The research facilities at KAUST will consist of world-class labs, offices, administrative spaces and support facilities.

A typical Research Center at KAUST will include eight to 10 members of the faculty, 40 to 50 graduate students, research scientists and engineers, post-doctoral researchers, visiting researchers (including resident and visiting scientists from industry) and administrative and technical staff.

Yes. KAUST's plans include an Innovation Center that will be located within the KAUST Research Park and will serve University-sponsored activities, including support for startups and established company "skunk works," where new products may be developed outside corporate facilities.

Yes. Initially, KAUST envisions that most of its private-sector engagements will involve leading Saudi companies, including Saudi Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), and Saudi Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC). However, multinational organizations with current or potential interests in Saudi Arabia also may be early participants.

As in collaborations with universities and non-profit research organizations, KAUST intends to be flexible and open to a range of possibilities, including:

• Private-sector entities considering substantial investments in research in Saudi Arabia and the region;
• Private-sector groups searching for partners for activities ranging from collaborative research to locating such a program at a near-campus research park; and
• Small companies, including startups, looking for incubator space near a growing R&D center.

The University will develop a number of programmatic approaches to private-sector partnerships and collaborations. Among them:

• an industrial affiliates endeavor
• a research and technology conference series
• participation in the KAUST Global Research Partnership
• sponsorships of KAUST students
• visiting researchers at KAUST Institutes

Yes. In addition to Research Centers, KAUST is developing special Centers and Field Stations:

• KAUST is developing the Center for Marine and Oceanic Research jointly with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This Center is expected to provide a base of operations for scientific research conducted in the Red Sea region, not only by KAUST but also by other leading institutions in this field.