1. KFUPM-Japanese University/Industry Collaboration: A quick tour of possibilities at KFUPM Presented at Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME) By
Dr. Sadiq M. Sait
Director, Information Technology Center
Professor, Computer Engineering Department
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
17th January, 2006
Bismillah arrahman arrahim
Ladies and Gentlemen
Firstly, I would like to thank Japan Cooperation Council (JCCP) for giving me this opportunity to address this esteemed audience and presents details of KFUPM science park. The objective of this presentation is to make the Japanese oil companies aware of the new initiative that KFUPM has taken in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, the Capital of oil world. Joining KFUPM science park is an important corporate decision by Japanese oil companies. Once a Japanese company is in KFUPM science park, then there is a big chance that the company’s business will sustain and/or increase and/or new business opportunity will emerge.
In this presentation I am going to touch on the changing role of universities in society and discuss how science parks fit into this new role by being agents of change and by supporting economic development and opening a new era for sustainable technology-based development. There is an expectation that the resources of universities should more effectively contribute towards economic development. This focus on universities comes from the much wider recognition that knowledge to the modern economy is what coal and steel were to the industrial revolution and universities are responding to this process by evolving systems for supporting this new role.

2. Talk Outline Part I: About KFUPM
Part II Research in College of Computer Sciences & Engineering
Part III: University–Industry Collaboration via Science Park
Discussion

3. About KFUPM (Part I)

4. About KFUPM
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), was officially established by a Royal Decree in It is an autonomous institution administratively attached to the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE)
The University is located in Dhahran, about 20 Kilometers from Dammam in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia
The University offers Undergraduate, Master and Doctoral Programs in various fields of Engineering, Sciences, Business Administration, Accounting and Management Information System, and Master of City & Regional Planning Program
The University offers UnderGraduate/Graduate Programs in 21 disciplines in the above majors

5. Campus View

6. Campus View

7. Campus View

8. Academic Organizations
It has the following six Academic Colleges:
College of Computer Sciences & Engineering
College of Engineering Sciences
College of Applied Engineering
College of (Basic) Sciences
College of Environmental Design, and
College of Industrial Management

9. Academic Buildings

10. Computing Facilities & ITC
The University’s Information Technology Center (ITC) is the primary facility at KFUPM that provides computing support for education, research, and administrative applications to the University community
In addition, the University has 10s of PC labs and state-of-the-art computing facilities (such as Sun Workstations, Solaris lab, NEXT Machines, Java Stations, etc.)

11. Information Technology Center

12. Research Facilities The University has a modern Library:
It has online access to more than 400 International Databases
Over 350,000 volumes of books and periodicals
Approximately 25,000 films, cassettes, and other media items
A research report collection comprising more than 486,000 microfiche
KFUPM has also a Research Institute, which is actively engaged in contract research with industry and governmental agencies

13. Research Institute

14. Teaching
The University maintains an extensive textbook acquisition system to ensure that only the latest books are used in teaching
Faculty (regular/adjunct) is multinational (from over 40 countries)
The medium of instruction is English
Teaching methods, curricula, and administration are largely designed in accordance with reputable international standards
Our programs are accredited by ABET/EC2000 & AACSB
Other facilities such as Cafeteria, Clinic, Recreation Center are also available in the University to serve the Community (a university town)

15. On-Campus Services Central Services Projects & Maintenance
Housing & Office services
KFUPM Press & Educational Aids
Food services
KFUPM Medical Center
Safety & Security Department
Administrative services
Recreational facilities

16. Glimpses of KFUPM

17. Graduate Programs
Deanship of Graduate Studies at KFUPM offers Graduate Programs leading to:
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Science (MS)
Master of Engineering (ME)
Master of City & Regional Planning (M.C.R.P.)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Accounting (M.Acct)
Master of Medical Physics (M. Med. Phys)
Master of Environmental Sciences (M. Env. Sci)
Master of Science in Geosciences (M. Sc. in Geos)
Master of Geosciences (M. Geos)

