On Monday, March 8, 2010, CH2M Olayan joined KAUST as a CIAP member, to be affiliated with the Water Desalination and Reuse Center. CH2M Olayan is the second company to make this cutting-edge decision: industry working directly with an academic Research Center for research and development.

As Thomas Topolski, the General Manager of CH2M Olayan LLC explained, CH2M Olayan was formed in the fall of 2009 as a joint venture between CH2M HILL, a leading engineering, construction, and operations firm, and the Olayan Group, a private multinational enterprise comprising 50 companies and affiliated businesses engaged in distribution, manufacturing, services and investment.

“It is a pleasure to be here and we appreciate the opportunity to be one of the first to bring our company’s resources to bear as we collaborate with KAUST through the CIAP to help solve some of the challenges facing the Kingdom and the region,” said Topolski. He added that he is looking forward to a “mutually beneficial relationship.”

Professor Gary Amy, Director of the Water Desalination and Reuse Center, said his long-time knowledge of the work being done by CH2M-Hill put them very near the top of his “hoped for Center partners” list. He described them as a “strategic partner” who will further develop the positive synergies among members (in the KAUST Industry Collaboration Program) and partners (in the CIAP).

Raed B’kayrat, Manager of KAUST Industry Collaboration (under which KICP and CIAP reside), congratulated the CH2M Olayan team for recognizing the value to be gained from partnering with one of our distinguished Center Directors and his research group. “The CIAP is our tool for having direct engagement between our researchers and the industry, hence providing a clear pathway for the development and commercialization of KAUST technology.”

Center Industry Affiliates Program partners have direct access to the talented researchers and scientists within the Research Center(s) relevant to the industry’s needs and interests. Their and the Center’s agendas are well aligned for the benefit of both.

About KAUST:

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region, and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST’s pioneering matrix structure of academic divisions and interdisciplinary research centers enables top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education networks support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs.  KAUST, open to both men and women from all around the world, is governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, waas inaugurated on the 23rd of September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa. 

About CH2M(Hill) Olayan:

In Saudi Arabia, the group operates or actively participates in more than 40 companies, often in partnership with leading multinationals. Internationally, the group is a global investor, with emphasis on both public and private equities and on fixed income securities. CH2M Olayan has a combined resource of 30,000 employees and the financial strength to pursue and deliver large-scale project development in the Kingdom. 

Employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in engineering, procurement, construction, and operations for government, civil, industrial, and energy clients. The firm’s work is concentrated in energy, water, transportation, environmental, nuclear, and government, and industrial facilities. 

CH2M HILL is currently managing some of the world’s most complex and significant programs, including the Panama Canal expansion, infrastructure and facilities for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the relocation of U.S. military forces in South Korea, and major sewerage upgrades in London and Abu Dhabi. In addition they support projects in local communities, providing clean drinking water, efficient transportation, lean production facilities, environmental remediation, and safe energy that provide economic benefits to the community. For more information, please visit www.olayan.com

Career Day Students Impress KAUST Industry Collaboration Program Partners

On Wednesday, February 24, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology saw direct implementation of one of its missions regarding connecting its talent pool (graduate students) with industry. In cooperation with the Professional Development Department, the KAUST Industry Collaboration Program (KICP) hosted its first annual KICP Career Day 2010, This all-day event attracted 12 KICP member companies, about 300 motivated and interested students, and a large number of faculty and staff. The companies presented internship opportunities and information to KAUST students.

This exclusive event, in which only KICP member companies were invited to participate, was informative on both sides. For the companies and their representatives, having access to KAUST’s student talents is one of the benefits of their membership.

For the students, having a chance to learn more about the companies present and to share information about their own science and/or technology knowledge and experiences that would be relevant to a company seeking employees was a benefit. Students walked around with their CVs in hand, primed for interaction. From Acwa Power to Xenel, from Saudi Aramco to Siemens, summer 2010 internships and future employment opportunities were explained, and eager and grateful student researchers and scientists in KAUST’s various academic disciplines went away with expectations of deeper interactions and hopes for successful candidacies.

Kicking off this exciting event was KAUST President Choon Fong Shih who met with every company delegation at the event venue before addressing his opening remarks to the companies. President Shih thanked the company representatives for their participation in this event and asked them to challenge our students. He encouraged the students to learn all they could from industry representatives. He reminded everyone of the importance of fulfilling one of KAUST’s key principles, that of linking students with industry for the benefit of the Kingdom and the region. Prof Shih then sent everyone off with “Enjoy!”

Based on students’ feedback, they were able to discover what each company was offering and whether there was enough of a fit between them to proceed with application. Based on the companies’ feedback, they found KAUST students to be a talented and diverse group who skills would definitely be welcomed at their companies. Based on KICP’s overall evaluation of the merits of this event, our 2nd Annual Career Day event (2011) will be even bigger and better.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (March 9, 2010) – Professor Jean M. J. Fréchet, a pioneering chemist who has achieved great success in academia and entrepreneurial activity, has been chosen as vice president for research at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia.

Fréchet will play a leadership role in developing strategies and managing resources to support interdisciplinary, collaborative research bridging science and engineering. In this role, he will be tasked to facilitate scientific achievements and technological innovations for KAUST to realize its vision of becoming a globally-renowned research university with an entrepreneurial culture. He will assume his new position in June.

“Jean Fréchet is a dedicated educator, outstanding researcher, and great entrepreneur whose multi-dimensional profile will broaden and deepen the critical links among KAUST’s activities in research, graduate education, and economic and technology development,” KAUST President Choon Fong Shih said. “Fréchet is multi-talented and will add tremendous value to KAUST’s efforts in scientific advancement and technological innovation."

Fréchet, the Henry Rapoport Chair of Organic Chemistry and Professor of Chemical Engineering, leads the largest individual research group at University of California, Berkeley. He has authored 800 scientific papers, helped start nine companies, and holds more than 70 US patents. His multidisciplinary laboratories focus on functional polymers, from fundamental studies to applications, and are at the intersection of several fields including organic, polymer, biological, and materials chemistry.

"With its pioneering matrix structure of academic divisions and interdisciplinary research centers, unsurpassed facilities, and dedicated people, KAUST is the most exciting project I have seen in my academic career," Fréchet said.

At KAUST, Professor Fréchet will oversee its current nine interdisciplinary research centers, with responsibility for ensuring they meet the highest scientific standards as they conduct collaborative research in areas such as plant stress genomics, renewable energy, and water desalination. He will play a key role in fostering an enabling environment for interdisciplinary education and research that leverages the theme-focused projects in the research centers and the deep capabilities in the academic divisions’ core disciplines of science and engineering. Leading efforts to realize the potential synergies from KAUST’s matrix structure, Fréchet will help develop strategies to place KAUST at the forefront of innovation and enterprise.

“Jean Frechet is a brilliant professor who has managed to conduct groundbreaking research while also inspiring and challenging students, making him one of the most popular and effective members of our faculty,” said Dr. Graham Fleming, Vice Chancellor for Research and Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. “Jean truly understands the nature of innovation in science and technology and KAUST is sure to benefit from his multifaceted experiences during this formative phase in its development.”

From his early work in solid-phase synthesis at University of Ottawa to his most recent studies in polymers for therapeutics at Berkeley, Fréchet‘s work in the field of functional polymers has been noteworthy for its innovative nature and great breadth, spanning fundamental studies, the search for properties, and the exploration of applications.

“Fréchet is an outstanding scientist who will bring a broad knowledge of science and technology to KAUST,” said Dr. Robert Grubbs of Caltech, the 2005 Nobel laureate in chemistry. “In his own research he has established the leading laboratory in the design and application of new materials, especially dendrimers and other highly structured molecules. In addition to his contributions to fundamental chemistry, he played a major role in the development of the photolithography strategy that is used to make high resolution computer chips, new separation technologies and new methods for the conversion of light into electrical energy. With this array of talents and experiences, I can think of no one better to set the direction of science and technology at KAUST.”

Professor Jean-Marie Pierre Lehn, a Nobel-prize winning chemist at University of Strasbourg in France, praised the appointment. “Jean Fréchet has made a number of major contributions to our understanding of chemistry and chemical engineering,” He added, “Frechet is one of the most highly cited scientists in the area of materials chemistry with a breadth of activities that few in the field can match. The combination of science, engineering, leadership, and business savvy he will bring to KAUST will be invaluable in the formative years and for the research programs of this new Institution.”

Among his many accomplishments is the development of chemical amplification, which enabled the production of modern photoresists and integrated circuits that contributed to the development of modern computers and other electronics. His most recent work has focused on using polymers for therapeutic uses including targeted drug, vaccine, and DNA delivery.

Fréchet is the corporate founder of Ardelyx and Aquanano. He has served as a scientific or corporate advisor to some of the world’s largest and most innovative companies, including Unilever, Merck, Novomer, IBM Corporation, Exxon-Mobil, Xerox, Eastman Kodak, Bayer, BASF, DuPont, Amoco, and Novartis.

“Jean Fréchet will bring a unique perspective to KAUST that bridges its academic, research, and economic development programs,” said William Rosenzweig, co-founder and managing director of Physic Ventures, a venture capital firm that Fréchet has worked with in California. “He has built a solid record of achievement in the business world through a keen understanding of the commercial applications of his groundbreaking work in chemistry and chemical engineering. This innovative and entrepreneurial mindset will serve KAUST well as it pursues its economic mandate in the coming years.”

While at Berkeley, Fréchet also worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as a principal investigator in the Materials Science Division and the Scientific Director of the Organic and Macromolecular Facility for the Molecular Foundry.

Since 2004, Frechet has served as associate editor of the Journal of the American Chemical Society. He has received numerous scientific awards and is a major recipient of competitive grant funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is an international, graduate research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement and technological innovation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, across the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST enables top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to address scientific and technological challenges. The KAUST global research and education network supports diverse talents both on its campus and at other top universities and research institutions through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, opened in September 2009.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (February 20, 2010)

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) welcomed Cristal Global, the world’s second largest titanium dioxide (TiO2) producer as a Founding Member of the KAUST Industry Collaboration Program (KICP) under Economic Development. As a global market leader in merchant and specialty titanium ultrafine products, Cristal Global’s KICP membership will help sustain the company’s increasing global presence while remaining at the forefront of new titanium technologies.

KAUST President, Professor Choon Fong Shih, and Cristal Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Talal Al-Shair, signed the agreement that will create opportunities for collaboration between the two partners.

Referring to the signing agreement, President Shih said that "KAUST is committed to developing a win-win partnership with Cristal that will focus on innovative R&D in high-tech applications for titanium dioxide." Chairman Talal agreed, saying "This is an extraordinary opportunity with an extraordinary partner. Staying ahead of the competition in today’s tough business environment demands innovation - new ideas, new products, new services - and cutting-edge technology." He added, "As a global leader in TiO2 technology, we are looking forward to a promising collaboration."

In his introductory remarks to Cristal Global’s founder and executives, Amin Al-Shibani, KAUST’s Interim Vice President for Economic Development said, With the grand challenges that exist around the world, we all need and benefit from collaboration, and collaboration is an important part of KAUST’s mission."

KICP founding membership provides access to the research being conducted at KAUST’s Thuwal campus as well as through its global network under the Global Collaborative Research (GCR) program, a seat on the KAUST Industry Advisory Board, and access to KAUST’s start-ups and its seed funding program.

Partnership is the key to successful innovation and KAUST, as the region’s center for industry collaboration, will help enhance the research we need to drive our innovation process forward," Dr. Talal noted.

