SAMI Advanced Electronics Company (SAMI-AEC), a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), marked the 25th anniversary of its partnership with King Saud University (KSU) on September 12, 2024, by presenting the Best Graduation Project Award to outstanding students. The ceremony, held in Riyadh, underscored SAMI-AEC’s enduring commitment to recognizing and motivating ambitious Saudi talent in engineering and technology, according to a news release from the company.
Context and Background
The Best Graduation Project Award, sponsored by SAMI-AEC, honors students from KSU’s Colleges of Computer and Information Sciences, Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. The award is given in three categories: Scientific Advancement Award (Best Graduation Project), Excellence Award (Top Student), and Creativity Award (Best Idea). These categories celebrate student projects that offer practical solutions or technical innovations with the potential to benefit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and society at large.
Key Details
CEO of SAMI-AEC Engineer Ziad Al-Musallam expressed pride in the long-standing sponsorship, stating, “For 25 years, the Best Graduation Project Award has allowed us to empower and nurture promising Saudi talent. Many of our earlier awardees are now leading Saudi Arabia’s efforts in building and scaling industries, creating innovative indigenous technology that aligns with Saudi Vision 2030.” He also highlighted the launch of a new award to mark the milestone: the Best Project Award at the Advanced Electronics Lab, established at KSU in 2023. Acting President of KSU Dr. Abdullah bin Salman Alsalman emphasized the university’s focus on innovation, noting, “The award instituted by SAMI-AEC has fostered a healthy, competitive spirit among young Saudis, motivating them to continually seek knowledge. In addition to helping students achieve the highest levels of scientific and academic excellence, this award helps channel efforts toward realizing Saudi Vision 2030.” This year’s winners included Muhannad Al-Enezi, Waleed Al-Bugami, and Nasser Al-Zamil for their “Plant Disease Detection System (Nabt)” project, among others. A joint jury from KSU and SAMI-AEC evaluated 200 projects from the graduating class of 2024.
Implications and Impact
This partnership strengthens Saudi Arabia’s educational ecosystem by bridging academia and industry, fostering innovation that addresses real-world challenges. By supporting young talent, SAMI-AEC contributes to building a skilled workforce capable of driving technological advancements and economic diversification, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional leader in innovation.
Vision 2030 Alignment
The 25-year partnership between SAMI-AEC and King Saud University directly supports Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of developing human capital, fostering innovation, and building a knowledge-based economy. By empowering Saudi youth through education and technology, this initiative helps cultivate the next generation of leaders who will drive the Kingdom’s sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
20 Questions
Q1. What is the Best Graduation Project Award?
A1. The Best Graduation Project Award is a recognition program sponsored by SAMI Advanced Electronics Company (SAMI-AEC) for outstanding students at King Saud University, celebrating innovative projects in engineering and technology.
Q2. Who sponsored the Best Graduation Project Award?
A2. The award is sponsored by SAMI Advanced Electronics Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Q3. How long has SAMI-AEC partnered with King Saud University?
A3. SAMI-AEC has partnered with King Saud University for 25 years, marking the milestone in September 2024 with the presentation of the Best Graduation Project Award.
Q4. What are the three categories of the award?
A4. The three categories are Scientific Advancement Award (Best Graduation Project), Excellence Award (Top Student), and Creativity Award (Best Idea).
Q5. Why is this partnership important for Saudi Arabia?
A5. It nurtures Saudi talent in engineering and technology, aligning with Vision 2030’s goals of building a knowledge-based economy and fostering innovation.
A6. CEO Engineer Ziad Al-Musallam leads SAMI-AEC and expressed pride in the partnership, stating it empowers Saudi talent.
Q7. What did Acting President of KSU Dr. Abdullah bin Salman Alsalman say?
A7. He emphasized that the award fosters a competitive spirit among students and supports Saudi Vision 2030 by achieving scientific and academic excellence.
Q8. How many student projects were reviewed in 2024?
A8. A joint jury from King Saud University and SAMI-AEC reviewed and evaluated 200 projects submitted by the graduating class of 2024.
Q9. Who won the Scientific Progress Award, First Place?
A9. Muhannad Al-Enezi, Waleed Al-Bugami, and Nasser Al-Zamil won first place for their “Plant Disease Detection System (Nabt)” project.
Q10. What is the Plant Disease Detection System (Nabt) project?
A10. It is a project that detects plant diseases, offering a practical solution for agriculture, and was supervised by Professor Ghulam Mohammed.
Q11. Who won the Innovation Award?
A11. Mansour Al-Ajami and Bassam Al-Shammari won the Innovation Award for their “Microwave Frequency Sensor Design” project.
Q12. What new award did SAMI-AEC launch in 2023?
A12. SAMI-AEC launched the Best Project Award at the Advanced Electronics Lab, established at King Saud University, to mark the 25-year partnership.
Q13. How does this partnership benefit Saudi students?
A13. It provides recognition, financial support, and opportunities to develop practical solutions, enhancing their skills and career prospects.
Q14. Is the award only for engineering students?
A14. No, it also includes students from the Colleges of Computer and Information Sciences and Electrical Engineering.
Q15. What is SAMI-AEC’s role in Saudi Arabia?
A15. SAMI-AEC is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabian Military Industries, focusing on advanced electronics and technology development for national defense and industry.
Q16. How does the award support Vision 2030?
A16. It encourages innovation and talent development, which are key pillars of Vision 2030 for economic diversification and a knowledge-based society.
Q17. Who supervised the second-place project?
A17. The second-place project, “Summit for Employment Solutions through Artificial Intelligence,” was supervised by Professor Boshra Al-Qadi.
Q18. What is the Excellence Award?
A18. The Excellence Award recognizes the top student overall, with recipients in 2024 including Abdullah Al-Qadi, Ghada Al-Mufleh, and Abdullah Al-Wasl.
Q19. Are there any future plans for the award?
A19. Yes, SAMI-AEC will continue to support students and develop cutting-edge facilities, such as the Advanced Electronics Lab, to enhance innovation.
Q20. How does this award impact Saudi society?
A20. It motivates students to create solutions for real-world challenges, benefiting sectors like agriculture, employment, and technology, thus advancing societal progress.
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