18. Graduate Admission Support
All admitted graduate students (satisfying a certain criteria) receive the following benefits:
Free tuition
A monthly stipend to cover living expenses
Subsidized meals in the University cafeteria
Essential medical care
Free furnished air conditioned bachelor housing
Free textbooks
Support for Conference Attendance
A prepaid air passage for initial travel to Dammam at the start of the contract. and return ticket after his completion of the Degree
An opportunity to participate along with the University faculty in the Research and Book-writing Projects funded by the University

20. Research in College of Computer Sciences and Engineering (Part II)

21. Computer Engineering Department Research Profile

22. Computer Engineering Faculty
20 Professorial Rank faculty members
2 Full Professor
2 Associate Professor
16 Assistant Professor
6 lecturers

23. COE Research Areas Data Communications & Computer Networks
Computer Applications: Robotics, Interfacing, Data acquisition, Machine learning, Data Mining
Digital Design Automation & VLSI System Design & Test
Computer Architecture & Parallel Processing
Computer Arithmetic & Cryptography

24. Current Research Projects: Data Communications & Networks
Wireless Multi-hop Voice over IP over WiFi using Client-Server UDP (user datagram protocol)
Mobile Patient using sensor network
Wireless Local Area Networks Integration for Mobile Networks Operators
Radio Resource Management and QoS Control for Wireless Integrated Services Networks
Engineering Modern Iterative Heuristics to Solve Hard Computer Network Design Problems

25. Current Research Projects: Computer Applications
Design  of  a  wireless  safety  system  for  smart kitchen
Predicting log properties from seismic data using abductive networks
Design of an Intelligent Tele-robotic System
Designing and building a mobile emergency warning system for patients under health care
Context aware energy  management system

26. Current Research Projects: DA, & VLSI System Design & Test
Parallelization of Iterative Heuristics for Low Power VLSI Standard Cell Placement using Cluster of PCs
Efficient Test Relaxation Based Static Test Compaction Techniques for Combinational and Sequential Circuits
Efficient Data Compression Techniques for Testing SoCs
Segmented Addressable Scan Architecture for Effective Test Data Compression
Multi-objective Finite State Machine Encoding using Non-Deterministic Evolutionary Algorithms targeting area, low power and testability
Design and Implementation of Scalable Interconnect Efficient LDPC Error Correcting Codes

27. Relationship to R&D
COE Department has faculty experienced in VLSI Design
Two books in the area of iterative algorithms and VLSI Design have been authored by the department faculty
The Technology Center being proposed in RI will have the state-of-art tools and equipment
Faculty and students currently interested in HPC and parallelization of heuristics can work together to address industrial and real-world problems

28. Other COE Research Projects
Computer Arithmetic & Cryptography
High-Performance Arithmetic for Cryptographic Applications
Design of efficient integrated circuits for the inverse computation in different finite fields
Design of Elliptic Curve Cryptography Architectures using parallel multipliers
Secure reliable storage system
Design, Analysis, and FPGA prototyping of High-Performance Arithmetic for Cryptographic Applications

29. Information and Computer Science Department Research Profile

30. Information and Computer Science Faculty
25 Professorial Rank faculty members
1 Full Professor
5 Associate Professors
19 Assistant Professors
2 PhD. Holders
1 Instructor
1 Lecturer

31. ICS Research Projects Software Engineering Operating Systems
Natural Language Voice Interface for Controlling Audio-Video equipment
Multi-agent based eCommerce as an integration technology for the next generation Web
Software Engineering
Investigating Design Quality Characteristics for Refactoring and Refactoring To Patterns Using Software Metrics
Measuring Architectural Stability in Object Oriented Systems

32. Other ICS Research Projects:
Education and eLearning
Building Computer-Adaptive Testing Using Reinforcement Learning
Critical thinking skills in Computer Science curriculum
Technology-Based Education in KFUPM
Database Systems
Integrating XML documents
Query optimization in XML databases
Computer Algorithms
Two-way linear probing with reassignments
Limit laws for sums of functions of sub-graphs of random graphs.