Dr. Fadi M.Trabzuni, Director General for Business Performance and Intellectual Property (IP), stated that collaboration between the two entities will help generate strong, innovative ideas. The long-term future relations between KAUST and Cristal Global will benefit KAUST academic programs and our industrial needs, as research-based links between academia and industry always drive innovation faster, with more output and excellent achievements," he said.

KAUST President Professor Choon Fong Shih (center) joined by Cristal Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Talal Al-Shair (center) flanked by executives from Cristal Global and managers from KAUST Economic Development.

About KAUST:

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region, and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST employs many of the best practices from leading research universities and enables top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education networks support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs.

KAUST, open to both men and women from all around the world, is governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters along the Red Sea at Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, was inaugurated on the 23rd of September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa

About Cristal Global

Cristal Global is a world leader in titanium and titanium dioxide (TiO2) products with a broader global footprint than any other TiO2 manufacturer. Headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Cristal Global operates eight TiO2 manufacturing plants in six countries on five continents. The company has also become the market leader in both merchant and specialty titanium products with local production in all major world regions. The company also operates a mine in Paraiba, Brazil and owns and operates BeMax, the world’s 5th largest TiO2 feedstock producer, located in Australia. ITP, a U.S.-based Cristal subsidiary, specializes in the production of high-purity titanium and titanium alloy powders based on the Armstrong process.

Cristal Global, owned 66% by Tasnee and 33% by Gulf Investment Corporation, is dedicated to meeting the constantly-changing needs of its customers through its research & development programs. Based in modern, state-of-the-art facilities, over a hundred scientists and engineers work together from its many sites across the world (US, UK, Saudi Arabia and Australia) developing the highest quality chemical products and science-based solutions to deliver world-leading technology. For more information about Cristal Global, visit www.cristalglobal.com

KAUST Welcomes Nalco as a Founding Member of the Industrial Collaboration Program and as Research Partner of the Center Industrial Affiliates Program

On January 18, 2010, the President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Professor Choon Fong Shih and Nalco Company executives signed two agreements establishing Nalco as a Founding Member of the (KAUST) Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP) and as a research partner of the Center Industrial Affiliates Program (CIAP). These agreements will create opportunities for cooperation between KAUST and Nalco.

Opening the event, KAUST President Choon Fong Shih said, "In fulfilling KAUST’s mission of advancing science and technology to take on grand challenges, we are focusing on the research themes of water, energy, food and the environment. Being a global leader in the areas of water, energy and air, Nalco is a natural choice as a strategic partner for KAUST to harness science and technology and catalyze innovation and enterprise for the benefit of the Kingdom and beyond."

Nalco Chairman and CEO Erik Fyrwald and Chief Technology Officer Manian Ramesh believe that by partnering with universities, government agencies, suppliers and customers around the world to combine the extensive intellectual talent available outside Nalco will help advance important environmental technologies such as water reuse, membranes and desalination.

Designed to maximize the effectiveness of industrial collaboration within the Kingdom and internationally by engaging key partners, KICP's goal is to translate knowledge into economic growth and job creation. To that end, Nalco, a company dedicated to providing essential expertise in the areas of water, energy and air, will enjoy a seat on the KAUST Industrial Advisory Board and numerous networking and strategic decision-making opportunities that will affect how KAUST’s academic and research programs interface with industry.

Partnering with KAUST Research Centers that are directly involved in areas of research and relevance to Nalco will provide the Company with access to distinguished researchers and scientists working to improve water quality and availability in all the world’s regions. "Nalco has been helping use our most precious resource more effectively since our founding more than 80 years ago," said David Flitman, Nalco Senior Executive Vice President and President, Water and Process Services. "Our ability to find new ways to improve water technologies will only be enhanced by cooperating with a new, premiere research institution like KAUST."

Amin M. AlShibani, Vice President of KAUST’s Economic Development group, explained that the word "collaboration" runs throughout our mission and our activities. "KAUST is focused on the challenges that are facing humanity." Through collaboration, many of those challenges will be overcome. Because true collaboration is only beneficial with active engagement, he added "KICP membership is about industry making the most of their KAUST partnership by engaging with faculty, scientists and students. We are excited to have Nalco as an active partner."

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, located in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, is an independent, international graduate research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region and around the world. To support the creation of new businesses while drawing on best standards, the University has established a Technology Transfer Office, an Innovation Cluster, and a Research Park. The core campus is located about 80 km north of the main city of Jeddah on the Red Sea. Its 16-square mile community includes all manner of University, residential and research facilities. More information can be found at www.kaust.edu.sa.

KAUST’s academic structure organizes interdisciplinary teams around research that applies science and technology to problems of human need, social advancement, and economic development. KAUST’s robust and diverse research capacity is closely linked both to the global-research community and its own graduate-education programs. Core Labs and major facilities are available to support the research of faculty, scientists and graduate students both on campus and with regional and international collaborators. These facilities may also be used by KAUST’s industry partners.

About Nalco

Nalco Company is the world's leading water treatment and process-improvement services company, delivering significant environmental, social and economic performance benefits to a variety of industrial and institutional customers. For more than 80 years, we have worked hard to build a high level of expertise in developing cost-effective applications to reduce energy, water and other natural resource consumption, enabling us to offer unique programs and technologies to meet our customers' needs.

Nalco understands how manufacturing processes and water, energy and air systems work, and how their services and technologies can positively impact them. They are constantly exploring new ways to serve their customers better and create value for them.

"Our customers rely on Nalco to develop innovative technologies to help them save water and energy and protect air quality," said Fyrwald. "The Middle East is a key growth market for Nalco and we believe [our involvement with KAUST] will enable us to be even more successful in the region."

Inaugural Meeting Of The KAUST Industrial Advisory Board (KIAB)

The inaugural meeting of the KAUST Industrial Advisory Board (KIAB) took place on the 18th of November on the KAUST campus in Thuwal. This high level advisory board has been established to ensure ongoing alignment of KAUST's academic, research and economic development activities with industry.

This first board meeting focused almost entirely on this goal, giving industry attendees a first-hand briefing and update on KAUST. Simultaneously, KAUST's senior leadership, faculty and researchers were enriched by expanded feedback from the university's leading industrial partners on their own needs and economic development perspectives and projections.

Professor Choon Fong Shih, KAUST president, presided over the opening session and encouraged the Board's operating environment to reflect KAUST's own collaborative, informal and cross-disciplinary approach. Referring to KAUST as "a campus as well as a city," he outlined how the community is developing, based on a world-class infrastructure to meet residents’ material and cultural needs. The King's vision calls for KAUST to become the new House of Wisdom, Prof. Shih said, by making world class global collaborative research, second to none, possible for our partners, our faculty, and our graduate researchers.

The membership of the board is comprised of both senior executives representing the founding member companies of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP) and senior representatives from the university. The Chairman of the Board is KAUST's Senior Vice President of Research and Economic Development, Dr. Mohamed Samaha. Additional KAUST members include Interim Provost, Dr. Brian Moran, Vice President of Research, Dr. Omar AbdulHamid, Vice President of Economic Development, Mr. Amin Shibani, Director of Research Park and Industrial Collaboration, Dr. Charles Kingdon and the Director of the Technology Transfer Office, Mr. Terry McElwee. Dr. Raed Bkayrat, who is also the Industrial Collaboration manager for KAUST, is general secretariat for the board.

Senior executives representing KAUST's partner companies from as far away as Japan (Sumitomo Chemical, JGC Corporation), the United States (Acxiom, Boeing, DOW, GE, Halliburton, IBM, Schlumberger), Europe (Siemens) and both coasts of the Kingdom (ACWA Power, ALJ, Saudi Aramco, Midroc, Sabic, Xenel and Al Rushaid), learned first-hand of the work currently underway in KAUST's Research Centers and its Economic Development group. They were additionally briefed on the scope of KAUST's academic agenda and collaborative research approach. This provided for extensive discussion and feedback on the alignment of that work to their needs as industrial partners. The KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (within which the Board Members participate) converts that emphasis into practical applications and results that can benefit Saudi Arabia, the region and the world.

Additionally, the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP) and its partners create opportunities for industry leaders to network with academics, scientists and graduate researchers providing them with additional research, employment and funding opportunities.

Access to world-class researchers and leaders in their fields, and their groundbreaking innovations and discoveries, all enabled and facilitated by KAUST's state-of-the-art labs and equipment, and its highly competent talent pool provide a strong allure for global industry to the KICP. A good portion of the discussion was dedicated to defining additional ways to engage the industrial partners in shaping KAUST’s talents, providing opportunities for training and internships and recruiting this talent into the industry.

A strategic study will be executed each year focusing on a topic that is of interest to KAUST and Saudi Arabia; the topic for 2009 was Solar, while Water was selected as the topic of interest for 2010. Finally, the KIAB members have the opportunity to participate in pilot projects to be executed in the Research Park as an important step on the path of technology maturation.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) - September 29, 2009

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and The Dow Chemical Company today announced that they plan to build on their partnership by establishing the Dow Middle East R&D Center at the University’s adjacent Research Park and Innovation Cluster.

Substantial completion of the proposed state-of-the-art R&D center, to be jointly designed by the partners, is expected by the end of 2010. Initial research at the Dow Middle East R&D Center at KAUST will focus on water and water treatment technologies, eventually expanding its scope to oil and gas, processes research and development, and infrastructure materials. All of these activities are aligned with existing KAUST Research Centers.

KAUST is a graduate-level institution and the realization of the vision of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to promote the advancement of science and technology and act as a catalyst in transforming Saudi Arabia into a knowledge-based economy. Dow’s plans for an R&D Center at KAUST come on the heels of Dow’s June announcement that it would become a Founding Member of the University’s Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP), which aims to enrich the research experience at the University while promoting economic development in Saudi Arabia. Dow’s plans include an initial annual minimum funding commitment of $1,000,000 USD to support multi-year R&D sponsored projects and initiatives catering to the mutual objectives of Dow and KAUST students and faculty.

The R&D Center will also financially and intellectually support a number of dynamic programs and initiatives, including funding thesis research and semi-annual technology research challenges, as well as the Dow Talent Program to develop and train Saudi Arabian talent.

President of KAUST, Professor Choon Fong Shih said: “The Dow Middle East R&D Center at KAUST represents a promising commitment on Dow’s part to the vision of King Abdullah to have KAUST act as a catalyst in transforming Saudi Arabia into a knowledge economy by directly integrating research produced at the University into our economy. We are pleased to have Dow, a 112 years old world leader in the field of science and technology, as a partner in realizing this great vision. The establishment of the Dow Middle East R&D Center at KAUST is a significant event by itself, but we are also excited by Dow’s commitment to support research within KAUST’s walls, as well as by the prospect of having KAUST graduates hired by Dow, here in Saudi Arabia”.

The initial research conducted at the Dow Middle East R&D Center at KAUST will focus on water treatment technologies, showing that the partners are working toward generating discoveries that are acutely relevant to sustainable development in the surrounding communities and economy.

“By establishing the Dow Middle East R&D Center at KAUST, Dow has taken the lead among a group of distinguished multinational companies to partner with the leading representation of King Abdullah’s vision for KAUST,” said Andrew Liveris, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Dow Chemical Company. “This is a memorable and promising day in Dow’s history, as we strive to invest for growth in fast-paced and high-potential economies like that of Saudi Arabia, and as we strive to ensure that our growth is sustainable and that our contributions to the world help address global challenges and provide for everyday, human needs. We stand by our partner in the endeavor to translate Saudi Arabia’s aspirations into reality”.

