Three King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) startups have been named on the “Top 10” list of the best companies in the Startup Istanbul 2018 international competition, which took place from Oct. 19-22.
iyris, Oaesis and UnitX were selected from the top 100 startups out of over 90,000 applicants from over 80 countries in Asia and Europe.
iyris secured the third place in the conference and exhibition that brought together around 4,000 leading entrepreneurs, innovators, venture capitalists and investors to Istanbul as a meeting point between the East and the West. The startup was established by co-founders Derya Baran, KAUST assistant professor; Daniel Bryant; Nicola Gasparini; and Joel Troughton.
The solar energy-advocating startup, which recently won KAUST’s TAQADAM Startup Accelerator grant-based competition, develops transparent photovoltaic technologies that turn windows into solar panels while preserving the aesthetic aspect of buildings and blocking the heat.
Oaesis developed its laser-based energy efficient lighting system to maximize indoor farms’ yield using low energy yet providing the necessary light for growing plants.
UnitX provides customized products and services for high performance computing, helping companies in the military, mechanical, aerospace and reverse engineering industries engineer better products faster by adopting a simulation-assisted prototyping approach that relies on parallel computing.
The university supports emerging companies on their journeys from the early stages of ideation to marketing and financial support. KAUST also participates in several conferences and competitions locally and globally as part of the university’s efforts to contribute to diversifying the sources and means of economic development in the Kingdom by supporting a knowledge-based economy.
KAUST startup iyris places third in Startup Istanbul 2018
KAUST startup iyris places third in Startup Istanbul 2018
Dammam Airports partners with KaarTech to transform IT services
Dammam Airports, a key player in Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector, has partnered with KaarTech to deliver end-to-end IT managed services across its airport network in the Eastern Province.
This milestone advances Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and strengthens Dammam Airports’ commitment to delivering world-class travel experiences. The collaboration was inaugurated through an official signing ceremony attended by Mohammed Al-Hassany, CEO of Dammam Airports, and Shahinsha Abdul Basheer, CEO of KaarTech, signifying a shared commitment to shaping the future of Saudi Arabia’s aviation through innovation and intelligent technology.
Recognized as one of the world’s largest airports by land area, Dammam Airports connects more than 12 million passengers each year and plays a vital role in strengthening the Kingdom’s aviation growth. With this partnership, the company is set to transform its IT landscape into a secure, scalable, and intelligent environment that supports the complexities of modern airport operations.
KaarTech will manage the complete IT landscape across three airports, covering infrastructure, cloud, and network operations, along with 24/7 service management. This engagement also includes comprehensive application support beyond SAP, enriched with automation, proactive governance, and predictive intelligence. KaarTech will enable Dammam Airports to achieve resilience, efficiency, and long-term scalability through a comprehensive AI governance approach that embeds transparency, accountability, and innovation into every layer of IT operations, positioning the company as a trusted driver of aviation modernization.
This partnership aims to transform IT from a back-end function into an AI-enabled strategic driver of business performance and passenger experience. From ensuring business continuity and strengthening operational reliability to enabling connected, insight-driven airport services, the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to data-driven, intelligent, and sustainable aviation.
Through this engagement, KaarTech reaffirms its position as a trusted partner in AI-led enterprise transformation, delivering deep expertise in managing complex technology ecosystems with intelligence and precision. For Dammam Airports, the partnership represents a decisive step in aligning operational excellence with the national vision for innovation, digital connectivity, and long-term growth.
Together, the two organizations will drive smarter airport operations and deliver sustainable value for the Kingdom’s growing aviation ecosystem.