33. Embedded System Design
The main research components here will require skills in HW/SW Co-Design (since embedded controllers are implemented as mixed systems, HW for performance and SW for flexibility)
Phases of design can be basically reduced to constrained NP-hard optimization problem
Expertise is available in partitioning, co-design, OS, HW Design, Optimization, etc.

34. University – Industry Collaboration via Science Park (Part III)

35. Outline Mission of the University Strategic Plan of KFUPM Science Park
Progress and Status
Gentlman, I will be presenting few slides on the introduction of Science Parks in general and touch base on the definition of Incubator and other concepts in Part I
Part II will elaborate on the Vision, Mission, Objectives of KASP.
The advances we have made KASP at KFUPM will be covered in Part III

36. Mission of the University
A Balance between three key elements:
Generation of new knowledge
Passing on this knowledge to future generations
Serving the needs of industry (business) and community
The most widely recognized roles for universities have been to generate new knowledge and to pass this on to future generations. What has now emerged is a third role for universities which is to serve more closely the needs of business and the community which includes contributing more to economic development.
 In essence this new equilibrium between the elements in the mission of universities has come in part from the influence of government policy, in part from the pull of business that has recognized the value of knowledge and skills to their performance in highly competitive markets and from within universities themselves in response to the increasingly competitive environment in which they now operate.

37. Methods for Supporting Knowledge-Based Business
Science Cities
Technopolis
High Technology Industrial Parks
Science & Research Parks
Business Incubators
Research funding to the universities is build on the recognition that universities are one of the foundations to the knowledge economy. These “soft” investments sit alongside a number of “hard” initiatives across the world that are aimed at creating an infrastructure to support the commercialization of science and technology.
A Science City is where a whole urban area is simply established as a new project to develop a science base that can then act as a foundation for economic development. Examples include Tsukuba City in Japan. A Technopolis is where a civic authority invests in a region with the specific intention that the region’s economic base should be founded on the commercialization of science and technology. Examples of projects of this type include Taedok in South Korea, the Sophia Antipolis in France and the very first of these projects which was established in Silicon Valley in California. A model initially developed in China is the High Technology Industrial Park. These projects were established to create zones that offer tax advantages to companies that invest in China;  

38. Plan of KFUPM Science Park
The Vision of the Park
The Mission of the Park
Objectives
Science Park Site
Benefits to KFUPM
Benefits to Tenants (Japanese Companies)
Success Factors
The vision is focussed on economics and knowledge based industries and 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
(Petroleum/Petrochemicals and IT based fields)

39. Vision of the Park
To make a significant contribution to the wealth & welfare of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the development of knowledge-based companies
Keywords: Closer ties and enduring links between academia and industry
The vision is focussed on economics and knowledge based industries and 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
(Petroleum/Petrochemicals and IT based fields)

40. Mission of the Park
To develop a financially self-sustaining entity at KFUPM
Development of an entrepreneurial culture
Provision of space in the incubator and science park, and creation of self-sustaining facilities
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
Creating self employed businesses for young Saudi entrepreneurs by incubating their ideas and nurturing these incubatees in successful Saudi Entrepreneurs.

41. Objectives
Providing an opportunity for national and Int’l organizations to enhance their business opportunities in the field of petroleum and IT
Utilizing the Kingdom’s industrial and market strengths in Petroleum and IT sector
Commercialization of University research
Providing incubator programs to young Saudis, and promoting emerging small-businesses
We have set our objectives to achieve an Overarching Goal by aligning our activities with objectives. Goal is that KASP becomes a reason for creating financially profitable entrepreneurial R&D culture in KFUPM and at the same time provide companies national and Int’l to expand their business based on R&D in the region. A new marketing strategy.
Commercialization of University research and to act as a vehicle for entrepreneurs by providing a strong point of presence companies;
Kingdom is a big market for multi-national petroleum and IT related businesses.We plan to utilize the Kingdom’s industrial and market strength for making KFUPM a focal point for attracting International R&D Personnel

