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First UAE-Japan Hydrogen Workshop to Jump Start Hydrogen Supply Chain Collaborations

Khalifa University hosted the first UAE-Japan Hydrogen Workshop on 15 December 2019 at Shangri-la Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

Organized by KU’s Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and H2 (RICH), in collaboration with Kyushu University and the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), the event aims to launch and foster bilateral collaborations between the UAE and Japan in the area of hydrogen supply chain, link the academia with the industry, and define the background for industrial-academia collaborations.

The workshop was attended by Prof. Masakazu Toyoda, Chairman and CEO of IEEJ; Prof. Kazunari Sasaki, SVP of Kyushu University; Kazuma Shibata, Deputy General Manager for Marketing Planning, Toyota Motor Asia Pacific; Prof. Stephen Lyth, Associate Professor, Kyushu University; and Prof. Haiwen Li,
Associate Professor, Kyushu University. Representatives from UAE industry players such as Dr. Mohamed Shahtout, Continuous Movement Manager, Emirates Steel; Dr. Sgouris Sgouridis, Director of Research Programs, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA); and Dr. M. Toqan, CEO, ATD also
attended the event.

Some of the topics discussed in the workshop were hydrogen utilization, the role of H2 in the sustainable economy, and hydrogen as a source of energy. Dr. Lourdes Vega, Director, RICH, also led a roundtable discussion on the ‘Present and Future of H2—Way Forward’.

A highlight of the workshop was that Toyota Motor Corporation brought the Toyota Mirai, the company’s fuel cell electric vehicle that is powered by hydrogen. Participants were able to see the vehicle up close and even test ride the car during the event.

Ara Cruz
News Writer
16 December 2019

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Royal Visit to ARIC

On November 22nd 2015, H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Khalifa University, visited the Aerospace Research and Innovation Center.

During the visit, His Highness met with students working a Senior Design project on an all-composite Tactical UAV project jointly supervised with the Department of Aerospace Engineering. His Highness also viewed other research projects and had discussions with engineers from both ARIC and Strata.

New equipment at ARIC 

  • In March 2016, ARIC took delivery of a Nanotom X-ray Computed Tomography machine from GE. The X-CT equipment will be employed on a number of key projects. For example, the scanner will be used to identify and characterize damage and defects in advanced composite structures and also to understand the mechanisms of fluid flow through porous media, such as fibrous beds.
  • In May 2016, ARIC took delivery of a Scholz autoclave. This new facility will be used to manufacture panels up to 1.5 meters in size and has a maximum operating temperature of 400 oC. The autoclave will be used to understand the causes of porosity and voiding in aerospace structures and also to manufacture large panels for use in the on-going automation projects within ARIC.
  • In October 2016 ARIC acquired a robotic arm to further its efforts in developing cutting-edge solutions that can support the future of manufacturing aircraft components in the UAE. The state-of-the-art KUKA robot was recently installed at ARIC’s facility located on Khalifa University’s Abu Dhabi Campus.
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Khalifa University Hosts 10th KU-KAIST Joint Research Symposium

The 10th KU-KAIST Joint Research Symposium was held from 18-19 December 2019 at the Khalifa University Main Campus.

The event is the largest symposium to date between Khalifa University (KU) of the UAE and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) of South Korea. Around 50 delegates from KAIST, including faculty members, research staff, and students, came to the UAE to share and discuss research achievements. The KAIST delegation was led by Dr. Hyunwook Park, VP for Research, Dr. Changheui Jang, Associate VP and Dean of KAI-NEET
Institute, Dr. Jonghyun Kim, Director of KAIST-KU Joint Research Center, and Dr. Sungmin Choi, Chair of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering.

During the symposium, joint presentations were given by KU and KAIST Principal Investigators (PIs) on the 24 ongoing collaboration projects in areas such as Smart Transportation, Smart Health Care, Nuclear Materials, Robotics/Drones, Energy, Chemistry, etc.

The event was offered an important opportunity to discuss the projects, maximize synergetic effects, strengthen the KU-KAIST partnership, and plan strategies moving forward.

Since 2011, KU and KAIST have carried out over 200 joint research projects in various fields. This partnership has reached a milestone in 2019 as Joint Research Centers were launched in the UAE in April 2019 and in Korea in July 2019, further strengthening the ties between the two countries to carry out joint research on technologies that are shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The next symposium scheduled in 2020 will be hosted by KAIST in South Korea.

