By convening stakeholders from the public and private sectors, investors, accelerators, and startups, the event—also the largest to date— serves as an opportunity to catalyse the growth of sustainable solutions that do good at a time when the planet needs them most.
Indeed, a new climate study led by Oregon State University Scientists, published this month, warns that the world is now “on the brink” of an irreversible climate disaster and calls for “bold, transformative change.”
“In a world with finite resources, unlimited growth is a perilous illusion,” the report reads. “Humanity’s future depends on our creativity, moral fiber, and perseverance.”
GITEX Global wraps up Friday, while Expand North Star concludes tomorrow.
ESG Mena is an Expand North Star Community Partner.
Energy company Masdar signed an agreement with data analytics company Presight this week to develop an AI-based asset management tool for its global renewable energy projects.
According to Masdar, the new AI asset management tool will help digitise its operations and assist the company in moving to a predictive approach. This, it said, will enable the analysis of data and operational patterns to anticipate issues, enhance efficiency, address failures before they occur, and reduce downtime.
“With our history of developing projects using cutting-edge clean energy technologies, it was a natural progression for Masdar to explore the potential for deploying AI across energy systems to enhance efficiency and deliver data-driven decision-making,” said Masdar Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi.
Thomas Pramotedham, CEO of Presight, explained that clean energy has a number of specific operational needs, from managing shifting supply throughout the day to efficiently merging with other forms of energy in the grid, adding that Masdar generates billions of data points across its portfolio, which is set to reach 100GW by 2030.
“This partnership therefore represents a unique opportunity to develop a bespoke tool that consolidates all that information, uncovers hidden insights and takes action to improve efficiency, predict maintenance needs, and ultimately increase the supply of renewable energy. This will be transformational for the sector, and so I’m looking forward to seeing this collaboration progress,” said Pramotedham, commenting on the partnership.
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