The signing of this significant agreement between Dow and KAUST on the day of KAUST’s inauguration reinforces the pride that all Saudis take in the contribution that KAUST is making to the Kingdom, its economic development and the advancement of science and technology both nationally and globally.

Acxiom, a global leader in marketing services, becomes a founding member of KAUST’s Industrial Collaboration Program.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (September 23, 2009) — King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced today that global marketing services leader Acxiom® Corporation of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, has become a founding member of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP).

KAUST Interim VP of Economic Development Mr. Ahmad Al-Khowaiter and Acxiom Senior VP Mr. Jerry Jones signed an agreement that will create opportunities for cooperation between KAUST and Acxiom.

"As an innovator in technical and business applications that support economic expansion, Acxiom looks forward to collaborating with KAUST," said Mr. Jones. "The relationship will be important for Acxiom as we expand our presence in the Arab world with our acquisition of the region’s direct marketing pioneer, DMS."

"Industrial collaboration is one of the key strategies of KAUST," said Mr. Al-Khowaiter. "KICP’s founding membership provides access and an overview of the research work being executed on the main campus in Thuwal, as well as through the significant global collaborative research network, a seat on the KAUST Industry Advisory Board and strategic access to KAUST’s start-ups and a seed funding program."

KICP is designed to maximize industrial collaboration in the Kingdom and internationally by engaging key partners, all with a keen interest in translating knowledge into economic growth and job creation.

"The MENA region is a strategic investment area for our company," said Acxiom CEO and President John Meyer. "We look forward to servicing our current global partners who are expanding, as well as serving regional marketers who need a broad, integrated solution set to answer the complex challenges facing businesses today."

Drawing on global best practices, KAUST is also establishing a Technology Transfer Office and a Research Park to support the creation of new businesses.

"KAUST will provide a home for existing companies seeking access to its academic strengths, such as the entrepreneurship program and the regional venture fund network," said Dr. Charles Kingdon, Director of Research Park and Industrial Collaboration. "KAUST seeks to create a single academic and industrial community free from traditional artificial divides in order to drive innovation faster and more creatively."

"Industrial Collaboration is structured in two main mechanisms in KAUST," said KICP Manager Raed Bkayrat. "KICP is the membership-based mechanism which comes with fixed benefits associated with each membership level. The second mechanism is CIAP, the Center Industry Affiliation Program, which is research-oriented collaboration that is in specific areas of interest, with one or multiple KAUST research centers."

KICP has three categories of membership: Founder, Supporter, and Small Business. Each category carries a three-year commitment and includes numerous benefits. Founders enjoy several privileges, including membership on the KAUST Industry Advisory Board (KIAB), access to industrial information and networking between academic programs and industrial needs, and privileged access to KAUST’s international research network. Supporting membership benefits are limited to in-Kingdom research and events. The Small Business membership level helps small companies and KAUST-driven start-ups develop by using the University and its global network of faculty and resources.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region, and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be open to both men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa.

About Acxiom

A global leader in interactive marketing services and infrastructure management, Acxiom connects clients with their customers through deep customer insight, powering effective and profitable marketing initiatives and business decisions. Our consultative approach spans multiple industries and incorporates decades of experience in consumer data and analytics, information technology, data integration and strategy formulation solutions for effective marketing across digital, Internet, email, mobile and direct mail channels. Our secure, high-performance technology services deliver consistent value and reliability. Founded in 1969, Acxiom is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA, and serves clients around the world from locations in the United States, Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific. For more information about Acxiom, visit www.acxiom.com.

Midroc has a wide ranging portfolio in three continents. It is a global player in a number of business sectors including oil, construction, industry, agriculture, mining, trade and services and real estate has become a Founding Member of KAUST’s Industrial Collaboration Program.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (September 5th, 2009) — King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced today that Midroc has become a founding member of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP).

KAUST Interim VP of Economic Development Mr. Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, and Mr. Abdullah M. B. Al-Amoudi the Director General of Midroc signed an agreement that will further expand the scope of cooperation between KAUST and Midroc. "This agreement represents another building block in Midroc’s endeavor under the direction of its owner Mr. Mohammad Husein Al Amoudi to participate in the advancing the Kingdoms higher education projects" said Mr. Abdullah M. B. Al-Amoudi.

"Industrial collaboration is one of the key strategies of KAUST," said Mr. Al-Khowaiter. "KICP’s founding membership provides access and an overview of the research work being executed on the main campus in Thuwal, as through the significant global collaborative research network, a seat on the KAUST Industry Advisory Board and strategic access to KAUST’s start ups and a seed fund program.

KICP is designed to maximize effective industrial collaboration in the Kingdom and internationally by engaging key partners, all with a keen interest in translating knowledge into economic growth and job creation.

"Midroc plans to play an active role in strengthening the strategic relationship between the business and academic sectors as part of its continuous effort to participate in the Kingdoms economic development," said Mr. Abdullah M. B. Al-Amoudi of Midroc.

Drawing on global best practices, KAUST is also establishing a Technology Transfer Office and a Research Park to support the creation of new businesses.

"Industrial Collaboration is structured in two main mechanisms in KAUST, KICP is the membership based mechanism which comes with fixed benefits associated with each membership level and the second mechanism is CIAP or the Center Industry Affiliation Program, which is research oriented collaboration that is in specific areas of interest, with one or multiple KAUST research centers." said Raed Bkayrat, Manager of KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP).

There are three categories of membership within KICP: Founder, Supporter, and Small Business. Each category carries a three-year commitment and includes numerous benefits. Founders enjoy several privileges, including membership on the KAUST Industry Advisory Board (KIAB), access to industrial information and networking between academic programs and industrial needs, and privileged access to KAUST’s international research network. Supporting membership benefits are limited to in Kingdom research and events. The Small Business membership level helps small companies and KAUST-driven start-ups develop by using the University and its global network of faculty and resources

About Midroc

Midroc is a business group with a mission to develop a profitable and sustainable worldwide enterprise with excellent reputation among its clients and the communities it serves. The group has four basic strategies:

• The creation of business culture based on integrity, quality and financial prudence
• Fairness to employees, partners, suppliers and clients
• Maximization of the utilization of local resources
• Preservation of the environment

XENEL, a major multi industry limited liability holding company in KSA and the region, becomes a Founding Member of KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP).

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – August 18, 2009 - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology announced today that XENEL, a multinational diversified holding company, has become a supporting member of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP) and plans to enter into a strategic relationship with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Scheduled to open in September 5, 2009, KAUST is a graduate-level research university and the realization of the vision of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to promote the advancement of science and technology in Saudi Arabia. Designed to maximize the effectiveness of industrial collaboration within the Kingdom and internationally by engaging key partners, KICP's goal is to translate knowledge into economic growth and job creation.

KICP funds are used to finance KICP initiatives, to support educational outreach to the University community and others in the region, and to support strategic studies and collaboration with other academic resources in Saudi Arabia. KAUST is acting as a significant investor by developing infrastructure and providing substantial leverage potential to industry. To support the creation of new businesses whilst drawing on best standards, the University will be establishing a Technology Transfer Office, an Industrial Collaboration Program, and a Research Park.

Professor Chong Fong Shih, KAUST President said: "It is the vision of King Abdullah to have KAUST act as a driver in transforming Saudi Arabia into a knowledge economy by directly integrating research produced at the University into our economy.

"KAUST will provide a home for existing companies seeking access to its academic strengths, an incubator, an entrepreneurship program, and the benefit of a regional seed and venture fund network," said Dr. Charles Kingdon, Director of Research Park and Industrial Collaboration. "KAUST seeks to create a single academic/industrial community free from the traditional artificial divides in order to drive innovation faster and more creatively."

KICP offers three categories: Founder, Supporter, and Small Business. Each category carries a three-year commitment and comes with numerous benefits. Founders, as XENEL has become, will enjoy several privileges, including membership on the KICP Industrial Advisory Board, access to industrial information and match-making between academic programs and industrial needs, and privileged access to KAUST's international research network.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region, and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa.

About XENEL

XENEL was founded in 1973 by the descendants of one of the oldest trading houses in the Middle East. It is positioned at the center of a group of companies created with a shared vision of achieving economic growth by bridging know how to different parts of the world. Over its 35 year history XENEL, through its internal skills, joint venture partnerships and associations with global companies throughout the world, has built expertise in energy, diversified industries, construction, infrastructure development, petrochemicals, healthcare, industrial services, IT, logistics, real estate and global investing.

Through its ability to identify opportunities XENEL is an acknowledged innovator and leader in building projects and companies in infrastructure, diversified industries and contracting, regionally and internationally. From its creation of the first electrical cable production facility in the Middle East to developing the first green-field site BOO power plant in South Asia, and from the first commercially operated desalination plant in Saudi Arabia to the expansion of its downstream private-sector petrochemical industries, XENEL has joint ventured and built alliances with global companies and institutions of international renown and created companies with global reach.

A Tradition of Leadership

Projects that highlight XENEL’s leadership abilities:

• Working with International Power and the World Bank, Xenel successfully led the development of the first privately owned green-field power plant in East Asia.
• Founded the first cable company in the Middle East.
• Developed the first bonded free-trade zone in Saudi Arabia.
• Built the first private downstream petrochemical plant in Saudi Arabia.
• Following the Gulf War in 1992 Xenel through its subsidiaries restored electricity back to Kuwait City in two weeks.
• Completed projects and acquisitions in over 40 countries.
• Successfully implemented SAP systems to more than 30 companies.
• Equipped Saudi Arabia with the largest healthcare management company and founded the first specialized facility in the Middle East, incorporating ENT and dentistry to its portfolio.
• Developing a third container terminal at Jeddah Islamic Port (JIP) increasing capacity by 45 per cent and ensuring Jeddah’s dominance as the centre of economic activity in the region.
• Established the first private water desalination plant in the Saudi Kingdom.
• Became the largest cement importer in the world during the 70’s era.

For more information about XENEL, visit www.xenel.com

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., one of Japan's leading chemical companies, becomes a Founding Member of KAUST’s Industrial Collaboration Program.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (July 27th , 2009) — King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced today that Sumitomo Chemical has become a founding member of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP).

KAUST’s Interim Vice President of Economic Development, Mr. Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, and Sumitomo Chemical’s Director and Senior Executive Managing Officer, Kiyohiko Nakae signed an agreement that will further expand the scope of cooperation between KAUST and Sumitomo Chemical. "Our participation in this program will facilitate the exchange of technical experience and scientific knowledge, and assist in accelerating the pace of innovation," said Mr. Nakae.

"Industrial collaboration is one of the key strategies of KAUST," said Mr. Al-Khowaiter. "KICP’s supporting membership provides unlimited access to all KAUST symposia, in-Kingdom networking with industrial collaborators, affiliates, research project managers, faculty and students. Supporting members participate in in-Kingdom special events, employment and internship opportunities for talented and motivated students.

KICP is designed to maximize effective industrial collaboration in the Kingdom and internationally by engaging key partners, all with a keen interest in translating knowledge into economic growth and job creation.

Mr. Al-Khowaiter noted that KICP enriches the research experience and promotes economic development in the Kingdom by providing opportunities for KAUST and its associated academic partners to collaborate with outside industry and institutions.

"Our collaboration with KAUST offers significant scientific development potential, and provides access to state-of-the-art research capabilities," said Mr. Nakae.

Drawing on global best practices, KAUST is also establishing a Technology Transfer Office and a Research Park to support the creation of new businesses.

