Saudi Arabia Wins Prizes At WSIS+20 For Leading ICT Innovations

Saudi Arabia has garnered recognition at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland. Competing against over 193 countries, Saudi Arabia's innovations stood out, earning multiple accolades.

The Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) received an award in the "Role of Governments and All Stakeholders in the Promotion of ICTs for Development" category. This was for its National Data Bank (NDB) and Estishraf project, which aims to enhance data quality in the Kingdom. The project also promotes international participation and contributes to building a data-based digital economy through specialized platforms.

In addition to the main award, Saudi Arabia received three certificates of excellence. The first was for SDAIA's "AI Principles Project," which focuses on elevating ethics and ensuring their implementation throughout the AI lifecycle. This initiative underscores the importance of ethical considerations in AI development.

The second certificate was awarded to SDAIA's "Elevate" project. This initiative is the first of its kind aimed at empowering women by training them in data and AI fields. Since its launch, over 1,000 women from 28 countries have been trained, highlighting its significant impact on gender inclusion in technology.

The third certificate recognized the "SmartTruck" project, represented by the Saudi Telecom Company (stc) in partnership with Huawei. This project aims to bridge the digital divide for seniors by offering digital skills training programs, thereby enhancing digital literacy among older adults.

Impact on ICT Infrastructure

These achievements reflect Saudi Arabia's progress in ICT infrastructure and the enablement of national capabilities. The Kingdom's advancements align with international developments across various sectors, including government services, healthcare, education, and entertainment. This progress is supported by the Kingdom's leadership.

The recognition at WSIS+20 underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to leveraging technology for development and its active role in the global ICT community.

With inputs from SPA