and sustainable development, the example of KFUPM.

1
Science Park

• and sustainable development, the example of
  KFUPM.

2

• We shall introduce the concept of Science Park
  and its role in promoting industrial
  competitiveness and sustainable development in
  selected areas.

3
Selected Areas

• Petrochemical Industry
• Hydrology
• Information Technology
• Communication

• Petroleum Industry

4
Science Park development is part of a global
rethinking of the role of higher education in a
society ( linkage to S.D. )
5
Plan

• Quick overview of references.
• What is a Science Park ?
• List of various goals set for Science Parks.
• Benefits of a Science Park.

6
Plan (Contd)

• Element of success for a KFUPM Science Park.
• UNESCO and the Science Park at KFUPM.

7
Plan (Contd)

• On the importance of incubators.
• Some establishment difficulties.
  

8
Quick Overview of References

• Books, reports, web sites and specialized
  publications.
• Meetings and discussions with various directors
  and founders of many Science Parks around the
  world.
• IASP literature.
• Personal visits to some Science Parks.

9
What is a Science Park?

• It is a medium in which collaboration
  between universities and industrial
  research centers flourishes, leading to
  regional and national economic growth.
• It organizes joint research projects between
  the university researchers/graduate
  students and national and multinational
  industrial RDs.

10
What is Science Park? (Contd)

• It offers selected national and multinational
  companies a possibility for establishing
  research centers in the park where they can
  have access to the university facilities and
  expertise.
• It helps the start-up of small and medium size
  companies through its incubators.

11
Goals of a Science Park

• It aims at increasing industrial wealth through
  knowledge based activities.
• It supports the main national industrial
  activities.
• It creates start-ups useful to the major
  national industries.
• It optimizes the interaction between the industry
  and the academic sectors.

12
Goals of a Science Park (Contd)

• It facilitates the technology transfer from the
  university to the park clients.
• It enhances the industrial interest in basic
  research.
• It increases awareness of the industrial needs
  and problems in the academic sector.
• It creates job opportunities.

13
Goals of a Science Park (Contd)

• It promotes an entrepreneurial culture among
  faculty and graduate students.
• It encourages selected faculty and graduate
  students to join the incubator.
• It helps solving the problems of less competent
  industries.
• It helps regional development.

14
Benefits of a Science Park

• Technology transfer from the university to the
  industrial partners.
• Reverse of brain drain.
• Increase of employment opportunities.
• Increase the number of successful companies in
  technology based industries especially those
  supporting the major national industries.

15
Benefits of Science Park (Contd)

• Development of the high-value-added industries.
• Creation of development funds from the operating
  surpluses to provide for the future growth of the
  Park.

16
Benefits of Science Park (Contd)

• Help in the establishment of joint research
  projects between the members of the park.
• Providing a forum for meetings and contacts
  between various researchers, technical
  specialists, and university professors.

17
Requirements for Science Park

• Government support.
• Critical mass of high tech companies.
• Access to centers of learning.
• Sufficient land area for present and future
  projects.
• International and national accessibility
  (airports, freeways, port etc...).

18
Requirements for Science Park (Contd)

• Good climate and clean environment support
  infrastructure.
• Involvement of regional and national
  organizations. INTERNATIONAL?
• Recreational opportunities within reach.
• Internet accessibility.
• Availability of all necessary utilities.
• Availability of legal and financial experts.

19
Elements of Success for a KFUPM Science Park

• The university is located in the Eastern
  Province which is the industrial center of the
  gulf region.
• The university has a well established Basic
  Research Program (Lasers).
• Proximity to ARAMCO, SABIC, SWCC and Jubail.

20
Elements of Success for a KFUPM Science Park
(Contd)

• The presence of an International Airport within
  the region.
• Low probability of natural disasters.
• The Kingdom is an important market.
• The availability of lands.

21
On the importance of incubators.

• About 1000 incubators in the USA.
  .
  
• increased by a factor of 4 in UK between 97
  and 2000.
• Impact on the management of SMEs, Scientist and
  Eng.
• Globalization of economy. ¼ of ecommerce in
  Europe.
• By 2003 ecommerce will amount to 3 trillions of
  .
• To access SMEs Intel is establishing ecommerce
  solution centers in IASP Science Parks.

22
UNESCO and the Science Park at KFUPM

• 1- Selection of a group of experts
• 2-Feasibility study

23
Some establishment difficulties.

• Faculty support and participation.
• Faculty creativity and initiative.
• Financing and Venture Capital.
• Industry involvement.
• Industry and the traditional role of RI.
• A judicious choice of partners.
• Change in the rules of CSB.

24
Some establishment difficulties.

• Consult
• Ministry of trade.
• Ministry of Industry.
• Ministry of higher education.
• Industrial cities.
• KACST.
• Municipalities.
• Private investors.

25

• End of presentation.

26
DISCUSSION