ABU DHABI – The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has partnered with NVIDIA to launch the region’s first Joint Lab for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
The landmark initiative, announced at TII headquarters, establishes a pioneering hub for next-generation AI models, robotics platforms, and humanoid systems designed to accelerate innovation across industries.
The agreement was signed by Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII, and Marc Domenech, Regional Director, Enterprise – META at NVIDIA, in the presence of senior ATRC and NVIDIA leaders, marking a milestone in the UAE’s AI journey.
Driving AI and Robotics Leadership
The TII-NVAITC (NVIDIA AI Technology Center) Joint Lab will be the first of its kind in the Middle East. It integrates NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platforms and global expertise with TII’s multidisciplinary research in AI, robotics, autonomous systems, and high-performance computing.
Research will focus on:
- Embodied AI: Developing robotic systems capable of perception, reasoning, and adaptive decision-making.
- Humanoid & Robotics Stacks: Combining AI models, control systems, and hardware for real-time applications.
- Falcon AI Models: Leveraging TII’s Falcon family of large language models, the region’s largest AI models, to enhance robotic intelligence.
- Robotic Learning at Scale: Advancing machine learning, control, and automation for real-world deployments.
Strategic Impact for the UAE
Dr. Aaraj noted that the collaboration will “lay the foundation for a new era of intelligent machines,” combining robotics platforms with advanced AI models.
Carlo Ruiz, VP of Enterprise Solutions & Operations EMEA at NVIDIA, said the lab expands NVIDIA’s global NVAITC network into robotics for the first time in the Middle East, “helping researchers and innovators accelerate breakthroughs that will shape the future of intelligent systems.”
This initiative aligns with the UAE’s long-term strategy of technological sovereignty, following its recent US–UAE AI Acceleration Partnership, and positions Abu Dhabi as a global hub for AI and robotics leadership.
