THUWAL/ NEOM — King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and NEOM have agreed to establish the “Center of Excellence for NEOM Research at KAUST”.

Both parties intend to cooperate in developing and establishing a world class research and educational center. Together they will search for solutions in some of the most important and demanding future technologies such as sustainable energy production, efficient energy use and energy distribution, urban planning, sustainable agriculture, seismology, environmental friendly water desalination, artificial intelligence, big data and sensors.

NEOM and KAUST understand this cooperation as a first, but decisive step to further substantial contributions for the future development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as for the future of global green and human oriented technologies. This far-reaching cooperation is open to be joined by other leading Research and Development institutions.

“This collaboration is yet another milestone for the Nation,” said Eng. Nadhmi Al-Nasr, interim president of KAUST. “Much is expected of organizations with the intellectual capital and ambition of KAUST and NEOM in this time of national transformation, and this partnership represents an important avenue for exploring our joint potential and inevitable impact.”

“In less than 10 years, KAUST has become a driving force for research, technology, innovation and progress in Saudi Arabia and well beyond. KAUST and NEOM both are united in the vision to create breakthroughs in areas that are most important to the country and the world and deliver solutions to some of the most pressing questions of a future world,” said Dr. Klaus Kleinfeld, CEO of NEOM.

KAUST and NEOM signed the official research collaboration agreement in a ceremony in Riyadh. — SG