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RIYADH: The use of generative artificial intelligence in efforts to foster a university environment that stimulates innovation and creativity among students was one of the topics discussed on Tuesday at the inaugural Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Saudi Universities.

The economic impact of university business accelerators, and the development of performance indicators to enhance entrepreneurial sustainability were among the other subjects discussed on the opening day of the two-day event. Other sessions explored the latest concepts and practices in innovation and entrepreneurial transformation within universities.

The conference, organized by King Abdulaziz University, features a distinguished group of local and international speakers, and brings together researchers and specialists from academic institutions and national organizations, as well as local and international think tanks, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

International research discussions delved into entrepreneurial opportunities in AI-driven supply chains, and the influence of entrepreneurial leadership in efforts to promote innovation and achieve institutional excellence.

The conference also featured several workshops, during which participants explored pathways for establishing university startups, and the steps required to build entrepreneurial ventures in academic settings. Another topic was support for the outputs of academic research and how they might be transformed into economically significant products.

An interactive session titled “Silent Entrepreneurship” tackled the challenges of teaching entrepreneurship to people with impaired hearing, and proposed solutions to help them integrate with the innovation ecosystem. The session also included a hands-on exercise on the development of financial and investment awareness.

Other workshops focused on opportunities and challenges in the water sector, the future of water-related technologies in efforts to promote sustainability, and the use of AI by innovators and entrepreneurs. The conference concludes on Wednesday.

RIYADH: Olive presses in the Jouf region have begun production, supplying olive oil and pressed olives to local and international markets, marking the start of a busy season for agricultural holdings and projects.

Mohammed Al-Fadel, chairman of a local multipurpose cooperative association, highlighted his organization’s efforts to meet the region’s growing production.

He said the association recently upgraded its press with the latest Italian technology, increasing capacity from 18 to 60 tonnes per 24 hours, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al-Fadel added that the press, serving farmers since the 1990s, now operates around the clock during the season, which typically runs until January.

Last year, it processed the produce of 215 farmers, ensuring product safety through laboratory testing in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.

Bassam Al-Owaiesh, associate professor of environment and agriculture at Jouf University’s biology department, said the region has more than 25 million olive trees, with production starting in early October.

The region cultivates numerous varieties, including Arbequina and Picual, valued for their oil content and fruit size, he added.

Every year, the region celebrates production through the Jouf International Olive Festival. Organized by the regional municipality, the event showcases the region’s olive oil and table olives, as well as related industries like olive soap, pickles and cosmetic products.