42. Modes of Participation in Science Park
Single-unit building
Multi-tenant building
Incubator building
Single units are for mega multinationals like Schlumberger or Saudi Mega companies (Nippon Oil, Idemitsu, Cosmo, Chiyoda, JGC, SABIC and Saudi Aramco)
Multi tenant building is for small companies and we plan to have laboratories available for those who need. It companies will only need offices.
Incubator for young enterpreneures will be provided

43. KASP SITE The area of the site is more then 300,000 square Meters
There will be 15 slots for 2500 square meters for major companies like Schlumberger, who will build there own building. The potential companies are Nippon, Shell, S. Aramco, SABIC, etc.
Land Development and construction of four basic buildings is estimated to be SR 50 Million by P&M dept. KFUPM.

45. Chronology of Events
KFUPM Science Park Project Committee Formed: 19/05/2002
Conceptual Plan Prepared: 15/09/2002
Foundation Stone by HRH Prince Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz: /10/2002
Project Awarded for Layout/Infrastructure Planning: /04/2003
Schlumberger Building Construction Ending: /10/2005
Incubator Program Launched: 01/06/2005
Intel to Open a Technology Center at KFUPM: 01/02/2006
Chronology list is long and we have successfully completed three years of our existence.
The effort has been on having a solid base by carefully planning, marketing, and understanding the local situation vis a vis international norms of science parks.
The noticeable fact is that science park tenants have approached us before even we have planned for Park. This gave us advantages in understanding the type of tenants their requirement, benefit to KASP, and off course the problems encountered

46. What is in there for KFUPM?
Joint research projects
Sharing of university laboratories
Custom-designed courses for tenants
Tenant staff in graduate programs
Adjunct appointments of industry experts in the University
Universities world wide have benefited technically and economically from science parks.
KASP is expected to upgrade the R&D activities of KFUPM by creating a culture of industrial research by a two way street to University.
Ideas/spin off of University research can be industrialized/commercialized by KASP tenant companies and KFUPM will get more of industrial projects from KASP tenant companies

47. KFUPM Research Strengths?
Universities world wide have benefited technically and economically from science parks.
KASP is expected to upgrade the R&D activities of KFUPM by creating a culture of industrial research by a two way street to University.
Ideas/spin off of University research can be industrialized/commercialized by KASP tenant companies and KFUPM will get more of industrial projects from KASP tenant companies

48. Benefits to Tenant Firms
Tenant companies can have a significant point of presence in the oil producing region
Tenant companies can enhance their business opportunities in the region
Availability of a skilled work-force pool from the student body, faculty members, and researchers
Opportunity for commercial deployment of University’s intellectual property
Access to the University’s facilities, i.e., research facilities, library, computer center, etc
Tenant companies can have a significant point of presence in the region especially from an R&D 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 tenant’s research
Opportunity for commercial deployment of university’s proprietary patents and innovations
Access to the university’s advanced educational and training programs

49. KFUPM Pilot and Demonstration Plants
Tenant companies can have a significant point of presence in the region especially from an R&D 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 tenant’s research
Opportunity for commercial deployment of university’s proprietary patents and innovations
Access to the university’s advanced educational and training programs

50. KFUPM Laboratories
The proximity with the academic departments producing hundreds of graduates in an area of expertise is a plus for larger companies who can have their research work contracted to the university.
Sharing of expertise, etc., in return for using university labs, faculty, and students and the companies can donate equipment and tools
Advising the activities of the university department by having Senior staff of tenant companies on University advisory committees
Postgraduate studies and training can be offered to students by the tenants

51. Critical Success Factors
Planning, leadership, commitment, & involvement of everyone, for the effective implementation of the plan
Close interaction between the tenant firms and the University
A clear management structure, with a Park Manager appointed at an early stage
Preference to companies in all areas of strength of the University (such as Petroleum, IT, and others)
Critical success factor deals mainly with the strategic plan of the science park program. Planning, leadership, commitment and involvement of all concerned parties for effective implementation of the plan
Close interaction between the tenant firms and the university
A clear management structure with a Park Manager appointed at an early stage
Preference to companies in the general strengths of the university

