Supporting Innovation and Training in the Local Market Emerson Opens a New Center in Dhahran Techno Valley

On Wednesday 17^th January 2018, and under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Governor of the Eastern Province, Mr. Sulaiman Abdulrahman Al Thunayan, Governor of Al Khobar, inaugurated the new Emerson Center for Technology and Innovation at KFUPM Dhahran Techno Valley (DTV). The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Amin Al Nasser, CEO of Saudi Aramco, Dr. Sahel N. Abduljauwad, KFUPM Vice-Rector for Graduate Studies and Research; Mr. David Farr, Chairman and CEO of Emerson Electric Company and Mr. Michael Train, Executive President, Emerson Automation Solutions.

The new facility, encompassing ​​11,370 square meters and representing an investment of 94 million Saudi riyals (US$ 25 million), will allow Emerson to host Saudi students, entrepreneurs, researchers and stakeholders in turn collaborate with technical experts to develop technologies for process automation and design innovative products and solutions that contribute to the Kingdom's goals, and to ensure accessibility to Emerson's R&D expertise. The new facility includes a collaborative center, classrooms, an IITO laboratory for research and development, as well as a lab for testing experimental models. The facility is also the Emerson regional headquarters for the management, sales, operations and services teams.

The focus of the new facility meets with Saudi Arabia's national transformation program and the development program of Vision 2030, where technology is one of the key factors for job creation and the promotion of economic activities in the non-oil sector. The project is also in line with the Saudi Aramco initiative “EKTEFAA”, launched to enhance the localization rates in the Kingdom.

At the opening ceremony, Emerson signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Saudi Aramco in the presence of Mr. Ameen Al Nasser of Aramco and Mr. David Farr of Emerson.

Through this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and as a part of ARAMCO's Total Value Added Enhancement Program, Emerson will develop its business plan to expand and enhance its physical and human capital through the following initiatives:

"This new facility is the beginning of a new phase in our operations in Saudi Arabia and is part of our long-term commitment to the growth of the Saudi market and making our technical expertise readily available to stakeholders," said David Farr. “We look forward to help in the development of knowledge and skills of stakeholders, university students and entrepreneurs, as well as providing opportunities for local SMEs to participate in the supply chain of our products and innovative solutions. "

Emerson has made significant investments to equip the new center with modern technological capabilities, including research rooms (for individuals and teams) fitted with a control system and simulation panels, a space for collaboration and brainstorming to create an environment for innovation and exchange of ideas, a room to explore a wide range of automation solutions operations with integrated 3D capabilities, as well as an advanced conference room to connect with Emerson's network, experts, consultants or any other external location.

"We welcome the opening of the Emerson headquarters in Saudi Arabia, which is a strategic project that emphasizes the role of the DTV as an ideal place to support efforts to achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the goals of the digital transformation in the Kingdom” said Dr. Sahel N. Abduljauwad, Vice Rector of KFUPM. “This step is another achievement in our efforts to support the goal of the Kingdom’s knowledge economy and to promote growth in the non-oil sector. We are confident that the new Emerson facility will attract significant attention from universities and research institutions in the Kingdom and the region as a whole. "

Emerson is one of the leading providers of technology solutions in the Middle East and Africa, helping companies achieve the highest performance in key projects and operations in the chemical, oil and gas, refining, paper, energy, water, wastewater treatment, mining and minerals, food and beverage, life sciences and other sectors.