"KAUST will provide a home for existing companies seeking access to its academic strengths, such as the entrepreneurship program and the regional venture fund network," said Dr. Charles Kingdon, Director of Research Park and Industrial Collaboration. "KAUST seeks to create a single academic and industrial community free from traditional artificial divides in order to drive innovation faster and more creatively."

There are three categories of membership within KICP: Founder, Supporter, and Small Business. Each category carries a three-year commitment and includes numerous benefits. Founders enjoy several privileges, including membership on the KAUST Industry Advisory Board (KIAB), access to industrial information and networking between academic programs and industrial needs, and privileged access to KAUST’s international research network. The Small Business membership level helps small companies and KAUST-driven start-ups develop by using the University and its global network of faculty and resources. Additional advantages include access to advice and mentoring from the service team located in the Innovation Center.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, popularly referred to as KAUST, welcomes a founding faculty of more than 60 accomplished scientists and engineers and a diverse inaugural class of 350 graduate students to the shores of the Red Sea, in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. The university, located 80 KM north of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second largest city, is a new independent, merit-based university, the dream of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. KAUST groundbreaking ceremonies for construction took place in October 2007 officially and the masterplan for a 36-million square meter campus and community has come to fruition in 2009.

Opening in September the internationally diverse faculty and students will arrive onto a campus lined by 11,000 palm trees and an architecturally stunning campus, harbor town center, and state of the art core labs and master facilities. As a new "House of Wisdom", KAUST is an inspired community of researchers with a passion for advancing the frontiers of science and addressing global challenges.

The independent KAUST Board of Trustees and senior leadership have developed a university of the 21st century. A research and research-inspired teaching approach is designed around four academic areas. Interdisciplinary, goal oriented research and state of the art core labs and master facilities are designed with global collaborative research centers. "KAUST has an extraordinary mission to advance science and technology, to contribute to economic diversification and to be a catalyst for transforming lives." said KAUST President Choon Fong Shih in a message to the community.

Inauguration Ceremony:

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who conceived and supported the development of the University, is hosting the event.

• His Excellency Minister Al-Naimi, Chairman of the KAUST Board of Trustees and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Professor Choon Fong Shih, President of KAUST.

Invited guests include:

• Heads of state.
• Presidents and leadership of the world's top universities.
• Distinguished scientists, including Nobel Laureates in physics and chemistry.
• Global business leaders.
• KAUST administrators, faculty, students and staff.

Media registration opens for KAUST Inauguration Ceremony

Journalists who attend the event will be able to tour the new campus and its advanced laboratories, including the suites that house Shaheen, one of the world's fastest supercomputers, and Cornea, a cutting-edge stereoscopic visualization facility.

They will also have the opportunity to interview top KAUST and Saudi officials, who will discuss the University and the Kingdom's broader efforts to invest in economic development and education at all levels.

Accommodations will be available in Jeddah, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) to the south. KAUST will provide transportation to and from the on-campus media center.

We invite journalists interested in reporting on the event to complete a brief registration form at http://inauguration.kaust.edu.sa/register.aspx.

For more information about the University, please visit www.kaust.edu.sa, or send an e-mail to media@kaust.edu.sa.

Queries should be directed to:

• From Saudi Arabia, the MENA region and Africa:
• Salah Sindi: salah.sindi@kaust.edu.sa From the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific Rim:
• Jeff Weintraub: media@kaust.edu.sa. Phone: +1-202-828-8806.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - June 15, 2009 - The Dow Chemical Company, a world leader in science and technology, today announced the Company's intent to enter into a strategic relationship with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

During a site tour of KAUST's facilities, Dow announced its intentions to establish a multi-year, multi-million dollar joint research framework with KAUST.  The framework will initially aim at using catalysis as a means to develop new routes for producing chemical derivatives. Dow also affirmed its commitment to becoming a founding member of KAUST's Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP), which aims to enrich the local research experience while promoting economic development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  Dow also announced its intention to explore developmental efforts at the KAUST Research Park and Innovations Cluster. Areas being considered for the park include CO2 capture, enhanced oil recovery, water desalination, solar energy, and wind energy.  Ernesto Occhiello, Research & Development Director for Dow in Europe, Middle East and Africa has been named as the liaison with KAUST and will be a single point of contact between Dow and KAUST. The parties agreed to work towards defining project milestones by KAUST's scheduled opening.

Scheduled to open in September 5, 2009, KAUST is a graduate-level research university and the realization of the vision of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to promote the advancement of science and technology in Saudi Arabia. KICP enriches the research experience while promoting economic development in Saudi Arabia. Designed to maximize the effectiveness of industrial collaboration within the Kingdom and internationally by engaging key partners, KICP's goal is to translate knowledge into economic growth and job creation.

Andrew Liveris, chairman and chief executive officer, The Dow Chemical Company, said: "Dow is excited about the potential of expanding its R&D presence in the Middle East through this exciting new partnership with KAUST. The University's goal of fostering economic development through the advancement of technology is completely aligned with Dow's focus on delivering science-based solutions for everyday needs.  While this is just the beginning our relationship, we are very excited to be strategic partner as KAUST looks to become a world class educational institution determined to make a significant impact in the economic development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

Professor Chong Fong Shih, KAUST President said: "It is the vision of King Abdullah to have KAUST act as a driver in transforming Saudi Arabia into a knowledge economy by directly integrating research produced at the University into our economy.  We are pleased to have Dow, a 112-year old world leader in the field of science and technology, as a partner in realizing this great vision. While innovation occurs throughout the Dow organization, at its root is scientific research leading to new products and solutions, from which this initiative will derive much success."

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, across the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological problems. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents both on its campus and at other top universities and research institutions through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa.

About Dow

With sales of $58 billion in 2008 and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008 and 15,000 employees worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About Dow in the Middle East

Dow has several current and proposed Middle East joint ventures in the UAE, Egypt, Kuwait and Libya as well as in Saudi Arabia, where Saudi Aramco and Dow are in the formation process of a joint venture to build, own and operate a world-scale chemicals and plastics production complex in the Eastern Province. From the opening of its first commercial office in Cairo in the early 1970's to its facility in Jebel Ali in Dubai and its 10-year partnership in Kuwait with EQUATE, Dow has managed to establish a solid presence in the Middle East petrochemicals industry. For more information about Dow Chemical in the Middle East, please visit www.dow.com/imea/me.

About Dow in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Dow's presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia began with E.A. Juffali & Bros. through a joint venture named the Arabian Chemical Company (Polystyrene) Ltd., which currently has two plants manufacturing STYROFOAM * brand insulation - one in Jeddah and the other in Dubai. In 1995, Dow and E.A. Juffali & formed the Arabian Chemical Company (Latex) Ltd., which manufactures latex at its plant in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. In 2007, Dow and Saudi Aramco signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the construction, ownership and operation of a world-scale chemicals and plastics production complex in Saudi Arabia, named the Ras Tanura Integrated Project (RTIP). Upon completion, RTIP is projected to be among the world's largest petrochemical facilities and would represent the largest foreign direct investment ever into Saudi Arabia's petrochemical sector.

For Further information on KAUST
Samia Falimban
T +966504607837
Samia.falimban@kaust.edu.sa

For further information on Dow:
Dow Chemical India, Middle East & Africa (IMEA)
T +971.4.312.3668
HWassim@dow.com

Simon Tayyar
GolinHarris
T +966.2.650.2741
stayyar@golinharris.com

Gaya Subramaniam
GolinHarris
T +971.4.332.3308
gsubramaniam@golinharris.com

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (July 21, 2009) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced today that LyondellBasell has become a supporting member of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP).

KAUST's Interim Vice President of Economic Development, Mr. Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, and LyondellBasell's Senior Vice President of Research and Development, Mr. Massimo Covezzi, signed an agreement that will further expand the scope of cooperation between KAUST and LyondellBasell. "Our participation in this program will facilitate the exchange of technical experience and scientific knowledge, and assist in accelerating the pace of innovation," said Mr. Covezzi.

"Industrial collaboration is one of the key strategies of KAUST," said Mr. Al-Khowaiter. "KICP's supporting membership provides unlimited access to all KAUST symposia, in-Kingdom networking with industrial collaborators, affiliates, research project managers, faculty and students. Supporting members participate in in-Kingdom special events, employment and internship opportunities for talented and motivated students.

KICP is designed to maximize effective industrial collaboration in the Kingdom and internationally by engaging key partners, all with a keen interest in translating knowledge into economic growth and job creation.

Mr. Al-Khowaiter noted that KICP enriches the research experience and promotes economic development in the Kingdom by providing opportunities for KAUST and its associated academic partners to collaborate with outside industry and institutions.

"Our collaboration with KAUST offers significant scientific development potential, and provides access to state-of-the-art research capabilities," said Mr. Covezzi.

Drawing on global best practices, KAUST is also establishing a Technology Transfer Office and a Research Park to support the creation of new businesses.

"KAUST will provide a home for existing companies seeking access to its academic strengths, such as the entrepreneurship program and the regional venture fund network," said Dr. Charles Kingdon, Director of Research Park and Industrial Collaboration. "KAUST seeks to create a single academic and industrial community free from traditional artificial divides in order to drive innovation faster and more creatively."

There are three categories of membership within KICP: Founder, Supporter, and Small Business. Each category carries a three-year commitment and includes numerous benefits. Founders enjoy several privileges, including membership on the KAUST Industry Advisory Board (KIAB), access to industrial information and networking between academic programs and industrial needs, and privileged access to KAUST's international research network. The Small Business membership level helps small companies and KAUST-driven start-ups develop by using the University and its global network of faculty and resources. Additional advantages include access to advice and mentoring from the service team located in the Innovation Center.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region, and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be open to both men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa.

About LyondellBasell

LyondellBasell Industries is one of the world's largest polymers, petrochemicals and fuels companies. We are the global leader in polyolefins technology, production and marketing; a pioneer in propylene oxide and derivatives; and a significant producer of fuels and refined products, including biofuels. Through research and development, LyondellBasell develops innovative materials and technologies that deliver exceptional customer value and products that improve quality of life for people around the world. LyondellBasell (www.lyondellbasell.com) is privately owned by ProChemie GmbH, a joint venture of Access Industries and ProChemie Holding Ltd.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (May 27, 2009) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced today that SABIC has become a founding member of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP).

KAUST's Interim Vice President of Economic Development Mr. Ahmad Al-Khowaiter signed an agreement with SABIC Vice President for Research and Technology Dr Abdulrahman Al-Ubaid that makes SABIC, one of the world's leading Petrochemicals and Steel Producing Company, a key part of the University's economic development program.

"Companies and universities need to be innovative if they are to remain globally competitive," Mr. Al-Khowaiter said after the signing ceremony in Thuwal. "KICP membership provides the resource to ensure breadth of access to and awareness of all KAUST research, seminars, events, networking events, etc... Also, membership provides for our collaborators with recruiting and outreach support, offers both employment and funding prospects to students, and proffers challenging and meaningful research collaborations for our faculty."

KICP is designed to maximize the chances of effective industrial collaboration within the Kingdom and internationally by engaging key partners, all with a keen interest in the translation of knowledge into economic growth and job creation. KAUST is acting as a significant investor by developing infrastructure and providing substantial leverage potential to industry.

Mr. Al-Khowaiter noted that KICP enriches the research experience while also promoting economic development in the Kingdom by providing opportunities for the University, and its associated academic partners, to collaborate with outside industry and institutions.

Drawing on global best practices, the University is establishing a Technology Transfer Office, an Industrial Collaboration Program, and a Research Park to support the creation of new businesses.

