The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) will award five endowments to promote the research careers of assistant professors currently resident at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) campus in Thuwal, near Jeddah, to advance research excellence in Saudi Arabia and invest in young, innovative scientists. The funding agreement was signed in Thuwal on April 18.
The funding will be for three years and supports outstanding researchers involved in a diverse range of scientific disciplines from capturing and storing solar energy, catalytic valorization of carbon dioxide, highly selective membrane materials to understanding the behavior life in the Red Sea marine environment. The collaboration allows the two sides to provide an insight into the various elements that help enrich the lives of the people of Saudi Arabia and the world and meet their current and future challenges.
Commenting on the continued investment in young minds at KAUST, Mohamed Al-Mady, SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO, said that these awards demonstrate the company’s commitment to develop KAUST talent, enabling them to provide innovative solutions to problems that are relevant not just to SABIC’s longer term strategic goals, but the Kingdom’s as well. “This is an investment allowing both KAUST and SABIC to support Saudi Arabia’s development vision with the prospect of new, disruptive technologies and materials for a more accountable and sustainable future,” he said.
Ernesto Occhiello, SABIC Executive Vice President for Technology and Innovation, endorsed the appointment of five new SABIC Assistant Professorship Chairs at KAUST and said, “As we enter into new areas of research and technology, talented faculty at KAUST are seen as a rich source of knowledge that can benefit KAUST, SABIC and the scientific community at large.” SABIC recognizes the importance of developing innovative and more sustainable solutions as a key driver for success and continuous growth.
Expressing appreciation for SABIC’s support, Prof. Choon Fong Shih, KAUST President, said, “SABIC is making a strategic investment in the development of KAUST’s promising junior faculty. This investment will not only deepen the Kingdom’s talent pool for science and technology, but also help KAUST to deliver creative and sustainable solutions that are relevant to the Kingdom and beyond, thereby bringing knowledge in service of society.”