KFUPM%20Science%20Park%20(PASP):%20%20A%20New%20Era%20for%20Sustainable%20Technology%20Based%20Development

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KFUPM Science Park (PASP) A New Era for
SustainableTechnology Based Development

• Sadiq M. Sait
• (0n behalf of PASP Project Committee)
• 8th January 2004

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Presentation Outline

• Part I A Brief Overview about Science Parks
• Part II Plan of PASP
• Part III Progress, Status Discussion

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Part I About Science Parks

• What are they?
• History and Trends
• Stakeholders
• Motives
• Relevant Joint Activities
• The Incubator

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What Are Science Parks?

• A property based initiative which
• Has operational links with universities and
  research centers
• Is designed to encourage knowledge based
  industries
• Has an element of technology transfer and job
  opportunities
• Over a thousand Science parks around the world
  Australia, Singapore, Hong-Kong, Morocco,
  Finland, Brazil, UK, USA, and others
• IASP (International Association of Science Parks,
  250 membership almost half are University Parks)
• Different from Research Institutes (RI)?
• A Recent Trend

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Benefits from the Park

• Development of the region and creation of wealth
  and employment opportunities
• University to become skilled at industry
  collaboration
• Tenants forming associations with the University
• Commercialization of University research,
  including incubation facilities for start-ups

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What is an Incubator?

• An incubator generates and sustains the dynamic
  process of business enterprise development for
  individuals eager to start companies to build
  commercially viable products
• It provides support of infrastructure, logistics,
  finance, training, and advice, until the
  businesses find their own place outside

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Part II Conceptual Plan of PASP

• The Vision
• The Mission
• Goals/Objectives
• Benefits to KFUPM
• Benefits to Tenants
• Success Factors

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Vision

• To make a significant contribution to the
  wealth welfare of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  through the development of knowledge based
  companies that will also strengthen the
  achievement of the mission of KFUPM to be a
  leading institution in the creation and
  dissemination of knowledge in its chosen fields
  of study
• Keywords Closer ties and enduring links
  between academia and the industry

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Mission

• To develop financially self-sustaining physical
  and operational entity designed to create wealth
  through the commercialisation of scientific and
  technological knowledge from KFUPM
• Development of an entrepreneurial culture amongst
  faculty, researchers, students, of KFUPM and
  providing technical, business, and financial
  advice to clients
• Providing space in incubator and science park
  with access to university facilities and creation
  of a self sustaining and self supporting
  community of knowledge based companies.

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Goals/Objectives

• The primary purpose of instituting a science park
  within KFUPM can be listed as follows
• To forge a strong collaboration between the
  university and industry in RD
• To promote small tech-specific businesses and
  start-ups through an incubator program
• To direct significant technology-driven foreign
  investment into the Kingdom
• Commercialization of research
• Providing a strong point of presence for major
  international companies and enterprises
• Technology Transfer Channeling new global
  technologies and practices into the Kingdom

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What is in their for KFUPM

• Joint research projects, especially for graduate
  and doctoral students
• Work experience programs for undergrads (part-
  and full-time jobs for university students)
• Sharing of university equipment and laboratories
• Custom-designed education programs for tenants
• Many staff in tenant companies can enroll in our
  graduate programs
• Advice from tenants (companies) on course design
• Adjunct appointments of industry experts to teach
  and research in the university

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Other Benefits to KFUPM

• Close links and collaborative efforts between the
  science parks businesses and tenants and the
  universitys faculty, researchers and students
• Attraction and retention from amongst the best
  faculty and researchers
• Industrial presence for the benefit of students
• The presence of International major companies
  will help keep the university abreast of the
  latest technological trends and developments
• Employment opportunities for students (during
  study and upon graduation)

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Benefits to Tenant Firms

• Tenant companies can have a significant point of
  presence in the region especially from an RD
  perspective
• Availability of a highly skilled work-force pool
  from graduate and undergraduate student body
• Assistance in identifying university programs and
  resources that best relate to the tenants
  research
• Opportunity for commercial deployment of
  universitys proprietary patents and innovations
• Access to the universitys advanced educational
  and training programs
• Different from Research Institute

