Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has extended a grant of SR 7.5 million to the King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh in keeping with the company’s strategy of supporting the advancement of knowledge for the benefit of society, and to continuously improve its own resources of technology, applications and solutions.

The amount has been specifically allocated for the SABIC Polymers Chair, local scholarships for postgraduate students (Master's and Doctoral), and the Innovation Center, with a focus on applications in the plastics and petrochemicals industries.

A check for the amount was handed over by Ernesto Occhiello, SABIC EVP, Technology and Innovation, to Badran Al-Omar, KSU rector, during a recent meeting at the under-construction SABIC Plastics Applications Development Center (SPADC) at the Riyadh Techno Valley, KSU. Occhiello also presented a model of the new Application Center to Al-Omar. When complete, the SPADC will be the largest center of its kind in the Middle East.

Occhiello said that SABIC has been a strong supporter of KSU’s research programs. “SABIC seeks to enable cutting-edge scientific research in Saudi Arabia and encourage Saudi researchers to be key drivers of productivity. The company has been a sustained supporter of scientific research conducted at universities in recognition of their long term value in developing applied technologies,” he said.

The ceremony was also attended by Abdulaziz Al-Rowais, deputy rector at KSU; Fahd Al-Sherehy, GM, SABIC Technology Center Riyadh; Abdullah Al-Amri, SABIC external network and ventures manager; Professor Saeed Al-Zahrani, advisor to the KSU rector and polymers center supervisor; Moneef Al-Moneef, SPADC project manager; and the project team.