Abu Dhabi’s TII partners with Qualcomm to develop edge-AI and autonomous systems for robotics, smart cities, energy, and industrial use cases across real-world environments.
Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has entered a strategic collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies Inc. to accelerate the development of edge-AI and autonomous systems designed for real-world, mission-critical environments.
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TII, the applied research arm of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), said the partnership will combine its expertise in robotics and autonomous systems with Qualcomm’s advanced edge-computing platforms. The goal is to build intelligent machines capable of operating autonomously across complex indoor and outdoor scenarios without relying on constant cloud connectivity.
Edge-AI enables real-time, on-device data processing, allowing drones, robots, and autonomous platforms to perceive their surroundings, make immediate decisions, and respond independently. This capability is increasingly critical for sectors such as energy, mining, construction, and smart cities, where latency, connectivity limits, and safety requirements demand local intelligence.
“By working with advanced edge-AI platforms, TII is expanding the range of autonomous and robotics capabilities we can develop,” said Dr. Najwa Aaraj, CEO of TII. She added that the collaboration strengthens TII’s ability to deploy robots that are more adaptive and capable of operating in unpredictable real-world conditions, from crowded indoor environments to environmental monitoring and restoration.
As part of the collaboration, TII will explore the use of Qualcomm’s edge platforms, including the Dragonwing™ IQ9 and IQ10 Series, within its autonomous systems research. The compact, high-performance chipsets integrate AI acceleration, computer vision, sensor processing, and connectivity, enabling real-time intelligence for autonomous machines operating in dynamic environments.
Originally designed for mobile and edge devices, these platforms are now being adapted to support advanced robotics and autonomous systems. Research under the collaboration will span multiple form factors, including humanoid robots built to operate safely alongside humans, as well as coordinated aerial systems capable of indoor navigation and outdoor missions such as search and rescue, inspection, and environmental monitoring.
“Together, we’re aiming to accelerate innovations that can drive meaningful impact across key industries,” said Dev Singh, Vice President of Industrial Solutions and Head of Qualcomm Abu Dhabi.
The partnership underscores Abu Dhabi’s push to position itself as a global hub for applied AI research and industrial-grade autonomous technologies.
Why Abu Dhabi’s TII, Qualcomm Collaboration Matters to MENA
- Strengthens regional AI leadership: The collaboration reinforces Abu Dhabi’s ambition to lead in applied AI, robotics, and autonomous systems beyond research labs into industrial deployment.
- Industrial and smart city impact: Edge-AI adoption supports safer, more efficient operations in Oil & Gas, construction, mining, logistics, and smart city infrastructure across the region.
- Boosts deep-tech and robotics startups: MENA-based AI and robotics startups stand to benefit from locally developed edge-AI platforms and applied research partnerships that shorten the path from prototype to deployment.
Reduces reliance on cloud infrastructure: On-device intelligence is critical in harsh environments or limited-connectivity regions, making autonomous systems more viable across the Middle East’s industrial landscape.
