Saudi Minister explores AM in the US

As part of a four-day delegation to the United States, His Excellency Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, dedicated a day to North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park (RTP), engaging with leading research institutions and industrial experts.

The program included meetings with North Carolina’s Secretary of Commerce, Lee Lilley, and tours of NC State University’s EnergyX Lab and Center for Additive Manufacturing and Logistics (CAMAL), as well as the SAS Institute. These engagements reflect Saudi Arabia’s focus on adopting advanced manufacturing and building international partnerships to accelerate industrial transformation.

At SAS, discussions centered on digital twins, advanced analytics, and machine learning to simulate factory operations, optimize processes, and extend equipment lifecycles. At RTP, AlKhorayef explored collaborations in 3D printing materials and hybrid manufacturing for the Kingdom’s Advanced Manufacturing and Production Center (AMPC), while CAMAL highlighted its work supporting SMEs with additive manufacturing. EnergyX Lab showcased innovations in energy sustainability and competitive manufacturing systems.

The visits demonstrated how US institutions deploy Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies – AI, IoT, robotics, and additive manufacturing – to modernize production, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s own goals.

Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Strategy (NIS) seeks to establish the Kingdom as a global advanced manufacturing hub by localizing critical goods, building a competitive regional base, and achieving global leadership in select sectors. Flagship initiatives include the AMPC, the Future Factories Program, and the Industrial Lighthouse Program. The AMPC serves as the central hub for 4IR adoption, coordinating automation, AI, and robotics. The Future Factories Program aims to modernize 4,000 factories into smart facilities by 2030, already boosting efficiency and profitability for major Saudi firms. Through the Lighthouse Program, over 150 national facilities have been recognized by the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse Network for their 4IR adoption.

These efforts are part of Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy, reduce reliance on hydrocarbons, and create high-value jobs. By investing in automation and sustainable production, Saudi Arabia is also advancing environmental goals through energy optimization and waste reduction.

For Saudi Arabia, engaging with US leaders such as SAS, CAMAL, and EnergyX Lab provides opportunities for knowledge transfer, benchmarking best practices, and strengthening a long-standing partnership with the United States.