INTRODUCTION
 The King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Science Park (KASP) was established in 2002. Located on a 35-hectares site in the north of the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) main campus, the park is closely integrated with the university. The location with its proximity to science and engineering colleges provides for considerable interaction between tenant firms, their personnel and university scientists and engineers.
The park will house a range of firms, mainly those involved in the regional petroleum and chemical industry and the growing IT sector, both of which are major strengths of the university. The park, first phase of which is scheduled to be completed by 2004, will be leased to companies interested in maintaining close links with the university community as well as with other Saudi Petroleum and IT-based industries. At present, there are three companies that have expressed willingness to join the park. These three – Schlumberger, Ciba, and JCCP presently share research interests with the university and are located in its Research Institute (RI). With five more companies to sign up with the commencement of the science park, a significant figure of approximately 20 companies by the end of 2005 is expected.
GOALS
 The primary goals of instituting a science park within KFUPM are:
-
To forge a strong collaboration between the university and industry in the areas of research and development.
-
To promote small technology-specific businesses and start-up enterprises through an incubator program.
-
To direct significant technology-driven foreign investment and presence in the eastern province and the Kingdom.
The university’s underlying purpose for a Science Park goes a significant step beyond the fairly usual concept of developing an elite business complex. Instead, the need for providing a commerce and research driven exchange platform between academia and industry is stressed.
OBJECTIVES
-
Commercialization of research, both in terms of focusing the university’s endeavors towards commercially feasible areas of study as well as minimizing the transition period between technological innovation and its commercial deployment.
-
Presenting the university and the Kingdom to the international community as a significant player in high-end research and innovation.
-
Providing a strong point of presence for major international companies and enterprises thereby channeling world-class technology and practice into local and regional businesses.
-
Providing incubator programs to promote emerging small-businesses and enterprises with the much-required technical, financial and administrative support.
-
Utilizing the industrial presence for the benefit of students, thereby providing significant real-world exposure.
-
Generating employment opportunities for students during their course of study and upon graduation, contributing to these business enterprises.
For more information please visit their official website at
http://kasp.kfupm.edu.sa
|
