Latest news with #technologytransfer
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China-US ties: lawmakers call on American college to end role in Duke Kunshan University
Two Republican lawmakers in the US House of Representatives are asking Duke University to terminate its joint campus with Wuhan University in China over concerns about technology transfers and student 'manipulation'. In a letter to Duke's president Vincent Price, which was made public on Thursday, Michigan congressmen John Moolenaar and Tim Walberg said the partnership created a 'direct pipeline between US innovation and China's military-industrial complex' and facilitated the use of Americans as 'pawns' for Chinese propaganda. Duke Kunshan University (DKU) was founded in 2013 as a liberal arts-focused joint venture between Duke and Wuhan, both frequently ranked among the top 10 universities in their respective countries. 00:45 Trump says he can see himself dealing directly with Xi on US-China trade deal details Trump says he can see himself dealing directly with Xi on US-China trade deal details In a statement in 2012, then-Duke president Richard Brodhead framed the project as a way to introduce China to 'Duke's signature strengths of liberal arts education' and to help American students become more 'aware of a world of which China is a part'. The campus in Kunshan, in Jiangsu province, is home to about 2,000 students. In the spring semester of this year, it played host to some 1,635 undergraduates and 270 graduate students, according to DKU's website. The school does not confer doctoral degrees. Students receive a full degree from Duke University, in addition to one from DKU, which is certified by China's Ministry of Education, and are often offered the opportunity to spend time at Duke's campus in Durham, North Carolina. Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Walberg, who chairs the House Education and Workforce Committee, said DKU specialised in 'high-technology fields with direct military applications' and, due to exchange opportunities, many of its students gained access to federally funded US research. That, they argued, was a problem because of the Chinese Communist Party's 'well-documented efforts to exploit academic openness'.
Arab News
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Arab News
Saudi-US business ties grow through deeper partnerships
RIYADH: Mutual investments between Saudi Arabia and the US are expanding in key sectors as industry leaders from both countries eye deeper partnerships and co-development opportunities. Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the Saudi-US Investment Forum, held during US President Donald Trump's state visit to the Kingdom on Tuesday, Joseph Rank, vice president and CEO of Lockheed Martin for Saudi Arabia and Africa, said that enhanced partnerships are paving the way for two-way investments. 'This is an opportunity to really enhance our partnership and grow business. There's actually almost too many to talk about. But the real key is growing our partnership, which then leads to investment on both sides,' Rank said. Lockheed Martin's role in the Kingdom is shifting from traditional collaboration to advanced manufacturing and technology sharing, Rank said. 'We used to build things here. Now we're actually manufacturing things here. So the big opportunity is manufacturing, co-production, co-development and transfer of technology,' he said. 'This is jobs for Lockheed Martin in the US and jobs for Saudi industry here. A win-win-win.' Marc Winterhoff, interim CEO of electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Group Inc., stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia as a manufacturing base, with its King Abdullah Economic City facility expected to reach a 150,000-unit capacity. 'We have very, very close ties to Saudi Arabia, both from an investment point of view, but also we're building a big plant in KAEC here,' he said, adding that 65 percent of the workforce is currently made up of Saudi citizens. 'There's a lot of investment going into this plant to build vehicles for the local market, but then also for exports.' Winterhoff said Lucid is also working with Saudi research institutions, including King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, to co-develop advanced technologies like artificial intelligence models, autonomous driving, and crash simulation. Sadek Wahba, chairman and managing partner of I Squared Capital, echoed the sentiment, describing the forum as a reflection of enduring US-Saudi economic cooperation and the role infrastructure will play in future development. 'The event represents the best of what you can find in Saudi in the cooperation that can exist between the United States and Saudi Arabia. 'Cooperation that already exists for the last decades, and I think will continue to flourish over the coming period,' Wahba said. He said the company sees significant opportunity in Saudi Arabia's infrastructure sector, particularly in telecoms, digital infrastructure, transport and logistics. • $1billion+ Planned investment by I Squared Capital, with backing from the Saudi PIF and others. • 65% Of Lucid's workforce in the Kingdom is made up of Saudi citizens. The biggest investment opportunities are in transport and logistics, he said, citing the growing needs of a rapidly developing economy. Wahba also announced a memorandum of understanding with the Public Investment Fund to establish a Middle East infrastructure fund focused mainly on Saudi Arabia. 'I Squared Capital is looking to invest over $1 billion over the coming years, and PIF and others will be contributing to that effort,' he said. Meanwhile, Kathy Warden, president and CEO of Northrop Grumman Corp., emphasized the company's longstanding partnership with the Kingdom and its commitment to investing in defense and local talent. Warden said that the company signed a memorandum of intent with the Saudi government's General Authority of Military Industries to procure capabilities from Northrop Grumman, which total nearly $14 billion. The US company is also partnering locally with Saudi Arabian Military Industries to deliver its capabilities. 'These investments will contribute to the security and safety of the Kingdom and also create local jobs that are high-skilled engineering jobs,' she added. From a technology perspective, Chris Rouland, founder and CEO of Phosphorus Cybersecurity Inc., emphasized the need to secure AI and data-driven systems as Saudi Arabia ramps up its digital transformation. 'I think one thing that was overlooked in today's conversations was the importance of security in artificial intelligence,' Rouland said. 'Just as security and safety has made the Kingdom such a great place to do business, security and privacy are very important for AI and data centers.' He said that the company is exploring a joint venture in Saudi Arabia aimed at securing Internet of Things infrastructure and AI systems to prevent exploitation by cybercriminals. The forum underscored the Kingdom's growing role as a magnet for American industry leaders seeking to invest in sectors aligned with Vision 2030 — from defense and infrastructure to advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity — reinforcing Saudi-US economic ties built on shared long-term objectives.
