Reiterating its commitment to support government digital initiatives, the Communication & Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA), in association with Microsoft, announced its inaugural OpenHack event in Kuwait. The event is designed to supercharge skillsets of the country’s software architects and developers to solve common industry challenges, and become Artificial Intelligence Specialists.

The three-day event is scheduled to be held in Sheraton Kuwait, Kuwait City from 11 – 13 February and will gather industry experts, software developers and individuals who are keen on upskilling with the emerging technologies and empower them to fuel the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The event also aims to bring Microsoft customers and community developers to solve a series of problems using a predefined basket of technologies.

“The partnership with Microsoft further strengthens our continuous commitment to the country’s vision 2035 of digitally transforming Kuwait into a leading regional, financial, commercial and cultural hub. Initiatives like this OpenHack are in line with our mission of creating a competitive regulatory environment aimed at the advancement of communication and information technology,” says Eng. Manal Khaled AlMazyad, Director of Public Sector Governance, CITRA.

“This effort supports our mission to empower government entities within Kuwait by using innovative and sophisticated technologies that make employees more secure, flexible and efficient, assisting them to further enhance skillsets and be future ready.”

During the event, participants will work closely with teams, grappling with increasingly challenging scenarios while collaborating and networking with industry peers. They will also gain the opportunity to learn from machine-learning experts from around the world.

“OpenHack Kuwait” gathers industry experts, software developers and individuals who are keen on upskilling with the emerging technologies and empower them to fuel the Fourth Industrial Revolution. pic.twitter.com/tYBQzbYbdM

— Microsoft Gulf (@microsoftgulf) February 11, 2019

“We are proud to partner with CITRA and hold this event in Kuwait, as part of our global series of hackfests. Microsoft’s efforts are In line to support the country’s vision for providing intelligent solutions and build a tech-savvy future for all its people,” says Charles Nahas, General Manager, Microsoft Kuwait. “OpenHack is designed with an objective of upskilling developers and encouraging them to learn through hands-on coding experience in turn to achieve more by adding greater value to their organisations’ digital transformation journeys.

The World Bank tells us that for each job created in the high-tech sector, approximately 4.3 jobs are created across all occupation and income groups. Hence, we must invest wisely and decisively in our developers, students and professionals, to empower them with tomorrow’s skills, today.”

The three-day OpenHack Machine Learning event in Kuwait will focus on solving problems with computer-vision solutions. Developers explored spheres of data wrangling, cognitive services, artificial neural networks and custom machine learning, using the Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Workbench.

The agenda will have a series of Tech Talks with industry experts, and Architecture Design Sessions, where customers will be discussing their individual business challenges. Additionally, Microsoft will be hosting several networking events that will allow attendees to network with industry peers.

OpenHack continues Microsoft’s deep commitment to the economic and professional development of Kuwait and wider Gulf region. The event in Kuwait is a major component of an ongoing strategy to help with upskilling national workforces. An estimated 80% of roles that the global workforce will fill in 2025, have yet to be created.

OpenHack Kuwait brings #Microsoft customers and community developers together, to solve a series of problems using a predefined basket of technologies. pic.twitter.com/nvMA9Mo5JJ

— Microsoft Gulf (@microsoftgulf) February 12, 2019

Having seen technologies such as artificial intelligence to create the modern workplace, Microsoft has long encouraged the region’s policymakers to promote STEM education and continuous learning programmes as well.