Dhamar: Participants in the Sixth International Conference on Emerging Smart Technologies and Their Applications "eSmarTA-2026" recommended enhancing scientific research and innovation, expanding scientific partnerships, and accelerating digital transformation, to contribute to achieving sustainable development and building a knowledge-based digital economy.
According to Yemen News Agency, the conference statement, organized by Dhamar University through the Faculty of Computer and Information Technology, in partnership with Yemen Research Foundation, and sponsored by Yemen Mobile and the Yemeni-Omani United Telecommunications Company (YOU), emphasized the importance of supporting scientific research in the fields of artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things, and smart communications.
The recommendations called for expanding partnerships between universities, scientific research centers, and both the public and private sectors, to transform research outputs into practical applications and innovative products, and to establish national innovation centers and business incubators specializing in smart technologies and tech entrepreneurship.
They stressed the need to develop the cybersecurity system by supporting research and building human capacities, adopting national policies to protect digital infrastructure and data, and investing in generative AI and intelligent agent technologies, while establishing legislative and ethical frameworks to ensure the responsible and safe use of these technologies.
The conference also recommended expanding the use of smart technologies in the sectors of education, health, energy, agriculture, transportation, and government administration, to enhance service quality and raise performance efficiency, along with encouraging interdisciplinary research to find innovative solutions to developmental challenges.
The recommendations urged support for smart city and sustainability initiatives by employing big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and smart energy, as well as enhancing international cooperation and expertise exchange among researchers and scientific institutions, encouraging joint research projects and scientific publication in peer-reviewed global journals.
Conference participants emphasized the importance of building national capacities through organizing training programs and specialized workshops in emerging technologies, with a focus on graduate students and young researchers, and enhancing the participation of women and youth in innovation and smart technology fields.
The recommendations called for developing legislation and policies supporting digital transformation, safeguarding privacy, and strengthening trust in AI applications, and leveraging the conference's outcomes in preparing national strategies for digital transformation and the digital economy, linking research results to development needs, while emphasizing commitment to the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence to ensure fairness, transparency, accountability, and the protection of rights and privacy.
During the closing session, the President of Dhamar University, Dr. Mohammed Al-Haifi, affirmed that the university will continue to support conferences and scientific and research activities that contribute to knowledge development and innovation, and consolidate its presence in academic and research circles at both the local and international levels.
He pointed out that the conference's success is the fruit of early preparation and continuous work by the organizers, foremost among them the Dean of the Faculty of Computer and Information Technology, noting that the organizing committee mobilized all its capabilities to make the conference a success in a manner befitting Dhamar University and its academic standing.
The University President expressed his appreciation to the faculty and staff of the Faculty of Computer and Information Technology, members of the University Council, and all academic, administrative, and research staff for their contributions to the success of the conference's activities and the enrichment of its scientific sessions.
The Deputy Chair of the Conference and Advisor to the President of Dhamar University, Dr. Khaled Al-Husseini, affirmed in a statement to the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that the conference aimed to achieve practical outputs that contribute to transforming scientific research into pioneering projects and startups, thereby enhancing innovation and linking scientific research to development needs.
He noted the conference's distinction with its international character and its connection to global companies and research institutions, which enhances opportunities for transforming research ideas into executable and investable projects, explaining that the conference witnessed broad scientific participation from researchers representing 38 countries via video conferencing technology, belonging to a number of prestigious universities and academic institutions around the world.
Dr. Al-Husseini clarified that virtual participation exceeded in-person attendance, reflecting the international standing the conference enjoys and the growing interest in its events, noting that accepted research will be published and indexed in the global "Scopus" database, ensuring its dissemination on an international scale and enhancing its academic value.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Computer and Information Technology at Dhamar University, Dr. Bashir Al-Maqaleh, affirmed that the conference's success embodies the university's ability to organize high-level international scientific events, and reflects the importance of partnership between academic and research institutions in producing knowledge and transforming it into practical solutions that serve society and development.
Al-Maqaleh pointed out that the Faculty of Computer and Information Technology will work to transform the conference's outputs and recommendations into scientific and research programs and initiatives that contribute to serving the homeland, and enhance Dhamar University's position as an academic institution keeping pace with global technological transformations.
He expressed his appreciation to Dhamar University's leadership, Yemen Research Foundation, sponsors, organizing committees, researchers, reviewers, guests, and all participants from within and outside Yemen, thanking them for their efforts that contributed to the success of the conference and the achievement of its scientific objectives.
The Dean of the Faculty of Computer and Information Technology reiterated his hope that the next edition of the conference will witness further achievements, partnerships, and innovations, to enhance the journey of scientific research and academic excellence in Yemeni academic institutions.
The conference, held under the slogan "Smart Transformation Toward a Secure and Sustainable Digital Future," featured specialized scientific sessions that discussed 96 research papers presented by researchers, experts, and academics representing 38 countries, addressing the latest developments in the fields of artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things, robotics, cloud computing, software engineering, smart energy and communications, and digital transformation.
The research papers also addressed applications of smart technologies in the health, education, agriculture, industry, and energy sectors, along with advanced topics including forensic computing, blockchain, digital twins, smart cities, smart electrical grids, electric vehicles, and sustainable technologies, enhancing the employment of innovation in building a secure and sustainable digital future.
At the conclusion of the conference, attended by the Executive Director of the Information Technology Center at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Fouad Abdulrazzaq; the Vice Presidents of Dhamar University for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, Dr. Abdulkarim Zubaybah; Academic Affairs, Dr. Adel Al-Ansi; Student Affairs, Dr. Abdulkaffi Al-Rifai; the Assistant to the University President for Centers Affairs, Dr. Essam Wasel; the Secretary-General of the University, Dr. Mohammed Hattram; the Chair of the Conference, Dr. Qais Al-Nuzaili; and the representative of Yemen Research Foundation, Dr. Radwan Shaddad, the participants and supporting and organizing entities were honored.