King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has announced the signing of two collaborative agreements, one with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and another with King Abdullah City for Science and Technology (KACST). The agreements are the first KAUST concluded in the Kingdom designed to expand its mission of supporting research and academic development for the benefit of Saudi Arabia, the region, and the world. KAUST is an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom. KAUST's memorandum of agreement with KFUPM, which was signed last Tuesday in Dhahran, will enable the two universities to conduct collaborative research in various scientific fields. The KAUST/KFUPM collaboration includes the following activities: Mutual cooperation in research planning and implementation, KFUPM research collaboration with other KAUST partners, scientific and/or technological meetings on topics of mutual interest, knowledge exchange on scientific research, other cooperative activities established by mutual consent, KFUPM faculty to take sabbatical assignments to KAUST, and KFUPM graduates to conduct postgraduate studies at KAUST. The KAUST- KACST collaboration focuses on technology research. The collaboration will cover the following: the design, construction, and initial operation of research centers and lab facilities at KAUST, collaborative research projects at KACST and/or KAUST, scientific and/or technological meetings on topics of mutual interest, exchange of personnel, including scientific, technical, and administrative staff, from time to time, use of each organization's facilities and instruments, information exchange on research and engineering in energy sciences, and other cooperative activities that are mutually agreeable. KAUST research programs focus on research that applies science and technology to the problems of human need, social advancement, and economic development. KAUST concentrates its research programs on cross-disciplinary, problem-oriented research through its research institutes in the fields of resources, energy and environment, biosciences and engineering, materials science and engineering, applied mathematics, and computational science. __
