Tel-Aviv: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd and Group 42 (G42), a leading technology company based in Abu Dhabi, announced on July 3 the signing of two distinct Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to explore collaborations in the research and development of effective solutions to combat SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease.
Executives from each company took part in a signing ceremony held via video conference between the UAE and Israel. During the event, they discussed ways of leveraging their respective expertise to develop cutting-edge solutions and medical initiatives that could not only benefit the population of the two countries, but humanity as a whole.
Mr Peng Xiao, CEO of Group 42, said: “At G42, we embrace international cooperation as a way to create better and more effective technologies for the public good. The UAE has led by example in the global collaborative effort to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic, and our company is privileged to follow the lead and share resources and expertise with Rafael and IAI for such a significant cause.”
BG (ret.) Ariel Karo, Rafael EVP for Marketing and Business Development: “This is a historic collaboration that was born out of a global crisis. As a technological leader, particularly in the field of AI, we are proud to offer our range of capabilities and knowhow to help in the fight against the COVID-19.”
This joint initiative brings together some of the region’s most active players in the response to COVID-19, and aims to combine their respective knowledge, personnel, technology, and resources to conceptualize, develop, and optimize breakthrough solutions that will help the world safeguard public health and defeat Covid-19.
G42 has been at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19 since its outbreak. Thanks to its expertise in AI-driven genomics, the company has recently announced a new partnership with UK’s Oxford Nanopore Technologies for the joint development of an end-to-end detection solution to screen in mass and on demand, in an effort to support the re-opening of global economies. In the UAE, G42 is also operating the world’s first phase III clinical trial of a COVID-19 inactivated vaccine, under the supervision of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health.
With a legacy of over 72 years, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is a national center of research and development through its wide range of cutting-edge technologies. During the global COVID-19 pandemic, Rafael had swiftly developed a range of solutions to help society function in this current state.
Some of these systems include robotic systems for hospitals, thermic sensors to remotely-detect body temperature, a unique “splitter” for ventilators to use on two patients simultaneously, a medical data streaming app, big-data and AI technologies, and more.