"KAUST will provide a home for existing companies seeking access to its academic strengths, an incubator, an entrepreneurship program, and the benefit of a regional seed and venture fund network," said Dr. Charles Kingdon, Director of Research Park and Industrial Collaboration. "KAUST seeks to create a single academic/industrial community free from the traditional artificial divides in order to drive innovation faster and more creatively."

KICP funds are used to finance KICP initiatives, to support educational outreach to the University community and others in the region, and to support strategic studies and collaboration with other academic resources in Saudi Arabia.

There are three categories within KICP: Founder, Supporter, and Small Business. Each category carries a three-year commitment and comes with numerous benefits. Founders enjoy several privileges, including membership on the KICP Industrial Advisory Board, access to industrial information and match-making between academic programs and industrial needs, and privileged access to KAUST's international research network. The benefits of being a Supporter include in-Kingdom match-making among industrial collaborators, affiliates, research projects, faculty, and students as well as the opportunity to recruit talented and motivated students for jobs and internships.

The Small Business membership level will help small companies and KAUST-driven start-ups develop by using the University and its global network of faculty and resources. Additional benefits include access to advice and mentoring from the service team within the Innovation Center.

By creating a corporate environment which inspires innovation and talent, SABIC has positioned itself as one of the world's largest petrochemical businesses. With the acquisition and integration of SABIC Innovative Plastics, SABIC has been transformed into a truly global manufacturing entity with current and planned manufacturing operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as the United States, the European Union and Asia. SABIC now has a manufacturing, sales and research and technology presence in over 40 countries. "Dynamic Growth through Collaboration" is one of the important themes at SABIC that captures its vision. In order for SABIC to achieve the innovation that is one of the major pillars of its 2020 vision, SABIC is committed to support as well as tap into the research and innovation resources of KAUST and other Saudi universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region, and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa.

About SABIC

SABIC is the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, one of the world's leading manufacturers of chemicals, fertilizers, plastics and metals. We supply these materials to other companies, who use them to make the products on which the world has come to depend. Ours is the largest and most reliably profitable public company in the Middle East with sound investor relations. This success is the result of our focus on three things: investment in local partnerships, the best research and technology programs, and an ambitious global growth strategy.

When it comes to making business decisions, we believe that our ethical commitments are just as important as economic factors. We are committed to good practices throughout our offices in the Middle East/Africa, Americas, Europe and Asia. SABIC Innovative Plastics, launched in 2007, is a leading, global supplier of engineering thermoplastics with a 75-year history of breakthrough solutions that solve its customers' most pressing challenges. SABIC's brand has become a guarantee of quality to its customers and shareholders alike. For more information about SABIC, visit www.sabic.com.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (May 27, 2009) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced today that Schlumberger has become a founding member of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP).

KAUST's Director of Research Park and Industrial Collaboration Dr. Charles Kingdon signed an agreement with Schlumberger Managing Director Schlumberger Dhahran Carbonate Research Center Dr. Mohammed Badri that makes Schlumberger, one of the largest investors in technology for the international oil and gas exploration and production industry, a key part of the University's economic development program.

"Companies and universities need to be innovative if they are to remain globally competitive," Dr. Kingdon said after the signing ceremony in Thuwal. "KICP membership provides the resource to ensure breadth of access to and awareness of all KAUST research, seminars, events, networking events, etc.. Also, membership provides for our collaborators with recruiting and outreach support, offers both employment and funding prospects to students, and proffers challenging and meaningful research collaborations for our faculty."

KICP is designed to maximize the chances of effective industrial collaboration within the Kingdom and internationally by engaging key partners, all with a keen interest in the translation of knowledge into economic growth and job creation. KAUST is acting as a significant investor by developing infrastructure and providing substantial leverage potential to industry.

Dr. Kingdon noted that KICP enriches the research experience while also promoting economic development in the Kingdom by providing opportunities for the University, and its associated academic partners, to collaborate with outside industry and institutions.

Commenting on the agreement, Andrew Gould, Schlumberger Chairman and CEO remarked, "We have always believed in the need to harness our own technological creativity to that of academia and of our clients. I am sure that the new KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program will nurture significant multi-dimensional technical collaboration that will benefit us all as we respond to some of the world's most difficult energy challenges".

Drawing on global best practices, the University is establishing a Technology Transfer Office, an Industrial Collaboration Program, and a Research Park to support the creation of new businesses.

"KAUST will provide a home for existing companies seeking access to its academic strengths, an incubator, an entrepreneurship program, and the benefit of a regional seed and venture fund network," said Dr. Raed Bkayrat, Manager of the Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP). "KAUST seeks to create a single academic/industrial community free from the traditional artificial divides in order to drive innovation faster and more creatively."

KICP funds are used to finance KICP initiatives, to support educational outreach to the University community and others in the region, and to support strategic studies and collaboration with other academic resources in Saudi Arabia.

There are three categories within KICP: Founder, Supporter, and Small Business. Each category carries a three-year commitment and comes with numerous benefits. Founders enjoy several privileges, including membership on the KICP Industrial Advisory Board, access to industrial information and match-making between academic programs and industrial needs, and privileged access to KAUST's international research network. The benefits of being a Supporter include in-Kingdom match-making among industrial collaborators, affiliates, research projects, faculty, and students as well as the opportunity to recruit talented and motivated students for jobs and internships.

The Small Business membership level will help small companies and KAUST-driven start-ups develop by using the University and its global network of faculty and resources. Additional benefits include access to advice and mentoring from the service team within the Innovation Center.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region, and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa.

About Schlumberger

Schlumberger is the world's leading supplier of technology, integrated project management and information solutions to customers working in the oil and gas industry worldwide. Employing more than 82,000 people representing over 140 nationalities and working in approximately 80 countries, Schlumberger provides the industry's widest range of products and services from exploration through production.

Schlumberger Limited has principal offices in Paris, Houston and The Hague and reported revenues of $27.16 billion in 2008. For more information, visit www.slb.com.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (May 18, 2009) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced plans to establish a high-speed communications network that will for the first time enable Saudi research and educational institutions to collaborate using high-performance computing facilities at KAUST and other universities around the world.

KAUST, a new graduate-level research university, will serve as the hub of the Saudi Arabian Advanced Research and Education Network (SAREN). Through a partnership with Saudi Telecom Company (STC), KAUST is developing SAREN as a high-speed optical network that will connect research and educational institutions within the Kingdom. Using STC's state-of-art next generation IP/MPLS network, SAREN will give other Saudi institutions access to Shaheen, the KAUST supercomputer, and CORNEA, which will be one of the world's most advanced visualization labs, as well as other core lab facilities at KAUST.

At the same time, KAUST is connecting via an optical submarine fiber optic cable that allows researchers to transmit data at a rate of 10 gigabytes per second (Gbps) - comparable to the capacity available to researchers at MIT. The cable will connect to NetherLight, a leading optical exchange network that links international scientific computing and grid applications to other high-capacity global research networks.

NetherLight, operated by SURFnet, the Netherlands' national network organization for higher education and research, will make it possible for researchers in more than 50 countries to use KAUST's computing capabilities and collaborate with scientists across Saudi Arabia - and vice versa.

"These two new networks represent KAUST's mission to bring the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world," said Mr. Nadhmi Al-Nasr, interim Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance at KAUST. "With this essential connectivity, researchers at KAUST and at institutions throughout the Kingdom will have access to the great work they carry out on their own campuses, as well as to the best research minds and facilities around the world. Likewise, researchers across the globe will be able to tap into our extraordinary tools and intellectual talent."

"This advanced network will enable cloud computing - which allows users to access a combination of connections, software, and services accessed over a network - high-fidelity video conferencing, telepresence technologies, and remote-controlled equipment, laboratories, and sensors" Mr. Majid Al-Ghaslan, KAUST's interim Chief Information Officer, said. "The KAUST Research and Education Network will include the University's labs, core facilities, and scientific data."

Through NetherLight, researchers will have access to high-speed connections that link them to the biggest international research networks, such as Internet2, which serves more than 5,000 scientific research institutions in the United States, and GEANT2, which connects more than 30 million European researchers in 34 countries.

"With this endeavor, STC is making significant contributions to the advancement of science in the Kingdom and beyond," said Engineer Samir Matbouly, Vice President of the STC Data Services Business Unit. "We believe that the technical possibilities of SAREN will provide the foundational cornerstone towards a Saudi knowledge-based economy."

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, across the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological problems. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents both on its campus and at other top universities and research institutions through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (May 18, 2009): Officials at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) received members of the InterAction Council on May 12 at the University's campus in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.

The Council was on a four-day visit to the Kingdom arranged by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA). The 24-person delegation included former presidents and ministers from 20 countries.

H.E. Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Saeed, Adviser to the Royal Court, and Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Qurashi, a member of the Council and former governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), accompanied the delegation.

Mr. Nadhmi A. Al-Nasr, the Interim Executive Vice President of Administration and Finance at KAUST, led the academic and administrative officials who briefed the Council on the University's vision and objectives.

Mr. Al-Nasr pointed out that the University is being built as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom. He emphasized that KAUST supports alliances and partnerships with other major research institutions and private entities based on merit and excellence, as per the vision of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Members toured the campus and visited academic departments, research centers, and discovery centers. The delegation expressed its pleasure toward this impressive international project, which is scheduled to open its doors this September. It also acknowledged that KAUST will be one of the major international institutes for research and innovation.

The InterAction Council is an independent organization that aims to use the vast energy, experience, and international contacts of a group of former heads of state. Members mutually recommend and propose solutions to various political, economical, and social problems. The Council meets regularly and informally to proactively achieve its noble mission.

As part of the council's continuous efforts, they are currently on a visit arranged by SAGIA.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, across the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological problems. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents both on its campus and at other top universities and research institutions through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (May 13, 2009) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced today that Boeing has become a member of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP).

KAUST's Interim Vice President of Economic Development Mr. Ahmad Al-Khowaiter signed an agreement with Boeing Saudi Arabia President Ahmed Jazzar that makes Boeing, the world's leading aerospace company, a key part of the University's economic development program.

"Companies and universities need to be innovative if they are to remain globally competitive," Mr. Al-Khowaiter said after the signing ceremony in Thuwal. "KICP membership provides our collaborators with recruiting and outreach support, offers both employment and funding prospects to students, and proffers challenging and meaningful research collaborations for our faculty."

KICP is designed to maximize the chances of effective industrial collaboration within the Kingdom by engaging key partners, all with a keen interest in the translation of knowledge into economic growth and job creation. KAUST is acting as a significant investor by developing infrastructure and providing substantial leverage potential to industry.

Mr. Al-Khowaiter noted that KICP enriches the research experience while also promoting economic development in the Kingdom by providing opportunities for the University, and its associated academic partners, to collaborate with outside groups.

"Boeing is defined by its technological edge," Mr. Jazzar said. "We believe that working with KAUST's professors and students on innovative technology research will help Boeing assimilate new ideas and innovative processes into our products and programs. This also is good for Saudi Arabia because it will help grow the capabilities of the Saudi research and development and scientific community to meet emerging technological needs within the Kingdom."

"Boeing is actively looking to partner with the best researchers around the world to find and develop the best technology solutions for our customers, and we look forward to working with the people at KAUST," added Peter Hoffman, director of Global Research and Development Strategy at Boeing Research & Technology, the company's advanced, central R&D unit.

Drawing on global best practices, the University is establishing a Technology Transfer Office, an Industrial Collaboration Program, and a Research Park to support the creation of new businesses.

