MBZUAI and AWS Partner to Advance AI Research, Skills Development and Startup Growth
The partnership aligns closely with the UAE’s National Strategy for Higher Education 2030, particularly the Expanded Professional Experience initiative, which emphasizes greater student exposure to real-world environments through practical training and applied projects.
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has signed a multi-year collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) aimed at advancing artificial intelligence research, strengthening technical capabilities, and accelerating startup growth across the UAE and the wider region.
The partnership aligns closely with the UAE’s National Strategy for Higher Education 2030, particularly the Expanded Professional Experience initiative, which emphasizes greater student exposure to real-world environments through practical training and applied projects. By linking academic research with industry application, the collaboration supports MBZUAI’s mission to translate cutting-edge research into tangible societal and economic impact.
Central to the agreement is the establishment of a Strategic Research Program focused on delivering AI research in jointly agreed priority areas. Under the program, AWS will provide cloud infrastructure, technical mentorship, and guidance on relevant AWS programs, in addition to making a registry of public datasets available through AWS platforms. MBZUAI will contribute its faculty expertise, research talent, and laboratory resources, with both parties working together to turn research concepts into high-impact, practical solutions.
The collaboration also supports the launch of the GenAI Academy, a new initiative designed to host hackathons for MBZUAI undergraduate students. These hackathons will focus on addressing challenges in government services, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Alongside this, AWS will offer a range of training resources, including instructor-led AWS Classroom Training and self-paced digital learning via AWS Skill Builder, to enhance skills in cloud computing, AI, and machine learning among MBZUAI students, faculty, and staff.
In addition, MBZUAI’s Incubation and Entrepreneurship Center, established in October 2023, will benefit from the partnership. Startups associated with the center that participate in the AWS Activate program may gain access to AWS promotional credits, technical assistance, and business mentorship, further supporting early-stage innovation and commercialization.
This strategic collaboration reinforces MBZUAI’s position as a national hub for applied AI research and innovation. By embedding industry collaboration and hands-on experience into education and research, MBZUAI and AWS are contributing to the UAE’s broader ambitions for digital transformation, talent development, and innovation-led economic growth.
