GE opens Kuwait Technology Center to boost innovation in power sector

Kuwait City / Emirates Business

GE marked a new milestone in its operational presence in Kuwait with the opening of the GE Kuwait Technology Center (GEKTC), a flagship facility that will foster localized research, provide hands-on training and build an innovation ecosystem specifically for the power sector.
Approved by the Kuwait Direct
Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) for a Foreign Investment License last year, the 6,000 sq meter GEKTC, based at Agility in Sulaibiya, is the first facility of its kind outside of the United States by GE, underlining the company’s long-term commitment to Kuwait, its people and the wider region. As part of a new MoU signed with Kuwait University (KU), the Center will drive localized training and research and development (R&D) in power generation in Kuwait, supporting the goals of Kuwait Vision 2035 to nurture youth talent and create high quality jobs in the technical sector.
An integrated training, tooling and engineering facility, the Center has three core components: A Training Center supporting over 900 students and technical professionals each year, Tooling Center to offer repair & maintenance services, and Engineering Center for cutting-edge research and development.
The Engineering Center will also house a Monitoring and Diagnostics Center and a Controls Simulation laboratory providing local capability to monitor GE’s connected turbine and generator fleet across the region and supporting GE’s digital industrial applications including Predix, the world’s first and only cloud-based operating system for the industry.
Highlighting GE’s focus on digital industrial transformation by integrating big data with heavy machinery to achieve unprecedented levels of operational efficiency and productivity, the GEKTC team will also work with Kuwaiti researchers, industry and software developers to co-create digital industrial solutions for the power industry.
His Excellency Ahmed Al Jassar, Minister of Electricity & Water, said: “This Technology Center reflects the commitment that both the Ministry of Electricity & Water and GE have to promote, develop and sustain future Kuwaiti and international talents to serve the power industry in the Middle East region with future prospects to serve the world.”
Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Director General of the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority, said: “The Kuwait GE Technology Center is a strong investment by one of the world’s leading companies highlighting the strong competitiveness of the Kuwaiti economy. Apart from serving as a key pillar in supporting the country’s energy sector, the Center is also placing emphasis on localized innovation and Kuwaiti talent development. This complements the goals of KDIPA in promoting inward investments to ensure transfer of technology and with a strong focus on talent and skill development of Kuwaitis, as well as meeting the country’s national vision and development priorities.”