Ara Cruz
News Writer
26 December 2019

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Measuring solar radiation for power at Masdar

Measuring solar radiation for power at Masdar

14th July 2014

A research centre at Masdar is seeking to assess renewable energy available in the UAE and help the country achieve its full potential in sustainable living.

The Research Centre for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment was opened three years ago to measure solar radiation on the ground and collect accurate data.

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Satellite imagery for solar maps

Satellite imagery for solar maps

27th February 2013

Research Engineer YehiaEissa was a part of the team that created UAE’s solar maps, and he shares with SatellitePro ME, an overview of the two-year exercise that started with studying satellite images at Masdar’s receiving station to creating a model more suited to the unique environmental conditions over the region.

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Members of Masdar Institute’s Young Future Energy Leaders Program Attend Two-Day Workshop on Waste Management

Experts Lead Intensive Experimental Sessions on Waste Management Characteristics

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 13 March, 2013 – Masdar Institute of Science of Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced that it hosted a two-day course on the growing waste problem in the trans-developing societies for members of its outreach initiative, the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program.

Titled ‘Waste Management and Waste to Energy’, the course was attended by 28 YFEL members. The first day of the course covered short lectures, divided into three sessions. On the second day the course intensified the on hands-on activities, which were conducted in the Masdar Institute’s labs, where participants had the chance to experience the high-tech equipment in the cutting-edge research facilities.

Zainab Abdul Rahim Al Ali, YFEL Project Manager at Masdar Institute, said: “The waste management course is the first to mainly focus on hands-on activities. Participants were able to experiment with the theoretical material at Masdar Institute’s labs. The objective of this course is to provide an overview of the waste problem. The YFEL team consistently works on enhancing the participants’ experience and improving the quality of our activities. We are grateful to the UAE’s leadership that supports programs such as YFEL and motivates talented youngsters to excel in future energy and advanced technologies.”

The course was led by Dr. Isam Janajreh, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Masdar Institute. The first day’s proceedings covered an overview of the waste problem, review of current policy for waste management, overview of the conversion technologies, and an introduction to the waste to energy lab. The second day’s experiments were on waste material characterization, which included ultimate/elemental analysis, proximate analysis, and biodiesel/fuel assessment, in addition to other experiments. 

Dr. Janajreh said, “The average daily per capita generation in developed world is about 1.6kg and varies between 0.25 to 6kg in the trans-developing countries. This course performed as a platform for YFEL members to assess the waste generation in Abu Dhabi and statistically evaluate its potential energy, by conducting experiments in the Waste to Energy Laboratory at Masdar Institute. The YFEL members need to be provided the right ingredients to develop into effective professionals. The two-day training program have equipped them and strengthened their skill sets.”

The two-day YFEL course forms part of an annual schedule of three courses on Technology, Policy and Leadership relating to renewable energy-related issues in managing and guiding peers. The courses targeted young practitioners and graduate students who aim to expand their knowledge of core issues in renewable energy technology, policy and leadership.

Shaikha Al Shamsi, a Masdar Institute student and YFEL member, said: “The various activities and lectures have enhanced my learning experience. In this course, I examined the distribution of waste generation in key countries including UAE in an attempt to evaluate its energy potential. I also reviewed the traditional landfilling practice and the new emerging trend of municipalities and moving from ’dry tomb’ landfill to a bioreactor-based technology. I also liked the hands-on activities that we experienced, as it helped to visualize the theory.”

Saeed Al Kaabi, a young professional from Twazun  and YFEL member, said: “I enjoyed the course and I learned new valuable information about waste management. This course provided me with an opportunity to gain an in-depth insight in this field. I believe that attending such a course helps widen my knowledge and experience, since it made me more aware of the waste problems through experiments in the Masdar Institute’s labs.”

Part of Masdar Institute’s Outreach program, YFEL offers young professionals and students from the UAE and abroad an opportunity to become more engaged in finding solutions to the world’s biggest challenges – achieving energy efficiency and tackling climate change. It also aims to bring young professionals closer to government representatives, business leaders and other organizations active in the area of alternative energy and sustainability.

