King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) held a 4-day workshop with IBM Research to discuss the jointly-established Nanotechnology Center of Excellence set up for research into water desalination, solar energy and petrochemicals. Prince Turki Bin Saud Bin Muhammad, KACST vice president for research institutes, and senior officials and researchers discussed the center's work and visited the Solar Village in Al-Oyaynah Town, northwest Riyadh, and the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC). Production capacity at the Solar Village is to be increased five times, with KACST and IBM working together to use nanotechnology to develop the Solar Village and improve its performance, with an agreement made to focus on new materials for converting solar energy into electricity. Prince Turki reiterated the importance of long-term cooperation with IBM in creating an environment for innovation and creativity and achieving development and long-term prosperity. – Okaz __
