The "2017 Global Smart Manufacturing Milestones" series of articles will sort out and summarize the major issues of major smart manufacturing countries in 2017. This issue brings you Saudi Arabia. Overall, in 2017, Saudi Arabia launched a number of large-scale projects in cooperation with foreign giants in the field of Internet of Things and 3D printing, and the granting of robots as a citizenship has an international impact and is of great significance.

　　 At the end of 2017, the global smart manufacturing industry has achieved fruitful results, and the market is surging during the whole year. Many countries have performed well and achieved extraordinary achievements. Recently, we will continue to present a series of articles on “2017 Global Smart Manufacturing Events” to sort out and summarize the major issues of major smart manufacturing countries in 2017.

　　 ZTE and Nokia strengthen cooperation with local enterprises.

       In February 2017, ZTE held a special conference on "Smart Grid, Smart City – Listening to Your Voice” in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. More than 50 heads of Saudi Electric Power Company and State Grid attended the meeting and shared the development and cooperation with ZTE and Saudi Smart Grid. ZTE introduced the details of ZTE smart grid smart meter, backbone network, broadband network and smart street light solutions. ZTE will work closely with Saudi Power Company and State Grid to build the Saudi smart grid.

　　 In March, Nokia signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi telecommunications operator Zain KSA to jointly develop 5G technology and set a clear direction for building a next-generation UWB network in Saudi Arabia. Nokia and Zain have already begun to work together to transform Jeddah into a smart city. By signing this new agreement, the two sides will further cooperate to bring Saudi Arabia's smart, safe and sustainable urban construction to a new level.

Robot: Give robot citizenship, the first case in the world. 

　　 In October, at the Future Investment Initiative Forum in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, a female robot named “Sofia” was granted Saudi Arabian's citizenship for the first time in the world. To this end, Sofia expressed gratitude to the Saudi government and thought it was a great honour for herself. Hansen Robotics technology company, based in Hong Kong, is Sofia's designer and manufacturer. Sofia can simulate more than 62 facial expressions with artificial intelligence and Google's speech recognition technology, which was previously referred to "the most human-like robot" by the Hongkong media.

3D printing: Join hands with Yingchuang to launch large-scale construction projects.

　　 In March, China Yingchuang Building Technology Co., Ltd and Saudi Arabia's Almobty Construction Group reached a cooperation, the two sides will jointly complete a 3D printing construction project with no less than 30 million square meters. The project will lease 100 Yingchuang 3D printing construction equipment . At the same time, Yingchuang will jointly establish a 3D printing dream factory with Saudi Arabia in the form of 3D printing construction technology brand and technical resource usage fee.

          In May, researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia developed a technology that uses 3D printing to manufacture fully integrated wireless sensors at low cost, which can be used in extreme environmental conditions. The developers discussed the possibility of further improvements in these devices, arguing that all electronic components can be integrated onto a single chip. 

　　 In October, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia regained scientific researched and developed “smart 3D printing dental braces”. The R&D team designed the solution, including a 3D printed translucent dental braces with a tiny near-infrared LED and a small lithium-ion battery. Unlike existing dental braces, smart 3D print braces are mobile, allowing the battery to be recharged. Next, the research team hopes to improve the prototype of the dental braces through clinical trials.

　　 Overall, in 2017, Saudi Arabia launched a number of large-scale projects in cooperation with foreign giants in the field of Internet of Things and 3D printing, and  granting robots a citizenship has an international impact and is of great significance. Next, we will return to the southern hemisphere to see how the New Zealand smart manufacturing industry performed this year.