As we embark onto a new year, we look back at some of the achievements at KAUST during 2015.

Fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development

"While universities historically have played an integral role in economic development of their host countries and regions, in recent years there have been increasing demands placed on universities across the world, including the Middle East,” said KAUST President Jean-Lou Chameau this past February while addressing leading universities at the inaugural Times Higher Education MENA Universities Summit . He also reiterated these points at the 2015 Economist Higher Education Forum, held in Manhattan, in October.

Throughout 2015, KAUST has continued on its path to strengthen the University’s footprint as part of the Kingdom’s stated mission to move to a knowledge-based economy. “According to the 2014 Nature Index report, KAUST not only leads Saudi Arabia's strong science output, but at five years old, the university published more papers than any other institute in the Arab world that year," added Chameau.

The commitment of KAUST to serve as a catalyst for a strong innovation ecosystem was also recognized on the occasion of the region’s first ever UBI Global Benchmarking Conference and Award Ceremony , hosted at KAUST, on October 14, 2015. The KAUST Entrepreneurship Center was named as one of four High Impact Programs. In addition, Forbes Middle East’s ‘Entrepreneurs Shaping Saudi Arabia’s Future 2015 conference, held in Riyadh on December 15, listed six KAUST-related companies among the top 100 innovative startups.

“Everyone at KAUST is collaborating, innovating and thriving,” said Mark Crowell, KAUST vice president of Innovation and Economic Development (I&ED) . “This creativity is helping to establish a culture that will make KAUST a global destination.”

The University’s dynamism has fostered and strengthened some important collaborative efforts with industry in 2015; such as the signing of an agreement with Dow Chemical Company to expand their facilities at the KAUST Research & Technology Park , as well as the establishment of a Saudi Arabia focused venture capital fund in collaboration with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

Symposia at KAUST

As a destination for cutting-edge science and innovation, KAUST has hosted several symposia in 2015. In line with the themes mentioned above on innovation and economic development, KAUST hosted the 2015 Arabian Tech Tour in November —the first regional version of the international event for leading venture capitalists, high-tech entrepreneurs and industry, and government influencers.

“Our mission at KAUST is to work with others to be a catalyst for innovation, economic development and social prosperity in the Kingdom. We want to create high-value jobs in the Kingdom and ideally fill those with some of our graduates,” said Tristan Walker, deputy vice president of Innovation & Economic Development at KAUST as part of his address at the conference. “We aim to attract knowledge-based industries to the Kingdom to partner with us, collaborate with our startups and help catalyze the economy.”

Realizing those objectives requires the establishment of collaborations and interactions with some of the world’s leading scientists, institutions and industry leaders. The Solar Future 2015 Symposium, which took place at KAUST on November 7-11, was just such an occasion. The event focused on the most recent results in the field of solar energy conversion (photovoltaics). Representatives ranged from national laboratories, government institutions and universities.

Another KAUST symposium hosted in October entitled Human-Machine Networks and Intelligent Infrastructures was aimed at examining the complex and interconnected systems of sensors, communications, and embedded computation. The prestigious group of local and international speakers from institutions such as Harvard, Saudi Aramco, Georgia Tech and MIT looked at how modern technology has offered cities and societies in general structured systems such as power grids, the Internet, mobile networks and various other engineered infrastructures.

The theme of sensors was also the focus of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences - KAUST Frontiers of Sensor Science Symposium , held at the University in December. The conference brought together outstanding early-career scientists typically aged 30-45 years to discuss topics on the cutting-edge of science. “The fact that this topic is being recognized by major institutions in the U.S. and globally clearly speaks to the degree of interest and the potential impact of sensor technologies,” said Dr. Jason Schrum, Integrative Lead at the KAUST Office of Sponsored Research (OSR).

Earlier in the year, KAUST also hosted the Advanced Membranes & Porous Materials Center (AMPMC) Research Conference , examining recent developments in advanced membranes and porous materials for energy, environmental and water applications, as well as the KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC) hosted the KAUST Research Conference, focusing on catalytic carbon and hydrogen management.

Faculty awards and recognitions

The past year saw some prestigious awards and recognitions conferred upon several KAUST faculty members. Dr. Pierre Magistretti, dean of the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, received the 2016 Fondation IPSEN Neuronal Plasticity prize for contributions to the field of neuroenergetics . “Pierre’s significant contributions in brain-energy metabolism have resulted in significant new knowledge in neuroscience,” said KAUST President Jean-Lou Chameau.

Dr. Nikos Hadjichristidis, KAUST professor of chemical science, received the prestigious 2016 Macro Group U.K. Medal for Continued Outstanding Achievement in Polymer Science. “As a leading advocate for polymer science, Dr. Hadjichristidis has played an instrumental role in shaping the direction of polymer science and the public perception of polymer applications," said Yves Gnanou, dean of the Physical Science and Engineering Division. He was also honored in March at the 249th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting & Exposition, in Denver, Colorado, with the prominent ACS Award in Polymer Chemistry.

Dr. Carlos M. Duarte , KAUST professor of marine science, was awarded the 2016 Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky Medal. The medal is awarded to scientists in honor of their outstanding contributions to the biogeosciences. “Carlos is not only a leading figure and a pioneer working at the interface of sustainability and global change in aquatic ecosystems, but is also a tireless teacher, mentor and individual who commits tremendous efforts towards scientific outreach,” said Pierre Magistretti, dean of BESE.

Other KAUST faculty members honored in 2015 include: Dr. Charlotte A. E. Hauser, professor of bioscience, who was elected to the rank of NAI Fellow by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) . The 2015 Fellows Selection Committee has officially recognized Hauser for her “highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.” Dr. Muhammad Mustafa Hussain, KAUST associate professor of Electrical Engineering, also won a 2015 Outstanding Young Texas Exes (OYTEX) Award from The University of Texas at Austin (U.S.). The award recognizes University of Texas (UT) graduates (called “Texas Exes”) age 39 and younger who have made outstanding achievements in their fields of work.

The arrival of Shaheen-Cray XC40

Weighing around 109 metric tons, the new Shaheen-Cray XC40 supercomputer acquired by KAUST arrived on campus March 15, 2015. “Shaheen XC40 reaffirms KAUST’s commitment to enabling our researchers and partners with high performance computing resources,” said KAUST President Jean-Lou Chameau, “it will further enhance our education and research endeavors and support our vision to be a destination for talent and have global impact in science and technology.”

A number of Saudi institutions already utilize KAUST’s supercomputing capabilities to develop their work and examine new fields of research, further contributing to economic diversification for Saudi Arabia. “Shaheen XC40 will contribute to the enhancement of Saudi Arabia’s major industries and facilitate the nation’s transition towards a knowledge-based economy,” added KAUST Vice President for Research Jean M. Fréchet.

“The acquisition of the Shaheen-Cray XC40 (Shaheen II) system, with perhaps the best integrated memory hierarchy and storage system of any supercomputer, returns KAUST to the top twenty internationally in terms of high capability computing and the top two of any university in the world,” said Dr. David Keyes, director of the Extreme Computing Research Center.

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