"KAUST will provide a home for existing companies seeking access to its academic strengths, an incubator, an entrepreneurship program, and the benefit of a regional seed and venture fund network," said Dr. Charles Kingdon, Director of Research Park and Industrial Collaboration. "KAUST seeks to create a single academic/industrial community free from the traditional artificial divides in order to drive innovation faster and more creatively."

KICP funds are used to finance KICP initiatives, to support educational outreach to the University community and others in the region, and to support strategic studies and collaboration with other academic resources in Saudi Arabia.

There are three categories within KICP: Founder, Supporter, and Small Business. Each category carries a three-year commitment and comes with numerous benefits. Founders enjoy several privileges, including membership on the KICP Industrial Advisory Board, access to industrial information and match-making between academic programs and industrial needs, and privileged access to KAUST's international research network. The benefits of being a Supporter include in-Kingdom match-making among industrial collaborators, affiliates, research projects, faculty, and students as well as the opportunity to recruit talented and motivated students for jobs and internships.

The Small Business membership level will help small companies and KAUST-driven start-ups develop by using the University and its global network of faculty and resources. Additional benefits include access to advice and mentoring from the service team within the Innovation Center.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region, and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa.

About Boeing

Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Through its Boeing Research & Technology organization, the company conducts its own research and development and also works with top government, private and university research centers, and companies throughout the world to find the most innovative and affordable technology solutions for aerospace applications. For more information, visit www.boeing.com.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (May 10, 2009) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced today that IBM has become a member of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP).

KAUST's Interim Vice President of Economic Development Mr. Ahmad Al-Khowaiter signed an agreement with IBM Middle East and North Africa General Manager Mr. Takreem El-Tohamy that makes IBM, one of the world's leading IT solutions company, a key part of the University's economic development program.

"Companies and universities need to be innovative if they are to remain globally competitive," Mr. Al-Khowaiter said after the signing ceremony in Thuwal. "KICP membership provides our collaborators with recruiting and outreach support, offers both employment and funding prospects to students, and offers challenging and meaningful research and industrial collaborations with our network of partners around the globe."

KICP is designed to maximize the chances of effective industrial collaboration within the Kingdom and internationally by engaging key partners, all with a keen interest in the translation of knowledge into economic growth and job creation. KAUST is acting as a significant investor by developing infrastructure and providing substantial leverage potential to industry.

Mr. Al-Khowaiter noted that KICP enriches the research experience while also promoting economic development in the Kingdom by providing opportunities for the University, and its associated academic partners, to collaborate with outside groups.

"We are very proud of our long standing relationship with KAUST, and being a founding member of KICP is a proof point of this, and takes our relationship to the next level", said Takreem El-Tohamy, General Manager of IBM Middle East and North Africa. "In today's business climate, it is important to innovate, and to work in a different way, by interconnecting existing data and information, and by forging smarter ways of collaboration. This agreement, which is an excellent bridge between academia and the business community, is an important step to start innovative collaboration within the Kingdom, and with our researchers globally. I am looking forward to our continued joint cooperation with KAUST".

"KAUST will provide a home for existing companies seeking access to its academic strengths and looking for an effective base to build and expand their business in the Kingdom and the region, an incubator, an entrepreneurship program, and the benefit of a regional seed and venture fund network," said Dr. Charles Kingdon, Director of Research Park and Industrial Collaboration. "KAUST seeks to create a single academic/industrial community free from the traditional artificial divides in order to drive innovation faster and more creatively."

KICP funds are used to finance KICP initiatives, to support educational outreach to the University community, to support strategic studies and collaboration with other academic resources in Saudi Arabia.

There are three categories within KICP: Founder, Supporter, and Small Business. Each category carries a three-year commitment and comes with numerous benefits. Founders enjoy several privileges, including membership on the KICP Industrial Advisory Board, access to industrial information and match-making between academic programs and industrial needs, and privileged access to KAUST's international research network. The benefits of being a Supporter include in-Kingdom match-making among industrial collaborators, affiliates, research projects, faculty, and students as well as the opportunity to recruit talented and motivated students for jobs and internships.

The Small Business membership level will help small companies and KAUST-driven start-ups develop by using the University and its global network of faculty and resources. Additional benefits include access to advice and mentoring from the service team within the Innovation Center.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region, and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa.

About IBM

For more information about IBM, visit www.ibm.com

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (March 18, 2009) -- After an extensive international search among top investment management firms and financial institutions, His Excellency Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Chairman of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Board of Trustees, KAUST Investment Management Company (KAUST IMC) Board of Directors, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, announced today that Dr. Gumersindo Oliveros has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of KAUST IMC.

KAUST IMC, a wholly owned subsidiary of KAUST, is responsible for the investment strategy of the University's endowment fund. It is governed by an independent Board of Directors, made up of some of the most accomplished and respected leaders in the global investment community. The move is an important milestone in KAUST's development, bringing the University another step closer to full-fledged operations when it opens its main campus in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, in September 2009. The endowment is essential to support KAUST's core mission: to enable advances in science and technology that positively transform the lives of people in Saudi Arabia, the region and the world.

Since 2002, Dr. Oliveros, 53, has served as the Director of the Pension Plan and Endowments at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. He has 18 years of experience in capital markets and investing and is a member of the World Bank Treasury management team that manages more than $70 billion worth of assets for the World Bank and external clients. His direct responsibilities have included managing more than $14 billion across a spectrum of asset classes and providing advice to central banks, pension plans, and other official institutions on multi-asset class management. Before heading the pension plan, Dr. Oliveros, a native of Spain, was in charge of the World Bank's Capital Markets and Financial Engineering Department. He had previously taught macroeconomics and international trade at the University of Minnesota, where he obtained his master's and Ph.D. in Economics. He also worked for eight years at the International Monetary Fund, where he specialized in macroeconomic adjustment programs in Latin America, Africa and Asia, and on Fund conditionality.

"I really believe that he is an outstanding candidate to lead the KAUST Endowment," His Excellency Minister Al-Naimi, Chairman of KAUST's Board of Trustees, said. "Dr. Oliveros would bring to this position extraordinary talent and expertise that will ensure the successful management of the endowment," he added.

Jack Brennan, Chairman of the Vanguard Group in the United States and a member of the KAUST IMC Board of Directors, praised the appointment. "I believe that Dr. Oliveros will bring a wealth of talent and experience to the KAUST endowment that will enable him to guide the investment strategy successfully," Brennan said.

The current members of the KAUST IMC Board of Directors are:

His Excellency Minister Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi, (Chairman)
Chairman, KAUST Board of Trustees and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Mr. John J. Brennan
Chairman, Vanguard Group
United States

Mr. Mohammed Abdullatif Jameel
President, Abdullatif Jameel Group
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Ms. Lubna S. Olayan
Chief Executive Officer and Chair, Olayan Financing Group
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Professor Choon Fong Shih
President, KAUST
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Mr. Charles D. Ellis
Chairman, Investment Committee, Yale University
United States

Mr. Abdullatif A. Al-Othman
Senior Vice President, Finance, Saudi Aramco
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, across the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological problems. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa

Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (March, 9, 2009) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced today that Abdul Latif Jameel Co. Ltd. (ALJ) has become the first member of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program.

KAUST President Choon Fong Shih signed an agreement with ALJ President Mohammed Abdullatif Jameel that makes his Saudi-based multi-national company a key part of the University's economic development program.

"Companies and universities need to be innovative if they are to remain globally competitive," Professor Shih said after the signing ceremony in Jeddah. "KICP membership provides our collaborators with recruiting and outreach support, offers both employment and funding prospects to students, and proffers challenging and meaningful research collaborations for our faculty."

KICP is designed to maximize the chances of effective industrial collaboration within the Kingdom and internationally by engaging key partners, all with a keen interest in the translation of knowledge into economic growth and job creation. KAUST is acting as a significant investor by developing infrastructure and providing substantial leverage potential to industry.

Professor Shih noted that KICP enriches the research experience while also promoting economic development in the Kingdom by providing opportunities for the University, and its associated academic partners, to collaborate with outside groups.

"This agreement represents a new era in the way of establishing industrial partnerships between universities and the private sector to work closely together in the fields of technology and research in a practical manner," Mr. Jameel said. "This will help the private sector in the Kingdom become more competitive and dynamic in the global market, create new job opportunities, and contribute to the development of Saudi companies at a global level."

"Inventions from KAUST will find their ways to Saudi companies first, which will help them become more competitive and open up new job opportunities for KAUST's trained scientists," Mr. Jameel added.

Economic development is a central tenet of the KAUST mission. "The University is currently working to lay the necessary groundwork to transform this task into reality," said Dr. Charles F. M. Kingdon, Director of Research Park and Industrial Collaboration.

Drawing on global best practices, the University is establishing a Technology Transfer Office, an Industrial Collaboration Program, and a Research Park to support the creation of new businesses.

"KAUST will provide a home for existing companies seeking access to its academic strengths, an incubator, an entrepreneurship program, and the benefit of a regional seed and venture fund network," said Mr. Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, KAUST's Interim Vice President of Economic Development. "KAUST seeks to create a single academic/industrial community free from the traditional artificial divides in order to drive innovation faster and more creatively."

KICP funds are used to finance KICP initiatives, to support educational outreach to the University community and others in the region, and to support strategic studies and collaboration with other academic resources in Saudi Arabia.

There are three categories within KICP: Founder, Supporter, and Small Business. Each category carries a three-year commitment and comes with numerous benefits. Founders enjoy several privileges, including membership on the KICP Industrial Advisory Board, access to industrial information and match-making between academic programs and industrial needs, and privileged access to KAUST's international research network. The benefits of being a Supporter include in-Kingdom match-making among industrial collaborators, affiliates, research projects, faculty, and students as well as the opportunity to recruit talented and motivated students for jobs and internships.

The Small Business membership level will help small companies and KAUST-driven start-ups develop by using the University and its global network of faculty and resources. Additional benefits include access to advice and mentoring from the service team within the Innovation Center.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region, and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa.

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (February 24, 2009) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has held the final meeting of its International Advisory Council (IAC) in Riyadh. The move is an important milestone in KAUST's development, bringing the University another step closer to full-fledged operations when it opens in September 2009.

"I wish to thank the members of the IAC for their outstanding service," said H.E. Minister Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the chief institutional architect of KAUST. "When KAUST was only a vision, these accomplished leaders recognized the University's potential and joined this historic mission. As a group, they mirror KAUST's diversity and we have benefited greatly from their best practices and wisdom. Together we structured KAUST from the beginning as an international, independent, merit-based research institution for the 21st century. Their early support is evident in KAUST's accomplishments today."

The 14-member IAC comprised global leaders in higher education, science and technology, business, and commercial research and development. It first convened in February 2007 as a developmental body during the start up and early development of KAUST. The group met seven times to review plans and provide guidance to KAUST senior leadership on all aspects of the University's organization and mission. Many of the IAC's duties will now transition to the new KAUST Board of Trustees. Members of this permanent body were announced in October 2008.

"The transition of the function of the International Advisory Council represents another milestone of KAUST's development as the University will open its doors to students on September 5, 2009," Dr. Frank H.T. Rhodes, President Emeritus of Cornell University, said.

