Dow to establish R&D center at KAUST

The newly opened King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia and the Dow Chemical Co announced on 29 September 2009 a plan to establish the Dow Middle East R&D Center at the university’s Research Park & Innovation Cluster.

Substantial completion of the state-of-the-art center, to be jointly designed by the partners, is expected by the end of 2010.

Initial research will focus on water treatment technologies, work that is acutely relevant to sustainable development in the surrounding communities and economy. Eventually the center will expand its scope to oil and gas, processes R&D and infrastructure materials. All of these activities are aligned with existing KAUST research centers.

Dow’s plans for an R&D Center at KAUST follow its June announcement that it would become a founding member of the university’s Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP). Dow’s plans include an initial annual minimum funding commitment of US$ 1 million 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 talent.

“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, Dow chairman and CEO.

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