Partnership will train Saudi young people on tech skills and new hyperloop system

Virgin Hyperloop One and Misk will drive 'Fourth Industrial Revolution' job creation in the Kingdom

Virgin Hyperloop One will provide one hour connections to cities within the Gulf region

Riyadh: The Misk Foundation and Virgin Hyperloop One today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on providing training, education, and professional opportunities to Saudi youth. The announcement was made at the Misk Global Forum, which is being held Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 15 to 16 November.

The agreement is intended to seed long lasting economic, social, and innovation benefits for the Kingdom by developing a highly skilled knowledge-based, cutting edge workforce in an innovative area of growth. This is central to Misk’s mission to empower Saudi youth to become active participants in the knowledge economy.

Virgin Hyperloop One will develop a new transportation network within the Gulf that will bring unprecedented connectivity to the region. When completed, its network will enable people to travel between most cities in the region in less than one hour. It will be a significant contribution to making Saudi Arabia a global leader in land transportation, alongside other plans to develop its aviation and maritime logistics in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform agenda.

Josh Giegel, co-founder and CTO of Virgin Hyperloop One, said: “Through this partnership with the Misk Foundation, we hope to empower the youth of Saudi Arabia, cultivating the next generation of technology innovation and developing an economic mega region.” 

The key elements of the MoU include:

  • Collaborating to create ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ job opportunities in engineering, business strategy, operations, construction, and software/hardware technology. 

  • Jointly developing both university-level and college-level training curriculums for the hyperloop system, alongside an international internship framework for Saudi students. The university-based program will also produce research for professors and students suitable for use in both academic and industry White Papers. 

  • Working together to establish a new certification program for the operation and maintenance of Virgin Hyperloop One a year in advance of the system’s launch.

    The MoU was signed at the Misk Global Forum, which brings together emerging and established innovators, entrepreneurs, and thinkers from around the world, alongside young people from Saudi Arabia, to meet the challenge of change.

    -Ends-

    Contacts:
    Neil Cameron
    Senior Director, Consulum
    nfc@consulum.com 
    M: +44 7867 311 656

    John Slinger
    Senior Director, Consulum
    jas@consulum.com 
    M: +44 7584 034 605

    Marcy Simon
    Head of Communications
    marcy@hyperloop-one.com
    M    : +1 9179333392

    Sandy Choi
    Communications
    Sandy.choi@hyperloop-one.com
    M    : +1 9177978185

    The Misk Global Forum is a flagship ongoing platform of the Misk Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic foundation established by HRH Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to discover, develop and empower Saudi youth to become active participants in the knowledge economy.  It specifically focuses on four key areas: education, creative and digital media, technology, and culture and arts.  Misk pursues this agenda both through its own programs, and through partnerships with local and global organizations. 

    Established in 2016, the Misk Global Forum brings young leaders, creators and thinkers together with established global innovators to explore, experience and experiment with ways to meet the challenge of change.

    Details about the Misk Global Forum 2017 gathering are at http://Miskglobalforum.com/

    Details about the Misk Foundation are at https://Misk.org.sa/en/  

    • © Press Release 2017