"The council has fulfilled its mission and its members will forever remain in the KAUST family," KAUST President Choon Fong Shih said. "We look forward to working with each of them in new capacities as KAUST continues to grow and flourish." The KAUST International Advisory Council included:

• Dr. Olivier Appert Chairman and CEO, Institut Francaise du Petrole
• Professor Paul C. W. Chu
  President, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
• Professor Wolfgang A. Herrmann
  President, Technischen Universitat Munchen
• Dr. Karen A. Holbrook
  Vice President, Research and Innovation, University of South Florida
  Former President, The Ohio State University
• Mr. Khalid Al-Falih
  President and CEO, Saudi Aramco
• Dr. Marye Anne Fox
  Chancellor, University of California, San Diego
  (observer)
• Dr. Faqir C. Kohli
  Executive Committee, TATA Consultancy Services Ltd.
• Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama
  President, The University of Tokyo
• Dr. Mark M. Little
  Senior Vice President and Director, GE Global Research
• Mr. Mohamed H. Al-Mady
  Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC)
• Dr. Frank Press
  President Emeritus, U.S. National Academy of Sciences
• Professor Frank H. T. Rhodes
  President Emeritus, Cornell University
• H.E. Dr. Khalid S. Al-Sultan
  Rector, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
• Sir Richard Sykes
  Former Rector, Imperial College London

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premiere universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa.

Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, (November 4, 2008)-Top scientists from world-class scientific institutions that have formed special research collaborations with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), gathered in Jeddah this week to discuss their work and how it can accelerate KAUST's external research.

KAUST, a graduate-level research university under development in Saudi Arabia, is unique in its commitment to collaborative research as a key ramp-up strategy. As of October 2008, the University has initiated collaborative agreements with nine Special Academic Partners in the Middle East and North Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States-each with substantial credentials in key areas of research that are central to KAUST's mission. The two-day "Partner in Progress" technical symposium brought together for the first time nearly three dozen scientists from more than 15 countries that work at the leading edge of research in areas that are critical to KAUST and Saudi Arabia. Their disciplines include marine and oceanographic research, materials science, energy and environmental engineering, and computational and computer sciences.

His Excellency Minister Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Chairman of the KAUST Board of Trustees said, "The technical symposium is a vivid example of the role KAUST intends to play throughout its life: that of convener of the world's best minds to solve the biggest and most important problems in science and technology. We intend for make KAUST a place where top researchers from around the world come together to produce benefits for Saudi Arabia and the world."

The first day of the symposium featured ceremonial and information-sharing activities, including partner introductions and a site tour at the KAUST Campus now under construction in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. On day two, participants provided research updates and presentations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. KAUST President-designate Choon Fong Shih told participants, "For the sake of accelerating the process of discovery and innovation, global collaboration is imperative. We must search for truth and for the best minds to unlock the truth wherever they are. This is a central organizing principle upon which we are building KAUST. It is a global institution that is based in Saudi Arabia, and it is a Saudi institution that is making an impact around the world, too."

In creating the research university for the 21st century in less than three years, KAUST leaders launched several major development initiatives in 2007 and 2008. These include the Special Academic Partnerships for collaborative research, the Global Research Partnership for scientific awards, and the unique Academic Excellence Alliance to accelerate faculty recruitment. Working together, these programs have made substantial progress in creating KAUST's global footprint and jumpstarting its research agenda.

Symposium participants included leaders from:

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Massachusetts, USA., on Red Sea ecosystems;
• National University of Singapore (NUS), on solar-powered adsorption desalination; polymeric membrane materials for desalination; and, design of functional nanostructured materials;
• The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), on microbial genomics and bioactive compounds of the Red Sea; and micro/nanofluidic chips;
• The American University in Cairo (AUC), on micro/nanoelectromechanical systems; Red Sea marine genomics, and integrated desert building technologies;
• The Institut Francais du Petrole, and its Partners: French Institute for Petroleum, the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), and Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS), on innovative higher alpha-olefin process using immobilized organometallic complexes; photo-catalytic hydrogen production using sunlight; accelerated high-performance computing for catalysis;
• Technische Universitat Munchen (TUM), Munich, Germany, on sensors; CO2 fixation; CO2 sequestration; and virtual Arabia;
• And the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), California, USA, on visualization and the Virtual Reality Center at KAUST.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, across the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all cultures around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa.

London (November 4, 2008)-King Abdullah University of Science and Technology's (KAUST) International Advisory Council (IAC), a group of global leaders in higher education, science and business, met last week to review current progress and future plans in areas such as collaborative research, faculty, student and administration recruitment and the development of the University's academic structure.

The 15-member IAC also heard presentations from KAUST staff about the current status of the University's facilities development, which includes two recent high-profile announcements: KAUST's partnerships with IBM to build the Middle East's most powerful supercomputer and with the University of California at San Diego to install the most advanced visualization and virtual reality facilities at the KAUST campus in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.

KAUST's President-designate, Choon Fong Shih, tapped the experience and expertise of the IAC, leading them in an in-depth discussion about strategies for enabling the University to fulfill its dual mission of advancing science and technology and of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. He also prompted them to offer their visions of the ideal academic culture at KAUST and about steps the University should take to promote synergies with other research institutions around the globe.

"Collectively, our International Advisory Council members have decades of experience with institutional development in the fields of science, technology, academia and business," said President-designate Shih. "We rely greatly on opportunities like this to tap that knowledge and to inject it as much as possible into the future character and infrastructure of KAUST."

He added that "KAUST is quickly becoming one of the most attractive and outstanding scientific centers in the world. Our goal is to utilize the council as a resource that will offer KAUST guidance and a global perspective which adds to the University's global appeal."

The IAC meets at least twice annually, reviews plans, and provides guidance and feedback to KAUST's interim management team and His Excellency Ali I. Al-Naimi, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and Chair of the KAUST Board of Trustees. Please visit the KAUST Web site for a complete listing of the University's IAC members: http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/intl-advisory-council.aspx

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premiere universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa.

London (November 4, 2008) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the U.S. Library of Congress last week convened the first meeting of the World Digital Library's International Advisory Committee on the History of Arabic and Islamic Science. KAUST, a 21st century research university being built in Saudi Arabia, and the Library of Congress, joined forces earlier this year to develop Arabic and Islamic science as a major theme in the UNESCO-sponsored World Digital Library (WDL).

The 14-member Committee of leading scholars and curators will serve as an advisory body to the WDL, a global collaboration of major libraries and cultural institutions that is harnessing the power and access of modern technology to further scholarly research and promote understanding across cultures by assembling primary material located around the world and providing it on the Internet, in seven languages, at no charge.

Meeting in London, the Committee developed a workplan to identify, select, catalog, and digitize scholarly research, manuscripts, and other rare materials, and identified projects to recommend to major libraries with important Arabic and Islamic science collections. These projects are intended to make a major contribution to the WDL, as well as to other national and international digital library projects. Dr. James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress; Dr. Lynne Brindley, Chief Executive of the British Library; and Dr. Sarah E. Thomas, Librarian and Director, Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, joined Professor Choon Fong Shih, President Designate, KAUST, at the opening session signaling keen support by the leaders of several libraries with the world's richest collections for enhanced international cooperation in the historic effort of making Arabic and Islamic science better known to audiences around the world.

"We live in an extraordinary time when cutting-edge technology allows us to address pressing issues for mankind, and the same technological advances allow deeper insight into the golden age of science than we ever thought possible," said Nadhmi Al-Nasr, KAUST's interim vice president. "This requires a program that is flexible to the different needs of scholars and staffs, and one that is sustainable for many years to come. We asked this esteemed group, 'Where are the gaps in material and knowledge?,' and 'How we can include diverse fields and more geographies?' With their guidance today, the history of Arabic and Islamic science will be preserved and promoted in many meaningful ways."

"We are delighted to be working with KAUST and leading institutions in the Middle East and Europe on this important initiative, " said Dr. James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress. "In addition to serving the needs of scholars, the World Digital Library will work to break down cultural barriers by showing the primary documents that reflect the major achievements of all the world's cultures. The contributions of the Arabic and Islamic world to science and mathematics certainly rank among these achievements. The work of this Committee will be invaluable in helping us make Arabic and Islamic science one of the key themes in the WDL, which we will be launching at UNESCO headquarters in Paris in April 2009."

The International Advisory Committee on the History of Arabic and Islamic Science was formed under the Memorandum of Understanding between UNESCO and the Library of Congress to establish the WDL. Its founding members include:

• Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Shamlan, Professor of History, King Saud University
• Dr. Colin F. Baker, Head of Near and Middle Eastern Collections, The British Library
• Dr. Thomas Cetwinski, Assistant Director of Libraries for Administrative Affairs, KAUST
• Dr. Mary-Jane Deeb, Chief, Africa and Middle East Division, Library of Congress
• Dr. Rifaat Hilal, Vice Chairman, National Library and Archives of Egypt
• Dr. Edward Hundert (Interim Chair), Vice President for University Initiatives, KAUST
• Dr. John Van Oudenaren, Director, World Digital Library Initiative, Library of Congress
• Mr. Richard Ovenden, Associate Director and Keeper of Special Collections, Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
• Dr. F. Jamil Ragep, Canada Research Chair in the History of Science in Islamic Societies and Director of the Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University
• Dr. George Saliba, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Science, Columbia University
• Dr. Emilie Savage-Smith, Faculty of Oriental Studies and Professor of the History of Islamic Science, University of Oxford
• Dr. Tarek Shawki, Director, Cairo Office, UNESCO
• Dr. Ahmed Tantawy, Technical Director, Middle East and North Africa, and Lab Director, Cairo Technology Development Center, IBM
• Ms. Annie Vernay-Nouri, Curator Responsible for Arab Manuscripts, Manuscript Department, Eastern Manuscripts Section, Bibliotheque Nationale de France

Together these founding members represent some of the largest collections of Arabic and Islamic science in the world. They will continue to meet in working groups and will reconvene annually to oversee the strategy and invite new members from libraries, public collections, and private collections to make their material accessible to scholars around the world.

About the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress, America's oldest federal cultural institution, is the world's preeminent reservoir of knowledge, providing unparalleled integrated resources to Congress and the American people. Founded in 1800, the Library seeks to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections. The Library seeks to spark the public's imagination and celebrate human achievement through its programs and exhibits. In doing so, the institution helps foster the informed and involved citizenry upon which American democracy depends. The Library serves the public, scholars, members of Congress and their staff through its 22 reading rooms on Capitol Hill. Many of the rich resources and treasures of the Library may also be accessed through its award-winning Web site at www.loc.gov and via interactive exhibitions on a new, personalized Web site at www.myLOC.gov.

In cooperation with UNESCO and major libraries and cultural institutions around the world, the Library of Congress is leading an effort to establish a World Digital Library that will make available on the Internet, free of charge and in multilingual format, significant primary materials from cultures around the world. Information about the WDL can be found at www.worlddigitallibrary.org.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premiere universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa.

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (February 24, 2009) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has held the final meeting of its International Advisory Council (IAC) in Riyadh. The move is an important milestone in KAUST's development, bringing the University another step closer to full-fledged operations when it opens in September 2009.

"I wish to thank the members of the IAC for their outstanding service," said H.E. Minister Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the chief institutional architect of KAUST. "When KAUST was only a vision, these accomplished leaders recognized the University's potential and joined this historic mission. As a group, they mirror KAUST's diversity and we have benefited greatly from their best practices and wisdom. Together we structured KAUST from the beginning as an international, independent, merit-based research institution for the 21st century. Their early support is evident in KAUST's accomplishments today."

The 14-member IAC comprised global leaders in higher education, science and technology, business, and commercial research and development. It first convened in February 2007 as a developmental body during the start up and early development of KAUST. The group met seven times to review plans and provide guidance to KAUST senior leadership on all aspects of the University's organization and mission. Many of the IAC's duties will now transition to the new KAUST Board of Trustees. Members of this permanent body were announced in October 2008.

