President of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Dr. Ibrahim Al-Suwaiyel inaugurated the new buildings for research communications and information technology and for aeronautics and aviation in Riyadh on Monday.

KACST Vice President for research institutes Prince Turki Bin Saud Bin Mohammed was also present during the inauguration.

“The opening of a new complex for information technology and for aeronautics and aviation is aimed at encouraging research in the respective fields in an environment conducive to promoting science and technology to benefit the nation,” the president said.

“The KACST has supported many scientific research projects aiming to serve developmental issues in various sectors. These research projects have yielded good results which have benefited various parties of both the private and public sectors. KACST has also provided scientists, researchers and students in Saudi universities with considerable support and services,” Al-Suwaiyel said.

The building for communications and information technology has been built on an area of 8,922 sq. meters which could accommodate around 275 workers. It has the facility to store and process a huge amount of information in its data base.

The new building for aeronautics and aviation is situated on an area of 9,560 sq. meters, which could house 345 employees.

Information technology (IT) is a broad field that encompasses many different research and application areas. It has been a key driver of productivity and economic growth in many countries around the world, such as the United States, India, Ireland, and Finland.

“IT research and innovation for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia involves universities, research centers, industry, and government stakeholders,” an official from the KACST said.

The KACST allocated SR 22.84 million for 25 research projects at different universities in the Kingdom.

“During the year 2012-13, funds were distributed to numerous scientific areas in different universities,” according to General Supervisor of the Grants Program of the KACST, Dr. Mohammed bin Ahmed Khiyami.

“The areas include SR 3.90 million for basic sciences, SR 13.38 million for medical researchers, SR 3.61 million for the agricultural sector and SR 1.94 million for engineering projects,” he added.

Some of the titles of the main research proposals funded include “The discovery of proteins for early diagnosis of bladder cancer in the Kingdom,” “The use of nanotechnology in the creation of industrial network operations,” and “production of strawberry plants resistant to nematodes using gene transfer techniques.”

The international space and aeronautics sector has witnessed an increasing competitiveness and significant technological advancement in recent years and the Kingdom seeks to become a regional leader in critical areas of this sector.

The current global environment of the space and aeronautics sector presents significant opportunities for Saudi space as well. With the Kingdom well positioned to contribute to the regional development of space technological systems, there are also significant opportunities to commercialize Saudi technologies, particularly those related to the constellation of Saudi Comsat Satellites and Global Navigation Satellite Systems applications.

Related report on page 16