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Procurement and Contracts Department Receives ISO 9001:2015 Certification

Khalifa University’s Procurement and Contracts Department has recently received ISO 9001:2015 Certification. The milestone was celebrated in a ceremony at the SAN Campus and attended by Mosallam Al Kathiri, Vice President, Human Resources and Procurement; Khalifa Alobeidli, Director, Procurement & Contracts; and all the Procurement and Contracts staff to recognize the Department’s hard work in obtaining the certification. Lyudmila Koltomova, Deputy Manager, Business Development and Marketing of TÜV SÜD Middle East, the certifying body that granted the ISO certification, was also in attendance.

ISO 9001:2015 certification specifies requirements for quality management systems that need to consistently provide services that meet applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. Being ISO 9001:2015 certified means that the Procurement and Contracts Department is capable of preparing and implementing policies and procedures that meet Quality Management Systems standards.

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UAE launches region’s first public wind atlas

UAE launches region’s first public wind atlas

28th January 2015

UAE-based Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, has launched the region’s first public wind atlas to support wind energy projects.

The UAE Wind Atlas is aimed at accurately characterizing the UAE’s wind resources and ultimately supporting investments in wind energy projects, said senior officials of Masdar during the launch at the World Future Energy Summit 2015 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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Khalifa University Hosts Region’s First-Ever IAEE Middle East Symposium in Abu Dhabi

Khalifa University of Science and Technology hosted the region’s first-ever IAEE Middle East Symposium in Abu Dhabi to assess the impacts of economic diversification, new technologies and climate concerns on the Middle East energy outlook.

Organized by the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) on 16 December 2019, the event was attended by key academic, government, and industry stakeholders. More than 150 regional and international delegates were at the event to provide a unique opportunity for dialogue and networking among energy professionals from all energy sectors. The event was brought to Abu Dhabi with the support of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KA-CARE), global energy leader ENGIE, as well as the Energy Industries Council, the UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry, and the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau.

Discussions focused on the main drivers, uncertainties, and potential disruptors in global oil and natural gas demand, impacts of climate change concerns and new technologies within the future energy landscape, the region’s accelerated deployment of renewable energy and nuclear power, and the potential implications of geopolitical issues facing the region.

HE Matar Al Neyadi, Undersecretary, UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry, opened with the ministerial keynote, while Christophe Bonnery, President, IAEE, delivered the opening remarks. Dr. Steve Griffiths, Senior Vice-President, Research and Development, and Professor of Practice, Khalifa University, and Symposium Chair, provided an opening address and welcomed the delegates.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: “We are delighted to partner with the International Association for Energy Economics to bring the region’s first-ever IAEE Middle East Symposium to Abu Dhabi. Participating delegates will surely gain insights into the region’s energy challenges, opportunities, and advances. Energy being the vital sector in this region, we believe the fast-changing energy sector will inspire fresh perspectives from the global experts at this knowledge exchange forum.”

The plenary session on ‘The Future of Hydrocarbons: Changing Demand and Subsequent Impacts’ was presided over by Marianne Kah, Advisory Board Member and Adjunct Senior Research Scholar, Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy. The second plenary session on ‘Shaping the Future Energy Landscape: The Role of Climate Concerns and Technology Innovation’ was led by Yukari Niwa Yamashita, Board Member and Director, The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ).

The first post-lunch plenary session titled ‘Energy Diversification: Renewables and Nuclear in the Middle East’ was led by Adnan Shihab-Eldin, Director General, Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). Adam Sieminski, President, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), led the discussions for the plenary titled ‘Geopolitics: Issues Facing the Region Today and Tomorrow’.

Clarence Michael
News Writer
18 December 2019

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Khalifa University Partners with University of Milan and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna to Host New Joint Lab for Embodied Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi

  • Three Partners Sign Agreement to Locate Lab at Khalifa University’s AI Institute; MoU Also Signed on Exchange of Doctoral Students
  • A Similar Second Lab Facility Expected to Open in Future at University of Milan

Khalifa University of Science and Technology, the University of Milan and the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa have signed an agreement to set up a Joint Lab for Embodied Artificial Intelligence that will be physically located inside Khalifa University’s Artificial Intelligence and Intelligent System Institute (AI Institute) in Abu Dhabi.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President, Khalifa University, and Professor Elio Franzini, Rector, University of Milan, in Milan. Officials from the two Italian universities including Prof. Antonella Baldi, Vice Rector for Internationalization of the University of Milan, attended the signing ceremony. Dr Ernesto Damiani, Senior Director, AI Institute, Khalifa University, was also present. Separately, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed for international mobility of doctoral students under the common supervision of two professors, one per university.

