Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and French Institut Français Du Pétrole to Collaborate on Sustainable Transport Ene

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Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Rueil-Malmaison, France (PRWEB) August 16, 2007 -- Saudi Arabia (http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/default.aspx)'s newly founded King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) (http://www.kaust.edu.sa/) and France's prestigious Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP) (http://www.ifp.fr/) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on world-class research programs, graduate education and technological development for the benefit of their respective countries and the world.

The agreement, signed by Nadhmi A. Al-Nasr, interim president of KAUST, and Olivier Appert, chairman and chief executive officer of IFP, will lead to further agreements to work jointly on transport energies and materials, as well as joint efforts to find innovative solutions for more efficient, more economical, cleaner, and sustainable energies and materials. KAUST and IFP will also collaborate in accepting graduate students for agreed upon terms to do course work or specific research on IFP's premises. Both institutions agreed to focus specifically on research in carbon capture, clean fuels, catalysis, polymers and chemical engineering modeling.

"We expect that KAUST and IFP will complement one another perfectly as we move ahead with our relationship," Mr. Al-Nasr said. "Together, both institutions can contribute a great deal to the transformation of energy research and its application to industry."

"I am very glad that IFP is going to contribute to the success of this ambitious project of a university and scientific center dedicated to research and education. We will be able to let KAUST benefit from our know-how in the fields of R&D and training. This collaboration will strengthen the existing ties between Saudi Arabia and IFP," said Dr. Appert.

Founded at a time of rapid growth and progress in Saudi Arabia and the region, KAUST is working to create an optimal learning environment for a diverse community of scholars and researchers from around the world.

Both institutions will collaborate on the design, construction and initial operation of research centers (http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/institutes-centers.aspx) and laboratory facilities; cooperate on research projects conducted by either IFP, KAUST, or both; hold scientific and technical meetings on topics of mutual interest; exchange scientific, technical and administrative staff for varying periods of time; make use of each respective organization's facilities and instruments; exchange information on research and engineering in energy sciences; and undertake other cooperative activities.

KAUST and IFP will also consult with each other on graduate and other educational programs and curricula in chemical engineering (http://www.kaust.edu.sa/about/degrees-fields-of-study.aspx) at KAUST, as well as on exchange students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty for varying periods of time. They will also collaborate on establishing fellowships to support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from IFP or KAUST for research in the Middle East.

Representatives of both KAUST and IFP will meet at least once a year at alternating sites between the two organizations to review the progress of research and educational activities.

The MOU also calls for KAUST and IFP to publicize the results of their research to the scientific community and to make definitive agreements on matters concerning intellectual property rights and other commercial or legal aspects of cooperative programs.

About KAUST

KAUST is being built in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, the region and around the globe. The KAUST global research and education network supports diverse talents both on its campus and at other premier universities and research institutions, through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs (http://kaust.edu.sa/students/default.aspx). The core campus, located on more than 36 million square meters on the Red Sea near Rabigh, is set to open in September 2009.

For more information about KAUST, visit www.kaust.edu.sa.

About IFP

As an international research and training center, IFP is developing the transport energies of the 21st century. It provides public players and industry with innovative solutions for a smooth transition to the energies and materials of tomorrow - more efficient, more economical, cleaner and sustainable. To fulfill its mission, IFP has 5 complementary strategic priorities: pushing back the boundaries in oil and gas exploration and production - converting as much raw material as possible into energy for transport - developing clean, fuel-efficient vehicles - diversifying fuel sources - capturing and storing CO2 to combat the greenhouse effect. An integral part of IFP, its graduate engineering school prepares future generations to take up these challenges.

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