Latest news with #Al-Humaidan
Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait's KISR launches IKARUS platform for high-performance computing and AI
KUWAIT: Acting Director General of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) Dr Faisal Al-Humaidan announced Tuesday the launch of the Integrated Kuwait Advanced Research for Ultra-Scale Computing System (IKARUS). The system is the first fully integrated national platform in Kuwait for high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI), aimed at supporting the scientific and research communities and strengthening Kuwait's standing in advanced technologies. In a press statement marking the occasion, Al-Humaidan said that IKARUS offers advanced processing and data capabilities, including a computing performance of 244 teraflops (244 trillion calculations per second), with storage capacities of up to 500 terabytes for temporary storage and five petabytes for permanent storage, enabling it to address research challenges in environment, energy, water, petroleum, biomedical engineering, and climate change. He noted that the platform serves as a practical tool for researchers and engineers to tackle large and complex problems and develop solutions with higher efficiency, lower cost, and shorter time compared to traditional computing methods, thus contributing to sustainable development goals and Kuwait?s Vision 2035. Al-Humaidan stressed that IKARUS is not merely a technical project but an investment in Kuwait?s scientific and technological future, opening new horizons for local and international cooperation and reinforcing the country?s role as a regional hub for research and innovation in line with leadership directives toward a knowledge-based economy. For her part, the system's technical lead engineer, Tahani Hussein, said in a similar statement that IKARUS was designed to balance high computing power with energy efficiency, featuring parallel and sequential workload management. She added that the platform combines big data technologies and artificial intelligence on a single infrastructure, enabling data analysis, running simulations, and handling various research workloads. Among the key benefits of the platform, she said, are accelerating research in energy, environment, water, and medical technologies; supporting decision-making through advanced simulations and big data analysis; enhancing risk management; training national talent in HPC and AI; and helping place Kuwait among countries possessing advanced computing technologies. - KUNA
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Arab Times
Kuwait's KISR launches ICARUS, a Revolutionary AI and HPC Platform
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 12: On Tuesday, Dr. Faisal Al-Humaidan, Acting Director General of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), officially inaugurated the ICARUS system, marking the launch of Kuwait's first integrated national platform for high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI). Speaking during the inauguration, Dr. Al-Humaidan highlighted the significance of ICARUS as a key enabler for Kuwait's scientific and research communities, enhancing the country's position in the realm of advanced technologies. The new system is set to provide cutting-edge processing and data capabilities, with a computational performance of 244 teraflops (244 trillion calculations per second) and substantial storage capacity — 500 terabytes for temporary storage and 5 petabytes for permanent storage. These specifications will allow ICARUS to tackle research challenges across a range of critical sectors, including environmental studies, energy, water, petroleum, biomedical engineering, and climate change. Al-Humaidan emphasized that the ICARUS system will serve as a powerful tool for researchers and engineers, enabling them to solve complex problems more efficiently and cost-effectively, and in less time compared to traditional computing methods. He noted that ICARUS aligns with Kuwait's broader sustainable development goals and supports the country's Vision 2035 by enhancing its technological infrastructure. "The launch of ICARUS is not merely a technical achievement," Dr. Al-Humaidan remarked. "It is a strategic investment in Kuwait's scientific and technological future, providing opportunities for both local and international cooperation and reinforcing Kuwait's growing role as a regional hub for research and innovation. This project aligns perfectly with the political leadership's focus on building a knowledge-based economy." In a separate statement, Engineer Tahani Hussein, the technical official overseeing the ICARUS system, explained the system's design and capabilities. She stated that ICARUS was crafted to balance high computing power with energy efficiency, allowing for both parallel and sequential management of computing loads. The platform merges big data and AI technologies on a single infrastructure, enabling advanced data analysis, simulation, and processing of diverse research workloads. Engineer Hussein highlighted several key benefits of ICARUS, including accelerating research in fields like energy, environment, water, and medical technologies. She also emphasized its role in supporting data-driven decision-making through advanced simulation and big data analytics, enhancing risk management, and providing opportunities for training national experts in supercomputing and AI. Furthermore, she noted that the system will position Kuwait among the leading nations in terms of advanced computing capabilities. The launch of ICARUS marks a milestone in Kuwait's scientific and technological advancement, underscoring the nation's commitment to innovation and research excellence.
