RIYADH — The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), GE Digital, and Obeikan Digital Solutions organized the second phase of the Saudi Digital Machines Hackathon, the region’s largest focused on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT), to nurture the skills of the Kingdom’s talented youth in the industrial sector, and thereby contribute to the growth of Saudi Arabia.

The second phase of the Saudi Digital Machines Hackathon was an Advanced Training Course, powered by Predix, GE’s application development platform for IIOT. The course focused on digital technology and practical training and was led by global experts. GE will offer career opportunities for the Saudi youth who have gained their skills in new technologies, to create innovative solutions that support the industry.

The second edition was held from July 22 to Aug. 9, with more than 60 participants, who were certified by GE. Saudi women accounted for over half the total participants, highlighting the mandate of the MCIT to empower women in the ICT sector.

Following a third phase, which features specialized training programs, a group of Saudi youth will be selected for further training at select GE facilities in the US and offered career opportunities in the Kingdom in partnership with GE Digital.

The Saudi Digital Machines Hackathon, which has been carefully tailored by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), aims to support promising national talent and develop their potential to deliver new, targeted and constructive innovations that contribute to the growth of sectors including water, healthcare and renewable energy and others. They will support the Saudi industrial sector and help to achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The first Saudi Digital Machines Hackathon was launched in April 2018 and was attended by 250 young men and women, who were provided expert training based on their knowledge of programming, cloud computing and programming languages. Graduates of the Hackathon were invited to participate in this second phase, which offered a more in-depth look at the IIOT sector and its challenges and opportunities. — SG