Jan 12, 2025
15 Agreements Broaden KFUPM’s Horizons
Dhahran: January 12, 2025
His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), witnessed the signing of 15 partnership agreements and Memorandums of Understanding between the university and various government entities and major corporations this morning at the university's campus in Dhahran.
These agreements aimed to enhance scientific research and innovation outcomes and develop academic programs aligned with the Kingdom's developmental and strategic needs in key national priorities such as energy, health, and technology.
KFUPM signed a Memorandum of Understanding with King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy. The aim is to enhance the development of technologies in the fields of renewable energy, nuclear energy, hydrogen, and artificial intelligence applications. The memorandum includes efforts to build human capacities to support the energy sector and its various applications by developing educational programs, offering scholarships, and launching specialized training programs for entrepreneurs and technology incubators. This initiative seeks to promote innovation and support sustainable development.
Two Executive programs were signed in partnership with the Ministry of Defense. The first includes the academic program for military college students (ROTC), while the second focuses on educational enrichment and special training programs for war veterans and martyrs' children.
The University also signed a strategic Memorandum of Cooperation with the General Authority for Defense Development aimed at enhancing collaboration in the fields of defense research and development, contributing to the promotion of innovation and the localization of advanced technologies. The memorandum seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for developing national capabilities in defense research and advanced technologies, including the development of research infrastructure in defense technologies, directing research towards advanced systems and technologies, enhancing qualified human competencies to support the defense sector, exchanging expertise and research data between both parties and organizing joint workshops and seminars to improve technical knowledge.
Additionally, the University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services to collaborate on advancing research and development in areas such as drone systems for logistics services, autonomous vehicles, and modern transportation systems that utilize clean energy, transportation planning systems, transportation modeling, and data analysis. Also, contributions to the development of regulations and legislation related to future transportation technologies and the implementation of the necessary tests to ensure their effectiveness.s
The agreements included signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Economy and Planning, aiming to develop and launch postgraduate programs in fields related to economics, as well as enhancing training programs to offer specialized courses and workshops to improve university students' skills in economics-related fields. Additionally, it aims to activate research collaboration between the ministry and the university to address priority economic topics and social and economic challenges of importance to the Kingdom.
The university has also signed a framework agreement between the Higher Commission for Industrial Security (HCIS) and the GCC Lab for testing electrical equipment. The agreement includes providing training, qualification, and inspection services, in addition to employing artificial intelligence in scientific research and reviewing safety-related legislation. The agreement also includes launching an academic program specializing in process safety, aiming to graduate qualified professionals in the field of safety at high levels. This collaboration contributes to achieving economic development goals by raising security and safety standards and building national capacities in accordance with global standards.
Another Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), encompassing collaboration on graduate scholarships, faculty, researchers, and employee exchanges, and the implementation of joint research projects in the field of artificial intelligence.
Further agreements were signed with Aramco to establish two new research centers. The first was for a Carbon Materials Research Center to enable accelerated in-Kingdom development and commercialization of specialized chemicals, materials, and non-metallic solutions with a lower carbon footprint and cost. The second was for a Petroleum Conversion Research Center to support accelerated piloting of advanced petroleum conversion technologies, with a focus on liquids-to-chemicals, petrochemicals, low-carbon fuels, plastic waste recycling, and alternative fuels. In addition, KFUPM and the Aramco Civil Foundation signed an agreement that includes a mechanism that aims to achieve the mutual educational, cultural, and social objectives between the two entities.
Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the National Center for Environmental Compliance to establish and operate a joint research center for environmental studies.
Towards the University’s commitment to promote innovation and development, a framework agreement has been signed with NEOM’s Education, Research, and Innovation sector. This agreement aims to facilitate the exchange and education of faculty through short-term study leaves and workshops. It also involves co-development of undergraduate and graduate programs and collaborative research and development projects.
In the healthcare sector, KFUPM signed a Memorandum of Understanding with King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre to establish research acceleration capability, support health innovation outcomes, enhance collaboration in biomedical engineering, develop medical devices, and promote faculty and researchers' expertise in healthcare innovation.
In a significant move to support students financially in their academic pursuits, KFUPM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bank Albilad. This groundbreaking agreement, the first of its kind in the Kingdom, aims to provide innovative financial solutions to help students achieve their academic goals and enhance their educational experience.
The signing ceremony featured a presentation by KFUPM students, who recently won first place globally in a drone competition held in the United States last year. The event also included a presentation by female students about their university experiences, a showcase of various interdisciplinary projects, and a presentation on students' experiences in international summer training programs.
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