Malay Mail
14-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Malaysia, Italy move towards formal defence partnership with new MoU talks, says Khaled Nordin
BERLIN, May 14 — Malaysia and Italy have agreed to initiate a strategic partnership in the field of defence, including a proposed government-to-government (G2G) memorandum of understanding (MoU) on asset procurement. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said his bilateral meeting with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto yesterday, held on the sidelines of the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 here, marked the first engagement of its kind. He said the meeting was initiated at Italy's request, signalling its interest in deepening defence ties with Malaysia. 'Malaysia welcomes Italy's intention and sees it as an opportunity to enhance defence relations not only through asset procurement, but also through strategic cooperation, including technology transfer that truly benefits the development of our local defence industry,' he said when met here. According to Mohamed Khaled, Malaysia has previously procured military assets from Italy and now seeks to build on that relationship to pave the way for more meaningful collaboration, particularly in terms of local capability development. 'We want every procurement to come with effective technology transfer, not just symbolic gestures. This is crucial to ensure that we are not merely end users, but are also capable of developing our own defence industry,' he said. Mohamed Khaled added that Italy also expressed interest in G2G acquisitions, which are proven to be more transparent, cost-effective, and offer stronger guarantees for the recipient country. He explained that G2G arrangements enable the country to avoid third-party interference, while the supplying government can provide direct assurance in cases of delays or failure to deliver assets. As a comparison, he noted that Malaysia already has a similar procurement agreement with Türkiye and is considering such cooperation with South Korea. 'That is why we scrutinise every proposal carefully and assess the sincerity of our partner countries — not just in terms of pricing, but also their willingness to share technology and establish long-term collaboration,' he stressed. He emphasised that Malaysia's primary objective is to ensure that any form of cooperation contributes to the long-term development and strengthening of its national defence industry. — Bernama
Arab News
13-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi assistant defense minister meets Korean official
Saudi Arabia's Assistant Minister of Defense Talal Al-Otaibi met with Korean Minister of Defense Acquisition Program Administration Seok Jong-gun. During the meeting, they discussed 'promising cooperation opportunities in the field of military industries, technology transfer and localization, and defense research and development in line with Saudi Vision 2030,' the Saudi ministry's official account wrote in a post on X on Tuesday. Al-Otaibi also held a meeting with Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom Yasunari Morino, and they discussed bilateral relations and various topics of common interest.
Zawya
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
Honeywell announces new gas detector production line at Masdar Innovation Centre
Honeywell today announced the launch of a new gas detector assembly line at the Masdar Innovation Centre in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant milestone in supporting the UAE's industrial and localisation objectives. The new assembly line strengthens the UAE's position as a hub for advanced industrial technology and directly aligns with the 'Make it in the Emirates' campaign by expanding local manufacturing capabilities, accelerating technology transfer, and building long-term in-country value. The new line is dedicated to the assembly of Honeywell's RAEGuard 3 Series – fixed toxic and flammable gas detectors using advanced sensor technology – as well as the BW Clip Series of portable, single-gas detectors. Designed to protect industrial workers operating in potentially hazardous environments, the next-generation gas detectors assembled at the Masdar Innovation Centre will serve local and regional customers. With a deep-rooted presence in the UAE that spans more than seven decades, Honeywell's launch of the new line builds on its continued commitment to driving the country's economic transformation by fostering high-value job creation, upskilling local talent, and delivering smart, sustainable technologies. The new assembly line deepens Honeywell's commitment to Operation 300Bn, the UAE's strategic initiative to grow the industrial sector's contribution to GDP from AED133 billion to AED300 billion by 2031. 'Honeywell has been a longstanding partner of the UAE, committed to empowering local industry and enabling economic diversification,' said George Bou Mitri, president, Honeywell Industrial Automation, Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Central Asia. 'The launch of our new gas detector assembly line represents more than an expansion of our manufacturing footprint – it's a step forward in shaping a smarter, safer, and more sustainable industrial future for the UAE.' Honeywell opened the dedicated Masdar Innovation Centre in Abu Dhabi's Masdar City in 2019 to focus on in-country assembly, integration, and testing of advanced automation technologies. The facility enables faster delivery, local customisation, and technical support for customers across the UAE and wider Middle East. Last year, the Masdar facility achieved full marks in the UAE's Industrial Technology Transformation Index (ITTI), a national benchmark for digitalisation and sustainability excellence. Following this recognition, Honeywell was selected as a UAE Industry 4.0 Leader by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.
