As the major player in the power and electricity sectors in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) continues to strengthen their partnership with KAUST through a variety of collaborations, including the inauguration of the SEC Center of Excellence during the recent 7th Annual KAUST Industry Advisory Board (KIAB) meeting on February 24-25, 2016.
Collaboration between KAUST and SEC is longstanding. In February 2015, SEC joined KIAB as an Honorary Member. KIAB members and KAUST Industry Collaboration Program (KICP) partners such as SEC get access to a wide range of benefits at KAUST, including the use of pilot testing facilities, access to KAUST students for jobs and internships, and research collaboration with KAUST and other industry partners in a number of sectors.
In April 2015, KAUST and the SEC signed a Memorandum of Understanding that commits to developing joint R&D projects, accessing KAUST’s testing facilities and jointly engaging with SEC technology partners and KAUST industry partners such as GE and Siemens.
On February 24, 2016, at the 7th Annual KIAB meeting, SEC President and CEO Ziad Al-Sheha gave the keynote address. He highlighted SEC’s role as a provider of energy to all sectors of the Saudi economy, the importance it places on strengthening partnerships and its desire for increased collaboration with KAUST.
During KIAB, the SEC Center of Excellence was also inaugurated in a ceremony attended by over 60 senior industry representatives and KAUST officials including President Dr. Jean-Lou Chameau.
The Center will explore innovative solutions in the area of power generation with a focus on fuel efficiency. It will work closely with KAUST’s Clean Combustion Research Center.
A number of SEC employees have also benefited from KAUST’s corporate innovation programs such as REVelate.