https://arab.news/9gb3m
- Swedish firm is deepening collaboration with Saudi universities
- Ericsson highlighted importance of cross-sector partnerships and technological progress
RIYADH: Telecoms firm Ericsson is expanding its graduate hiring and internship programs in 萝莉视频 as it seeks to strengthen its regional footprint, a senior executive told Arab News.
In an interview on the sidelines of the inauguration of the company鈥檚 regional headquarters in Riyadh, Patrick Johansson, president and head of market area Europe, Middle East and Africa at Ericsson, said the Swedish firm is deepening its collaboration with Saudi universities and expanding hands-on training opportunities.
The Swedish company officially unveiled its new office in the presence of Haytham Al-Ohali, vice minister at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Al-Dubaikhi, assistant minister at the Ministry of Investment, and Petra Menander, Swedish Ambassador to 萝莉视频.
This move aligns with 萝莉视频鈥檚 Regional Headquarters Program, which aims to attract multinational companies to establish their Middle East and North Africa bases in the Kingdom by offering tax incentives, regulatory support, and preferential government contracting.
Global firms such as PepsiCo, Siemens, and Unilever have already set up offices in Riyadh, supporting the Vision 2030 goal of making 萝莉视频 a regional hub for innovation and decision-making.
Reflecting on Ericsson鈥檚 goal to develop a local workforce, Johansson said: 鈥淭he joint collaboration with universities and bringing on new graduate students and training them on the ground has been part from the very beginning.鈥�
He added: 鈥淣ow we鈥檙e expanding that even greater while having the regional headquarters here, so it is about bringing even broader numbers of students doing internships.鈥�
Emphasizing collaboration, talent development, and fifth-generation network leadership, Ericsson highlighted the importance of cross-sector partnerships and technological progress in building an inclusive digital infrastructure for 萝莉视频 and the broader region.
As part of its long-term commitment to local talent development, Ericsson has been running the Gen-E graduate program at the 5G Innovation Hub in Riyadh since 2018.
The initiative has trained more than 190 Saudi graduates from both local and international universities, with women making up 50 percent of the participants.
The program includes technical workshops and hands-on training in Ericsson鈥檚 tools and methodologies, led by subject matter experts and the company鈥檚 Saudi leadership.
It has contributed to the development of a range of 5G and Internet of Things applications in areas such as robotics, edge computing, and mixed reality 鈥� aligning with the Kingdom鈥檚 broader digital transformation agenda.
Ericsson is scaling up its talent development efforts, which now include broader engagement with students across the region.
鈥淚t is about bringing even broader numbers of students doing internships, but also the graduate programs as part of the activities here in 萝莉视频,鈥� Johansson said.
He noted that 萝莉视频鈥檚 rapid digital evolution under Vision 2030 is providing fertile ground for innovation and cross-sector collaboration, saying it has taken 鈥渁n exponential leap.
The Ericsson official added: 鈥淎nd of course, we鈥檙e leveraging our technology鈥� also working across with academia, and then also into new areas, which is part of the vision.鈥�
The company's partnerships with major Saudi telecom operators remain central to its operations. 鈥淲e鈥檙e working mainly with the two big operators 鈥� with stc and with Mobily 鈥� and again, it is about providing the connectivity that builds beyond.鈥�
He also highlighted that the move to establish its base in the Kingdom was a 鈥渧ery simple choice to make.鈥�
Johansson pointed to new initiatives extending beyond traditional connectivity. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also about introducing new ways of having technology for good,鈥� he said, referring to the Connected Recycling platform project launched with stc鈥檚 IoT subsidiary in February, aimed at improving the efficiency and impact of recycling through digital tools.
Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of ecosystem-driven progress, stating: 鈥淲e put the foundation here by opening our real headquarters, but then it鈥檚 what we do and achieve together 鈥� because it is all about the ecosystem.鈥�
The inauguration event included discussions on the evolution of network technologies, the roadmap to sixth-generation connectivity, and the role of Vision 2030 in guiding long-term innovation strategies, according to a press release.