JEDDAH, 29 April 2007 — The King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh yesterday announced plans to launch a major research and development program that will be carried out with the support of businessmen as part of KSU’s efforts to boost the Kingdom’s scientific and technological progress.
In a full-page advertisement in local newspapers, the university said its council has approved the “Research Chair” project in order to achieve the country’s strategic objectives that include reaching a high position in the areas of innovation, research and development to support its knowledge-based economy.
“We call upon princes, princesses, businessmen and women, banks and companies to finance research chairs in areas such as medicine, pharmacology, engineering, science, computer science, architecture, agriculture, food, water, gas, oil, economy, business administration, law, political, information, society and private education,” said the advertisement.
Individuals have been requested to contribute SR2 million in the first year and SR1 million annually for three or more years while companies and banks have been asked to contribute SR4 million in the first year and SR2 million annually for three or more years or a specific amount for a program for a specified period.
The university offers a number of benefits to contributors. The chair will be named after the contributor and his or her name will be placed on a golden plaque, and on the chair’s workshop and all published research works.
“Priority will be given to the contributor in making use of the research and consultancy services of the chair,” the university said, adding the contributor will also be honored by presenting its plaque during scientific events related to the chair.
The university will make use of the fund to establish cooperation with leading universities and research centers in the world to develop knowledge-based economies. It will also contribute to the establishment of other research and development centers. “We have allocated SR85 million for infrastructure facilities,” it added.
KSU will also make use of the services of well-known scientists including Nobel Prize and King Faisal Prize winners for the program, which will be monitored by a board of trustees consisting of donors and international experts. Thirty percent of funds will be used for the university’s endowment property.
The university’s project is significant as the Kingdom currently spends only 0.50 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), on research. Dr. Saleh Al-Athel, president of the King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), recently disclosed the government’s plan to spend over SR32 billion ($8.6 billion) on research and development as part of its 20-year National Science and Technology Plan.
“The allocation represents 2.5 percent of the Kingdom’s GDP of SR1.3 trillion ($347 billion), up from 0.25-0.50 percent at present,” Al-Athel said. He added that the government would install in the near future the so-called “technology incubators” at five Saudi universities. Buildings for the project, costing SR15 million each, will be established at KSU, the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Dhahran), the King Faisal University (Dammam), the King Abdul Aziz University (Jeddah) and the King Khaled University (Abha).
The KSU said its research and development program was also aimed at making optimum use of its expertise and research facilities. There are more than 3,000 teaching staff and researchers and more than 10,000 students in the higher education departments, who are specialized in various areas. Some of its professors and researchers have won the King Abdul Aziz Medal of the first and second orders.
The Ministry of Higher Education has spent over SR25 billion on KSU’s infrastructure facilities.
