The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and Nestlé organize a hackathon "Artificial intelligence for industry"

Dubai, 18 November / WAM / The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, in partnership with Nestlé Emirates, organized the “Artificial Intelligence for Industry: Sales and Strategy Challenge” hackathon, which extended for three days at the Ministry’s headquarters in Dubai, with the participation of 60 students from seven universities in the country. Organizing the event comes within the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen partnership with the private sector and support the objectives of the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology and the “Make in the UAE” initiative.

The hackathon comes within the framework of enabling students to develop innovative solutions using artificial intelligence and data science techniques to address realistic industrial challenges, especially in the areas of sales, distribution, and commercial strategies. The event contributes to enhancing the culture of innovation and practical application of advanced technologies and Industry 4.0 in industrial facilities.

During the event, participants worked on developing smart models to forecast demand and improve distribution efficiency, in addition to analytical solutions that support raising the quality of decisions related to pricing, sales management, and understanding consumer behavior, thus enhancing the industrial sector’s productivity and competitiveness.

The hackathon represents a distinguished model of cooperation between the Ministry, the academic sector and international companies, with the aim of building a generation of national talent qualified to lead industrial transformation and enhance the knowledge-based economy.

His Excellency Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, said: “The Ministry, in line with the objectives of the National Strategy for Industry and Advanced Technology and the “Make in the Emirates” initiative, is committed to enhancing cooperation with the private sector to support technological transformation programs and raise the competitiveness of the industrial sector. The hackathon is an important platform to empower young people and involve them in developing practical solutions that address industry challenges and accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies.”

He added: “Through joint initiatives, we are keen to strengthen national capabilities, support the sustainability and flexibility of supply chains, increase industrial exports, and consolidate the UAE’s position as a global center for advanced industries.”

For his part, Serge Bratsev, General Manager of Nestlé in the Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Yemen, said: “We are proud of our partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in an initiative that reflects Nestlé’s firm commitment to empowering young generations within our global Nestlé Needs Youth programme. This hackathon embodies a practical application of the concept from global to local, as we transfer Nestlé’s global expertise in the fields of artificial intelligence and innovation to support Emirati national competencies in developing solutions that enhance the efficiency and sustainability of chains.” Supply and industry.

He added, “We are proud of the pioneering role of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and its programs supporting industrial technological transformation, and its efforts in building an industrial system based on knowledge, empowerment and achieving sustainable growth. We are also proud of our presence in the UAE as a committed partner that contributes to achieving its ambitious vision for a more innovative and sustainable future.”

The hackathon included workshops and development sessions under the supervision of Nestlé experts and technical specialists, in addition to solution presentations. The projects were evaluated based on the criteria of innovation, technical implementation, commercial impact, quality of data used, and quality of presentation.

The event contributed to enhancing students’ skills by providing practical experience that reflects the actual challenges of the industrial sector, in line with developments in Industry 4.0 technologies.

The edition comes as an extension of the success of the “Advanced Industry Hackathon – Al Ain Edition”, which was previously organized in partnership with the Higher Colleges of Technology – Al Ain, AIQ as a technical partner, and Emsteel, with the participation of 35 male and female students from several universities, with the aim of supporting young talents and enhancing the competitiveness of the industrial sector.

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