3rd Edition of Future Semiconductors Forum 2024 To Be Held in Riyadh

The third edition of the Future Semiconductors Forum 2024 is set to take place in Riyadh, hosted by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in collaboration with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Scheduled for June 5-6, 2024, at the Garage Innovation District in Riyadh, this event aims to bolster the domestic production of electronic chips and stimulate the digital economy within Saudi Arabia.

Participants

Esteemed policymakers, industrial pioneers, experts, and scholars in semiconductor technology will converge at this forum. Notable figures include Nobel laureate Shuji Nakamura, Professor Kang Wang of UCLA, Steven P. DenBaars from the University of California - Santa Barbara, Umesh Mishra, Dean of the College of Engineering at UCSB, Ross Jatou, President of Semiconductor at Alat Company, Dr. Naveed Sherwani, Chairman and CEO of Rapid Silicon Company, and Professor Goutam Chattopadhyay from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech.

Significance, Commendations and Expectations

Dr. Munir Eldesouki, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, highlighted the forum's alignment with the research, development, and innovation priorities set by HRH Prince Mohamed bin Salman. The event serves as a platform to advance the digital economy in Saudi Arabia and is organized by KACST, a national laboratory and innovation hub.

Dr. Tony Chan, President of KAUST, praised the achievements of the previous editions and emphasized the potential for enhancing the digital economy and fostering research collaboration. The forum aims to raise awareness about the importance of localizing the electronic chip industry and promoting research cooperation in semiconductor development.

Agenda

Over two days, the forum will explore various topics related to the semiconductor industry's future in Saudi Arabia, including the semiconductor value chain, applications in space exploration and smart cities, and initiatives to strengthen the Kingdom's position in the global semiconductor arena. Scientific activities such as lectures, panel discussions, research posters, and an exhibition will facilitate knowledge exchange and showcase the latest developments.

Partnerships and Sponsorships

The third edition of the forum is strategically partnered with the Research, Development, and Innovation Development Authority and Alat Company. It is sponsored by prominent local and international institutions and companies, including Ajlan & Brothers Holding, Synopsys, Siemens, Rapid Silicon, Oxford Instruments, Trysl Tech, Joule, EpicSemi, and International Semiconductor Executive Summits.

 

Previous Successes

Building on the successes of the first and second editions, this year's forum aims to further collaborative research and semiconductor manufacturing efforts. Notably, it led to the launch of the Saudi Semiconductors Program (SSP), a regional initiative supporting research, development, and talent qualification in electronic chip design and localization. Collaborating with 16 Saudi universities, SSP has trained over 400 researchers and students in microchip design and manufacturing.

Interested individuals can register for the forum and access its agenda via the official website: https://semiconductors.kacst.gov.sa.