Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) plans to build a new research and innovation centre at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) campus in Saudi Arabia.

Sabic today signed a long-term agreement with Kaust and the centre is scheduled to begin operations in 2012.

The agreement, signed on behalf of Sabic by Dr Abdulrahman bin Saleh Al-Ubaid, executive vice president, technology and innovation, and on behalf of Kaust by Dr. Mohamed Samaha, senior vice president for economic and technology development, creates the framework whereby Sabic provides construction funding for the Sabic Research  and Innovation Center, as well as support for research on the jointly agreed industry/academic projects to be undertaken there.

Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thenayan Al Saud, chairman of the Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu and Sabic chairman, expressed his pride in the cooperation and noted that the long-term investment would bring excellent returns at both the scientific and economic levels—and show strong leadership in innovation that leads to economic development both domestically and globally.

Mohamed H Al-Mady, Sabic vice chairman and CEO, said cooperation between Sabic and Kaust would lead to many innovations and technical solutions that serve the industrial sectors in Saudi Arabia, the region and the world.

Kaust president, Professor Choon Fong Shih, said: “From its early commitment as a founding member of our Industrial Collaboration Program, Sabic has demonstrated its understanding of Kaust’s unique capabilities which enable us to build synergies among research, education, innovation and enterprise, as well as to harness science and technology to address global challenges of our time—for the benefit of the Kingdom and beyond.”

Sabic joins a number of international institutions partnering with Kaust to support education and economic development through scientific innovation that will, over time, deliver advances conforming with the vision of the university’s founder, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The Sabic Center for Research and Innovation will work to strengthen the collaboration and innovative goals shared by Sabic and Kaust, and employ between 100 and 150 scientists on research and technology projects, especially in the areas of catalysis, composites and membranes.
 
When completed, it will join two other technical centres now being developed in Shanghai (China) and Bangalore (India) as part of a global network numbering 16 research centres. – TradeArabia News Service