52. Progress/Status What to Expect? Major Companies Involved in KFUPM
Current and potential tenants of Science Park

53. What to Expect?
University will be surrounded by some of the world’s leading technology companies
Industry participation in academia
The University will build on its current strengths due to proximity with industry
Research & teaching programs will concentrate on modern high-technology
The university will be surrounded by some of the world’s leading technology companies
Industry participation in academia
The university will build on its current strengths due to proximity with industry
Research & teaching programs will concentrate on modern high technology

54. Major Companies Collaborating with KFUPM
SABIC
Saudi Aramco
Schlumberger, USA
Japan Cooperation Center Petroleum
Ciba, Switzerland
Others

55. International Companies in KASP
Schlumberger (Construction is nearing completion)
CIBA Specialty Chemicals, Switzerland
Japan Cooperation Council for Petroleum
Intel/KFUPM agree to open a technology center
Letters of Intent received:
Cytec, The Netherlands
WIPRO, India
Institute Francais du Petrole (IFP), France
Membrana, Germany
DevCorp Int’l, Bahrain
Others
Schlumberger is already here.
Modest marketing campaign has resulted in Letter of Intents for joining KASP were received.
We have only approached now those international companies who have Interaction with KFUPM
There is a big potential of tenants in out side world

56. Proposal for Funding & Finance
Given its ideal location and the explicit returns for the industry, the KASP-KFUPM Company is being formed with participation from:
KFUPM
Private Investments (Venture Capital)
Saudi major companies (Saudi Aramco, SABIC, possibly others)
The University would be responsible for establishment of standards for leasing, while the operation, maintenance and construction would be the responsibility of the KASP-KFUPM Company
A company separate from the University should manage the Park (KASP).
Financing for the Park has to be tailored to the resources of the initial partners who will form the Company to manage KASP and their ability to attract funding from other sources.
Accepting that with finance comes control KFUPM as initiators of the project seek to find a Company structure and financial structure that will maximise their influence, consistent with the speed at which they wish to develop KASP.  

57. Governance & Management
For effective management and governance, KASP-KFUPM Company will be formed based on the collaboration between three major parties:
University: knowledge and resources
Industry: financing and R&D
Government: regulations and incentives
The Park will be managed as a commercial enterprise by a Park Manager, who heads the management team, and will be overseen by the Board of Directors of KASP-KFUPM
A Non-Profit seeking company should manage the Park in terms of establishment and operation on behalf of those stakeholders who come together to form the Company, e.g. KFUPM,Government, Investor,Saudi Aramco, etc.

58. Finally….
The Science Park will provide a platform for exploration and take-off of Japanese businesses
University will provide the Land, Infrastructure support, etc., at nominal price
Venture Capital and other similar support is available in the Kingdom
The park will give the Japanese companies an opportunity to open their businesses to Saudi markets
KASP is a strong statement of KFUPM’s determination to maintain its high standards in research, technological development and academic excellence
KASP initiative to couple the University’s resources with the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, thereby creating a highly collaborative environment with vast potential for joint technological R&D
With the establishment of this science park, KFUPM moves forward with a far-reaching initiative that will be a dynamic catalyst for technological development and collaboration between the university and the industry.

59. Finally….
The Science park is a strong statement of KFUPM’s determination to maintain its high standards.
The initiative will couple the University with industry, and will create an environment with vast potential for joint technological R&D and enhancement of business opportunities for tenant companies.
At the Science-Park, companies conduct research independently for their own motives, by their own researchers, utilizing their own facilities, and may involve University researchers & facilities, without intervention of University
KASP is a strong statement of KFUPM’s determination to maintain its high standards in research, technological development and academic excellence
KASP initiative to couple the University’s resources with the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, thereby creating a highly collaborative environment with vast potential for joint technological R&D
With the establishment of this science park, KFUPM moves forward with a far-reaching initiative that will be a dynamic catalyst for technological development and collaboration between the university and the industry.

60. Contact Info
Dr. Sadiq M. Sait
Member, KFUPM Science Park (KASP) Committee
KFUPM No. 673, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Tel: , Fax:
Website:

61. Thank you