The Joint Lab for Embodied AI, which also involves the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa, will represent the first operational Unimi Laboratory outside Italy. The Lab stems from the long-lasting collaboration between Khalifa University and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, and will represent the physical hub of the cooperative relationship among the three Universities, each contributing their different but complementary expertise – Khalifa University in artificial Intelligence, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa in bio-robotics, and University of Milan in life sciences.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi said: “Khalifa University is honoured to collaborate with two top institutions in Italy. This agreement is part of our internationalization strategy. We hope establishing this relation will result in exchanges of faculty, researchers and students between the three institutions. Khalifa University has just started its College of Medicine and Health Sciences and has a strong expertise in AI applications to medical research. The strength of Milan in life sciences and of SSSA in bio-robotics will ensure world-leading research.”

Embodied Artificial Intelligence is an interdisciplinary research area that deals with the application of artificial intelligence to highly complex biological and artificial systems, using computational learning to identify their structure and behaviour. These findings are used to forecast future system evolution and determine the actions required to meet therapeutic or optimization targets.

Khalifa University ranks first in the UAE and second in the Gulf region in leading international university rankings. The AI Institute established at Khalifa University brings together seven distinct research centers specialising in robotics, computational learning, high-performance computing architectures, cyber-physical systems, computer security and data analysis.

Dr. Damiani said: “The Lab at AI Institute at Khalifa University will focus on the integration of artificial intelligence models and bio-inspired computational paradigms to make decisions that can be understood and assessed by humans, especially when they concern human health and safety.”

The Lab will be aimed at developing computational models of human cognition and quantum computing, bio-robotic and bio-hybrid systems for neural bioengineering, with potential application to neuro-rehabilitation. Dr. Arianna Menciassi, Vice Rector, SSSA, and Professor of Biomedical Robotics at the BioRobotics Institute, said: “The proposed Joint Lab has a strong potential to perform world-class research in the area of embodied artificial intelligence and to attract resources and talents, facilitating scientific exchange between the UAE and Italy.”

The Joint Lab for Embodied Artificial Intelligence within at Khalifa University’s AI Institute is expected to be followed by a second facility at the University of Milan.

According to the agreement, the laboratories will host equipment and technology platforms of the three institutions, as well as visiting members of the University of Milan and Sant’Anna of Pisa. Khalifa University scientists will be provided with remote access as-a-service to the Italian partners’ facilities and technological platforms.

“The Joint Lab will enhance international competitiveness and encourage participation in research programs,” said Dr. Maria Pia Abbracchio, Unimi Deputy Rector and Vice Rector for Research. “Furthermore, it will provide high-level multidisciplinary technical assistance and services, accessible both from inside and outside the University, to stimulate innovation and cross-fertilization between diverse research fields.”

The Joint Lab for Embodied Artificial Intelligence will also provide international exchange opportunities for both researchers and trainees, particularly doctoral students, according to the MoU.

News Writer
29 November 2019

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Khalifa University Hosts 10 th KU-KAIST Joint Research Symposium

The 10 th KU-KAIST Joint Research Symposium was held from 18-19 December 2019 at the Khalifa University Main Campus.
The event is the largest symposium to date between Khalifa University (KU) of the UAE and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) of South Korea. Around 50 delegates from KAIST comprised of faculty members, research staff, and students came to the UAE to share and discuss research achievements. The KAIST delegation was led by Dr.
Hyunwook Park, VP for Research; Dr. Changheui Jang, Associate VP and Dean of KAI-NEET Institute; Dr. Jonghyun Kim, Director of KAIST-KU Joint Research Center; and Dr. Sungmin Choi, Chair of Nuclear & Quantum Engineering.
During the symposium, joint presentations were given by KU and KAIST Principal Investigators (PIs) on the 24 ongoing collaboration projects in areas such as Smart Transportation, Smart Health Care, Nuclear Materials, Robotics/Drones, Energy, Chemistry, etc. The event was an opportunity to discuss the projects, maximize synergetic effects, strengthen the KU-KAIST
partnership, and plan strategies moving forward.
Since 2011, KU and KAIST have carried out over 200 joint research projects in various fields. This partnership has reached a milestone in 2019 as Joint Research Centers were launched in the UAE in April 2019 and in Korea in July 2019, further strengthening the ties between the two countries to carry out joint research on technologies that are shaping the Fourth Industrial
Revolution.
The next symposium scheduled in 2020 will be hosted by KAIST in South Korea.