MUSCAT : Under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Ali Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, and in the presence of H.E. Dr. Saeed Hamad Al-Rubaii, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), the university held the closing ceremony of the “AI Makers” Program as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the localization of artificial intelligence technologies, accelerate digital transformation, and support the knowledge economy in alignment with the goals of Oman Vision 2040.

The “AI Makers” initiative is considered one of the UTAS’s flagship initiatives, implemented in partnership with and supported by the Ministry of Transport Communications and Information Technology. The initiative focuses on creating an innovation-driven environment, empowering national talents, and encouraging the development of AI applications with practical impact. It also supports integration between scientific research and developmental and productive sectors, while enhancing national readiness for future technologies.

The event included honoring outstanding contributors within the initiative in recognition of distinguished innovative, research, academic, and creative efforts in the field of artificial intelligence. These contributions helped develop innovative solutions and technologies, improve the efficiency of smart applications, promote a culture of innovation and technological entrepreneurship, and strengthen effective partnerships between the university and both the public and private sectors.

The initiative witnessed rapid growth in knowledge output, with the number of competitive submissions reaching 390 entries in 2025, representing a growth rate of 160% compared to 2024. Meanwhile, the number of accepted knowledge outputs increased to 213, achieving a growth rate of 144.8%. Over three years, the initiative recorded cumulative growth of 393.7% in competitive submissions and 719.2% in accepted knowledge outputs, reflecting increasing interest in AI and emerging technologies, as well as expanding research and knowledge participation in these fields.

The ceremony also included recognition and incentives for the following categories:

• Excellence Award in AI Research Collaboration (Academic and Industrial Partnership): Awarded to joint initiatives that contributed to developing innovative solutions with tangible societal or economic impact.
• Responsible AI for Community Development Award: Presented to projects that employ AI ethically and responsibly to address societal challenges and promote sustainable development.
• Best AI Researcher Award (PhD Category): Granted for advanced scientific contributions with academic and practical value.
• Best Emerging AI Researcher Award (Master’s Category): Presented to promising researchers holding master’s degrees.
• Rising AI Star Award (Bachelor’s and Diploma Category): Awarded to creative students who presented pioneering and applicable projects.
• Excellence Award in Adopting AI in Higher Education Teaching: Recognizing academic initiatives that integrated AI technologies into the educational process and contributed to enhancing the learning experience and improving educational quality.

In addition, Dr. Nasser Salem Al-Baimani, the Deputy of Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies, Scientific Research, and Innovation at the UTAS, emphasized the importance of integrating efforts across different sectors to support the achievement of Oman Vision 2040 goals. He noted that such partnerships contribute to keeping pace with rapid technological developments, particularly AI technologies, which have become a driving force across various sectors and a fundamental pillar of the knowledge economy and Oman’s future directions.

He added that the university is working toward strengthening its role within the knowledge economy ecosystem by supporting scientific research and innovation, contributing to knowledge production, commercializing innovations, and encouraging student-led startups, especially in information technology and modern technology fields.

The event concluded with reaffirmation of the importance of continuing national initiatives that support artificial intelligence and innovation, and their role in building a sustainable knowledge and technology ecosystem capable of preparing national talents to keep pace with global digital transformations. These efforts also enhance the competitiveness of the Sultanate of Oman in advanced technologies and the knowledge-based economy, supporting national development pathways and fulfilling the aspirations of Oman Vision 2040.