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Other Joint Activities

• Larger companies can have their research work
  contracted to the university. (The proximity with
  the academic departments producing hundreds of
  graduates in an area of expertise is a plus)
• Companies can donate equipment and tools, share
  expertise, etc., in return for using university
  labs, faculty, and students
• Senior staff of tenant companies can serve on
  University advisory committees
• Tenants can offer scholarships to postgraduate
  students
• There are several types of parks For a Science
  Park linked to a University, collaboration is the
  key

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Critical Success Factors

• Factors that can greatly impact the development
  and growth are
• Planning, leadership, commitment and involvement
  of all concerned parties for effective
  implementation of the plan
• The detailed plan should be based on clear
  objectives, well integrated with the long-term
  mission and goal of the university (UNESCO Team
  coming to assist and consult, and also British
  Council is involved)
• Close interaction between the tenant firms and
  the university (openness)
• A clear management structure with a Park Manager
  appointed at an early stage
• Preference to companies in the general strengths
  of the university

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Part III Progress/Status

• Some Facts
• What to Expect?
• Consultants (UNESCO, British Council, etc.,),
  Tenants, and MegaCompanies
• LookAhead Plan, Action Plan

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Some Facts

• Despite the considerable benefits, genuine
  collaboration is difficult to achieve
• Many parks are prestigious real-estate
• We do not want to degenerate into a business park
• We are working on attracting organizations
  capable of 'forming any useful association with
  the University

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What to Expect?

• The university will be surrounded by some of the
  worlds leading technology companies
• Industry participation in academia
• The university will build on its current
  strengths due to proximity with industry.
  Proximity will assist greatly in fostering
  relationship with tenants
• Research teaching programs will concentrate on
  modern high technology

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Chronology of Events

• KFUPM Science Park Project Committee Formed
  19/05/2002
• International Companies Contacted 20/06/2002
• Letters of Intent Received 15/07/2002
• Conceptual Plan (prepared by PASP Project
  Committee) 15/09/2002
• PASP Website Created (http//www.ccse.kfupm.edu.sa
  /cadprj) 01/10/2002
• Foundation Stone by HRH Prince Abdullah Bin
  Abdulaziz 20/10/2002
• UNESCO Experts Visit to KFUPM 22-25/02/2003
• PASP Plan Finalized 25/03/2003
• Schlumberger Contract Signed 04/04/2003
• Project Awarded for Layout/Infrastructure
  Planning 09/04/2003
• Marketing Campaign Launched 15/04/2003
• Presentation to HH Prince Saud Al-Saud, Chairman
  SABIC 26/04/2003
• Preliminary Report on Layout/Infrastructure
  finalized 27/04/2003
• Look-ahead Plan 2004
• Action Plan 2004

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Potential Tenants

• UNESCO Experts visit
• First Tenant in PASP (Schlumberger)
• Potential Tenants
• JCCP, Japan (currently working fulltime at KFUPM)
• CIBA Chemicals, Switzerland
• Other International Companies
• Wipro, India
• Idemitsu Kosan Company Ltd., Japan
• Cytec Industries, B.V., The Netrherlands
• Institute France Petrole (IFP), France
• Membrana GmbH (a member of the ACORDIS Group),
  Germany
• DevCorp International, Bahrain

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Mega-Companies

• Invitation letters sent to Saudi Aramco and SABIC
  for involvement and participation in PASP
• Potential Advantages Cited
• Availability of additional RD laboratory space
  for expansion of RD activities not covered in
  existing RD facilities
• Opportunity for companys researchers with new
  and novel ideas to begin to exploit them in a
  separate atmosphere
• Opportunity to come into direct contact with, and
  to evaluate, students who are potential new
  companys employees.

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Finally

• The KFUPM Science Park (PASP) is a strong
  statement of KFUPMs determination to maintain
  its high standards in research, technological
  development and academic excellence
• It is an initiative to couple the Universitys
  research resources with the technological
  capabilities of the industrial sector, thereby
  creating a highly collaborative environment with
  vast potential for joint technological RD
• With the establishment of this science park,
  KFUPM moves forward into its fiftieth year with a
  far-reaching initiative that will be a dynamic
  catalyst for technological development and
  collaboration between the university and the
  industry