Kuwait Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait's KISR launches ICARUS platform for high-performance computing and AI
KUWAIT: Acting Director General of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) Dr Faisal Al-Humaidan announced Tuesday the launch of the Integrated Kuwait Advanced Research for Ultra-Scale Computing System (ICARUS). The system is the first fully integrated national platform in Kuwait for high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI), aimed at supporting the scientific and research communities and strengthening Kuwait's standing in advanced technologies. In a press statement marking the occasion, Al-Humaidan said that ICARUS offers advanced processing and data capabilities, including a computing performance of 244 teraflops (244 trillion calculations per second), with storage capacities of up to 500 terabytes for temporary storage and five petabytes for permanent storage, enabling it to address research challenges in environment, energy, water, petroleum, biomedical engineering, and climate change. He noted that the platform serves as a practical tool for researchers and engineers to tackle large and complex problems and develop solutions with higher efficiency, lower cost, and shorter time compared to traditional computing methods, thus contributing to sustainable development goals and Kuwait?s Vision 2035. Al-Humaidan stressed that ICARUS is not merely a technical project but an investment in Kuwait?s scientific and technological future, opening new horizons for local and international cooperation and reinforcing the country?s role as a regional hub for research and innovation in line with leadership directives toward a knowledge-based economy. For her part, the system's technical lead engineer, Tahani Hussein, said in a similar statement that ICARUS was designed to balance high computing power with energy efficiency, featuring parallel and sequential workload management. She added that the platform combines big data technologies and artificial intelligence on a single infrastructure, enabling data analysis, running simulations, and handling various research workloads. Among the key benefits of the platform, she said, are accelerating research in energy, environment, water, and medical technologies; supporting decision-making through advanced simulations and big data analysis; enhancing risk management; training national talent in HPC and AI; and helping place Kuwait among countries possessing advanced computing technologies. - KUNA
Kuwait Times
24-06-2025
- Health
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait, WHO launch research partnership to combat drug resistance
KUWAIT: Kuwait is taking steps to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health threat, through a strategic research partnership between the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), the Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO). A preparatory meeting was held on Tuesday to set the stage for a series of collaborative scientific and technical initiatives aimed at enhancing public health research and policy coordination under the 'One Health' approach, which considers human, animal, and environmental health as interlinked. The meeting brought together key stakeholders from across Kuwait's scientific and health institutions, marking the first step in implementing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed earlier this year between KISR and WHO. The MoU, finalized in January 2025, focuses on strengthening national research capacity to tackle complex public health issues, particularly communicable diseases (such as diabetes and obesity), environmental pollution, pandemic preparedness, and AMR. Dr Faisal Al-Humaidan, Acting Director General of KISR, highlighted the urgency of addressing AMR and praised the collaborative framework being established through this partnership. 'The spread of antimicrobial resistance poses a serious risk to the quality of life, the effectiveness of healthcare services, and the financial sustainability of national resources,' he told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). 'This cooperation will contribute to translating research findings into scientifically based policies that can improve the health situation in the country.' Dr Al-Humaidan also acknowledged the Ministry of Health's strong engagement in the initiative, particularly the contributions of Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs, Dr Al-Munther Al-Hasawi, and the Antimicrobial Resistance Unit at the Kuwait Center for Disease Prevention and Control. Their involvement, he said, underscores the national commitment to proactively address AMR as a priority health issue. Also speaking at the meeting, Dr Abdullah Al-Enezi, Acting Executive Director of the Environment and Life Sciences Research Center at KISR, described AMR as one of the most pressing health challenges facing Kuwait and the region. 'The ability to confront AMR depends on building a strong scientific knowledge base and using it to develop and implement sound public health strategies,' he said. Dr. Al-Enezi also noted the important role played by national institutions such as the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, which has provided continued support for research in this field. Representing the WHO, Dr Assad Hafeez emphasized the significance of integrating local and international efforts to tackle AMR through the One Health approach. 'This successful cooperation between national and international institutions is a practical step toward building a comprehensive national system to confront antimicrobial resistance,' he said in a press release. 'WHO is fully committed to supporting Kuwait in turning this vision into reality by translating scientific findings into concrete, effective policies and practices.' The meeting included representatives from several prominent Kuwaiti entities involved in health, research, and environmental management, including Kuwait University's Faculty of Medicine, the Environment Public Authority, the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, and the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources. Participants discussed initial frameworks for cooperation, identified priority research areas, and explored pathways for translating scientific outputs into actionable health policies. The initiative aligns with global efforts to curb the spread of resistant pathogens, which are increasingly undermining the effectiveness of antibiotics and other antimicrobial treatments. According to health experts, failure to act now could result in a future where common infections become harder — and in some cases impossible — to treat, leading to longer illnesses, more hospitalizations, and higher mortality rates. — Agencies
Arab Times
24-06-2025
- Health
- Arab Times
Kuwait moves to strengthen public health research infrastructure
KUWAIT CITY, June 24: In a move to strengthen Kuwait's public health research infrastructure, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) held a preliminary meeting on Tuesday with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The discussion focused on enhancing collaborative research in key public health areas, particularly antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its growing impact on humans, animals, and the environment. KISR's Acting Director General, Faisal Al-Humaidan, emphasized the significance of scientific and technical cooperation among the three entities in addressing AMR under the 'One Health' approach — a globally endorsed framework that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. 'This meeting serves to activate the memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year between KISR and WHO,' Al-Humaidan said in a press statement. 'The MoU outlines collaborative efforts to advance research in several critical areas, including non-communicable diseases like diabetes and obesity, environmental pollution, epidemic preparedness, and antimicrobial resistance — all of which directly affect public health outcomes, service delivery, and the sustainability of national financial resources.' Dr. Abdullah Al-Enezi, Acting Executive Director of KISR's Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, described AMR as a national health priority. He called for expanding the country's scientific knowledge base to develop evidence-driven policies to confront this pressing issue. Al-Enezi also acknowledged the support of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and other relevant national entities in promoting research-led solutions. Representing the WHO, Dr. Asaad Hafeez commended the collaborative efforts between the international organization, KISR, and Kuwait's health authorities. He underlined the importance of these partnerships in establishing a robust national response to AMR aligned with the 'One Health' strategy. Dr. Hafeez further revealed that the WHO is working toward establishing a research cooperation center at KISR. This proposed center would facilitate the exchange of scientific expertise and help formulate comprehensive national strategies to mitigate the risks associated with antimicrobial resistance. He reaffirmed WHO's full commitment to supporting Kuwait in transforming this integrated approach into actionable policies and impactful health practices.
