RIYADH: A delegation of 20 top French technology companies gathered in Riyadh for the third French-Saudi Innovation Forum at the Crowne Plaza Digital City on Wednesday.
Companies were able to connect with potential Saudi partners, showcase their skills, and assess their expectations and needs with a view to establishing formal partnerships.
Solar-powered drone manufacturer Xsun was one such company. Benjamin David, CEO and founder, told Arab News: “We have signed a contract to create a subsidiary of the Xsun group in Saudi Arabia with a local partner wishing to deploy this technology.
“Our Saudi partner aims to build an assembly plant for our machines, which will also serve as a maintenance center, pilot training center and flight center for flying these machines.
“This center will also be able to welcome visitors for demonstration flights and offer services for using our systems. All these things will be possible thanks to this partnership.
“The advantage is that it’s very sunny in Arabia most of the time. For example, if we look back over the last 25 years, we can see that the amount of sun falling on the ground is completely reproducible every month of the year.
“This means we can accurately predict the amount of solar energy and fully anticipate the autonomy of these solar machines.
“This autonomy will enable us not only to cover great distances and large areas, but also to acquire a considerable amount of data for monitoring marine biodiversity and environmental monitoring of projects.
“We are currently in discussions with the major Saudi nature reserves to preserve the environment and its flora and fauna,” he said.
David said that the Saudi market was very dynamic and keen on innovation, with a young and well-educated population, “which is a perfect match for our needs.”
This year’s symposium featured high-level discussions between French and Saudi industrial leaders, including representatives of the Saudi Made initiative and La French Fab, to foster strategic partnerships to support sustainable industrial growth in the region.
Panel discussions explored how sustainable technologies could transform the industrial landscape in Saudi Arabia while respecting the environment.
Discussions also focused on Saudi Arabia’s commitment to localize industries and integrate women into its industrial sector.
The event was held in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program.