"The transition of the function of the International Advisory Council represents another milestone of KAUST's development as the University will open its doors to students on September 5, 2009," Dr. Frank H.T. Rhodes, President Emeritus of Cornell University, said.

"The council has fulfilled its mission and its members will forever remain in the KAUST family," KAUST President Choon Fong Shih said. "We look forward to working with each of them in new capacities as KAUST continues to grow and flourish." The KAUST International Advisory Council included:

• Dr. Olivier Appert Chairman and CEO, Institut Francaise du Petrole
• Professor Paul C. W. Chu
  President, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
• Professor Wolfgang A. Herrmann
  President, Technischen Universitat Munchen
• Dr. Karen A. Holbrook
  Vice President, Research and Innovation, University of South Florida
  Former President, The Ohio State University
• Mr. Khalid Al-Falih
  President and CEO, Saudi Aramco
• Dr. Marye Anne Fox
  Chancellor, University of California, San Diego
  (observer)
• Dr. Faqir C. Kohli
  Executive Committee, TATA Consultancy Services Ltd.
• Dr. Hiroshi Komiyama
  President, The University of Tokyo
• Dr. Mark M. Little
  Senior Vice President and Director, GE Global Research
• Mr. Mohamed H. Al-Mady
  Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC)
• Dr. Frank Press
  President Emeritus, U.S. National Academy of Sciences
• Professor Frank H. T. Rhodes
  President Emeritus, Cornell University
• H.E. Dr. Khalid S. Al-Sultan
  Rector, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
• Sir Richard Sykes
  Former Rector, Imperial College London

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premiere universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, http://www.kaust.edu.sa.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (March 18, 2009) - After an extensive international search among top investment management firms and financial institutions, His Excellency Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Chairman of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Board of Trustees, KAUST Investment Management Company (KAUST IMC) Board of Directors, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, announced today that Dr. Gumersindo Oliveros has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of KAUST IMC.

KAUST IMC, a wholly owned subsidiary of KAUST, is responsible for the investment strategy of the University's endowment fund. It is governed by an independent Board of Directors, made up of some of the most accomplished and respected leaders in the global investment community. The move is an important milestone in KAUST's development, bringing the University another step closer to full-fledged operations when it opens its main campus in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, in September 2009. The endowment is essential to support KAUST's core mission: to enable advances in science and technology that positively transform the lives of people in Saudi Arabia, the region and the world.

Since 2002, Dr. Oliveros, 53, has served as the Director of the Pension Plan and Endowments at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. He has 18 years of experience in capital markets and investing and is a member of the World Bank Treasury management team that manages more than $70 billion worth of assets for the World Bank and external clients. His direct responsibilities have included managing more than $14 billion across a spectrum of asset classes and providing advice to central banks, pension plans, and other official institutions on multi-asset class management. Before heading the pension plan, Dr. Oliveros, a native of Spain, was in charge of the World Bank's Capital Markets and Financial Engineering Department. He had previously taught macroeconomics and international trade at the University of Minnesota, where he obtained his master's and Ph.D. in Economics. He also worked for eight years at the International Monetary Fund, where he specialized in macroeconomic adjustment programs in Latin America, Africa and Asia, and on Fund conditionality.

"I really believe that he is an outstanding candidate to lead the KAUST Endowment," His Excellency Minister Al-Naimi, Chairman of KAUST's Board of Trustees, said. "Dr. Oliveros would bring to this position extraordinary talent and expertise that will ensure the successful management of the endowment," he added.

Jack Brennan, Chairman of the Vanguard Group in the United States and a member of the KAUST IMC Board of Directors, praised the appointment. "I believe that Dr. Oliveros will bring a wealth of talent and experience to the KAUST endowment that will enable him to guide the investment strategy successfully," Brennan said.

The current members of the KAUST IMC Board of Directors are:

His Excellency Minister Ali Ibrahim Al-Naimi, (Chairman)
Chairman, KAUST Board of Trustees and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Mr. John J. Brennan
Chairman, Vanguard Group
United States

Mr. Mohammed Abdullatif Jameel
President, Abdullatif Jameel Group
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Ms. Lubna S. Olayan
Chief Executive Officer and Chair, Olayan Financing Group
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Professor Choon Fong Shih
President, KAUST
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Mr. Charles D. Ellis
Chairman, Investment Committee, Yale University
United States

Mr. Abdullatif A. Al-Othman
Senior Vice President, Finance, Saudi Aramco
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, across the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological problems. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa

Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (March, 9, 2009) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced today that Abdul Latif Jameel Co. Ltd. (ALJ) has become the first member of the KAUST Industrial Collaboration Program.

KAUST President Choon Fong Shih signed an agreement with ALJ President Mohammed Abdullatif Jameel that makes his Saudi-based multi-national company a key part of the University's economic development program.

"Companies and universities need to be innovative if they are to remain globally competitive," Professor Shih said after the signing ceremony in Jeddah. "KICP membership provides our collaborators with recruiting and outreach support, offers both employment and funding prospects to students, and proffers challenging and meaningful research collaborations for our faculty."

KICP is designed to maximize the chances of effective industrial collaboration within the Kingdom and internationally by engaging key partners, all with a keen interest in the translation of knowledge into economic growth and job creation. KAUST is acting as a significant investor by developing infrastructure and providing substantial leverage potential to industry.

Professor Shih noted that KICP enriches the research experience while also promoting economic development in the Kingdom by providing opportunities for the University, and its associated academic partners, to collaborate with outside groups.

"This agreement represents a new era in the way of establishing industrial partnerships between universities and the private sector to work closely together in the fields of technology and research in a practical manner," Mr. Jameel said. "This will help the private sector in the Kingdom become more competitive and dynamic in the global market, create new job opportunities, and contribute to the development of Saudi companies at a global level."

"Inventions from KAUST will find their ways to Saudi companies first, which will help them become more competitive and open up new job opportunities for KAUST's trained scientists," Mr. Jameel added.

Economic development is a central tenet of the KAUST mission. "The University is currently working to lay the necessary groundwork to transform this task into reality," said Dr. Charles F. M. Kingdon, Director of Research Park and Industrial Collaboration.

Drawing on global best practices, the University is establishing a Technology Transfer Office, an Industrial Collaboration Program, and a Research Park to support the creation of new businesses.

"KAUST will provide a home for existing companies seeking access to its academic strengths, an incubator, an entrepreneurship program, and the benefit of a regional seed and venture fund network," said Mr. Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, KAUST's Interim Vice President of Economic Development. "KAUST seeks to create a single academic/industrial community free from the traditional artificial divides in order to drive innovation faster and more creatively."

KICP funds are used to finance KICP initiatives, to support educational outreach to the University community and others in the region, and to support strategic studies and collaboration with other academic resources in Saudi Arabia.

There are three categories within KICP: Founder, Supporter, and Small Business. Each category carries a three-year commitment and comes with numerous benefits. Founders enjoy several privileges, including membership on the KICP Industrial Advisory Board, access to industrial information and match-making between academic programs and industrial needs, and privileged access to KAUST's international research network. The benefits of being a Supporter include in-Kingdom match-making among industrial collaborators, affiliates, research projects, faculty, and students as well as the opportunity to recruit talented and motivated students for jobs and internships.

The Small Business membership level will help small companies and KAUST-driven start-ups develop by using the University and its global network of faculty and resources. Additional benefits include access to advice and mentoring from the service team within the Innovation Center.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, in the region, and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will employ many of the best practices from leading research universities and enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological issues. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents, both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. KAUST will be merit-based, open to men and women from all around the world, and governed by an independent, self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa.

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (May 18, 2009) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced plans to establish a high-speed communications network that will for the first time enable Saudi research and educational institutions to collaborate using high-performance computing facilities at KAUST and other universities around the world.

KAUST, a new graduate-level research university, will serve as the hub of the Saudi Arabian Advanced Research and Education Network (SAREN). Through a partnership with Saudi Telecom Company (STC), KAUST is developing SAREN as a high-speed optical network that will connect research and educational institutions within the Kingdom. Using STC's state-of-art next generation IP/MPLS network, SAREN will give other Saudi institutions access to Shaheen, the KAUST supercomputer, and CORNEA, which will be one of the world's most advanced visualization labs, as well as other core lab facilities at KAUST.

At the same time, KAUST is connecting via an optical submarine fiber optic cable that allows researchers to transmit data at a rate of 10 gigabytes per second (Gbps) - comparable to the capacity available to researchers at MIT. The cable will connect to NetherLight, a leading optical exchange network that links international scientific computing and grid applications to other high-capacity global research networks.

NetherLight, operated by SURFnet, the Netherlands' national network organization for higher education and research, will make it possible for researchers in more than 50 countries to use KAUST's computing capabilities and collaborate with scientists across Saudi Arabia - and vice versa.

"These two new networks represent KAUST's mission to bring the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world," said Mr. Nadhmi Al-Nasr, interim Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance at KAUST. "With this essential connectivity, researchers at KAUST and at institutions throughout the Kingdom will have access to the great work they carry out on their own campuses, as well as to the best research minds and facilities around the world. Likewise, researchers across the globe will be able to tap into our extraordinary tools and intellectual talent."

"This advanced network will enable cloud computing - which allows users to access a combination of connections, software, and services accessed over a network - high-fidelity video conferencing, telepresence technologies, and remote-controlled equipment, laboratories, and sensors" Mr. Majid Al-Ghaslan, KAUST's interim Chief Information Officer, said. "The KAUST Research and Education Network will include the University's labs, core facilities, and scientific data."

Through NetherLight, researchers will have access to high-speed connections that link them to the biggest international research networks, such as Internet2, which serves more than 5,000 scientific research institutions in the United States, and GEANT2, which connects more than 30 million European researchers in 34 countries.

"With this endeavor, STC is making significant contributions to the advancement of science in the Kingdom and beyond," said Engineer Samir Matbouly, Vice President of the STC Data Services Business Unit. "We believe that the technical possibilities of SAREN will provide the foundational cornerstone towards a Saudi knowledge-based economy."

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, across the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological problems. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents both on its campus and at other top universities and research institutions through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (May 18, 2009): Officials at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) received members of the InterAction Council on May 12 at the University's campus in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.

The Council was on a four-day visit to the Kingdom arranged by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA). The 24-person delegation included former presidents and ministers from 20 countries.

H.E. Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Saeed, Adviser to the Royal Court, and Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Qurashi, a member of the Council and former governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), accompanied the delegation.

Mr. Nadhmi A. Al-Nasr, the Interim Executive Vice President of Administration and Finance at KAUST, led the academic and administrative officials who briefed the Council on the University's vision and objectives.

Mr. Al-Nasr pointed out that the University is being built as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom. He emphasized that KAUST supports alliances and partnerships with other major research institutions and private entities based on merit and excellence, as per the vision of The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Members toured the campus and visited academic departments, research centers, and discovery centers. The delegation expressed its pleasure toward this impressive international project, which is scheduled to open its doors this September. It also acknowledged that KAUST will be one of the major international institutes for research and innovation.

The InterAction Council is an independent organization that aims to use the vast energy, experience, and international contacts of a group of former heads of state. Members mutually recommend and propose solutions to various political, economical, and social problems. The Council meets regularly and informally to proactively achieve its noble mission.

As part of the council's continuous efforts, they are currently on a visit arranged by SAGIA.

About KAUST

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, across the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological problems. The KAUST global research and education network will support diverse talents both on its campus and at other top universities and research institutions through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea at Thuwal, is set to open in September 2009. For more information about KAUST, visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa