Siemens expands its footprint in Saudi Arabia with new R&D center and Industrial Internet of Things investment

In the drive to further strengthen its digital footprint in Saudi Arabia, Siemens inaugurated the first MindSphere Application Center and MindSphere Lounge at the Siemens Head Office in Riyadh. This is the latest milestone in the company’s 90-year heritage in the Kingdom.

The MindSphere Application Center, together with the MindSphere Lounge and MindSphere Lab, offer an exciting collaborative space, staffed by skilled people, who facilitate the co-creation of customized digital solutions with partners in the public and private sectors using MindSphere, Siemens’ cloud-based, open Industrial IoT platform.  

The MindSphere Application Center in Riyadh is part of a global network of 20 centers with 900 software developers, data specialists and engineers who work together with customers and partners to develop tailor-made digital solutions, thereby addressing their most pressing challenges and enabling improved operational efficiency, reduced costs and optimized systems across entire value chains.

The MindSphere Application Center in Saudi Arabia represents another step towards more focused and customized product and service delivery, rather than a “one size fits all” philosophy. With this approach, the MindSphere Application Center is working together with customers along their digital transformation journeys.

Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is investing significantly to lead the digital economy. The focus areas of the MindSphere Application Center in Saudi Arabia therefore include customized digital solutions in the fields of energy, namely oil and gas, electricity and renewables, smart infrastructure and energy efficiency, and smart agriculture – topics that resonate with the priorities of the Kingdom and translate into sustainable local industries and high-skilled job opportunities.

Stefan Werner, acting CEO of Siemens Saudi Arabia, said, “Vision 2030 is creating fantastic opportunities for our young people, who make up more than half of the Saudi Arabian population. With the MindSphere Application Center, we are providing a platform for young people to come and learn, develop and co-create with us. We have started with Effat University and look forward to achieving even more.”

Dr. Haifa Reda Jamal Al-Lail, President of Effat University, commented, “We are here to officially open this center, which was designed and developed based on the winning design created by our students. I am proud of our valuable and productive partnership with Siemens, and proud of our students and their contributions to the development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as represented by this magnificent new center.”

Eng. Abdallah Obeikan, CEO of the Obeikan Investment Group, delivered a keynote speech and said, “I believe Siemens will lead the digital transformation in the industrial sector globally. The capability and history of Siemens is creating a new dimension of partnership with us, moving from a normal supplier-customer relationship to a real partnership to co-create, co-develop and go to the market together.”

Prof. Dr. Rainer Speh, Senior Vice President, Technology and Innovation at Siemens Saudi Arabia, said, “We are the only company in the market that brings the virtual world together with the real world in a holistic way. The new MindSphere Application Center Lounge will enable us to work together with our customers to optimize entire production processes by seamlessly integrating data and driving continuous innovation from virtual product design to simulation, manufacturing and operations optimization.”

Previously, digital technologies were developed and tested in private areas with few people, but this has changed significantly in recent years. Ecosystems have emerged that bring together diverse knowledge, skills and resources to co-create customized solutions.

“The digital solutions of tomorrow will be developed in direct collaboration with partners and customers,” Speh said. “Our MindSphere Application Center provides the right setting for co-creating innovative digital solutions tailored to our customers’ needs.”

In this spirit, Siemens will work closely with its customers in Saudi Arabia to master the challenges brought about by digitalization and shape the future of local industry. At the MindSphere Application Center in Saudi Arabia, this is about working together to transform the digital landscape, one digit at a time.