KAUST Innovation & Economic Development Current Openings

• Senior Technology Portfolio Manager
  The Senior Technology Portfolio Manager works with the KAUST research community to lead commercialization efforts, including patent management, technology development, sponsored research, translational and gap funding initiatives, and license negotiations. This position manages patent administration for the invention portfolio for which she /he is responsible.
• Investment Manager
  The KAUST Innovation Fund provide seed and early-stage funding to technology based startup projects and companies launched by KAUST faculty, researchers, students and staff. The Fund also opportunistically invests in high-profile spin-ins, in other Saudi technology early-stage companies and corporate venture startups. The Investment Manager will play a lead role in the key activities of the Fund such as sourcing, screening, and analyzing potential investment opportunities; will lead the negotiation and the structuring of actual investments; and will lead the activities related to the management of the Fund’s portfolio of projects and companies.
• Content Marketing Specialist
  The Technical Writer / Content Marketing Specialist is responsible for the written representation of the Innovation & Economic Development department’s mission and brand, primarily through the development of branded messages and communications materials. Also responsible for researching, writing and editing articles and publications and translating scientific and technical ideas in simple language for a general audience.
• Startup Coordinator
  The Startup Coordinator is responsible for a range of activities to ensure the operational effectiveness and excellence of the various KAUST startup accelerator programs. The coordinator will involve cross functioning and cooperation with other departments in the university and IED and incubation & management support.
• Head – Entrepreneurship Center
  The role involves leading the strategy development and implementation of a broad number of activities and initiatives of the Entrepreneurship Center both inside and outside of KAUST. This includes management of the implementation of the startup accelerator and incubation processes. In tandem a key area is the creation and management of a variety of Teaching and Learning initiatives (both accredited and non-accredited) in the areas of Innovation, Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking. A key mission is the development of revenue and funding opportunities to grow the center whilst also delivering on key I&ED and KAUST objectives.
• Business Development Specialist (Petrochemical)
  The Business Development Specialist (BDS) will work within the business development unit of the Industry Engagement and Partnerships (IEP) Office. BDS is responsible for attracting and retaining companies to engage with KAUST, utilizing the different offerings available to industry including, but not limited to, research collaboration projects, technology commercialization, KICP membership, KRTP tenancy, and student employment. Moreover, he/she will be responsible for developing a market map for targeted industries in alignment with KAUST areas of strength to systematically and strategically approach and engage companies with KAUST. The BDS will also participate in planning and executing key strategic enabling platforms to enhance the attraction efforts of companies to partner with KAUST.
• Business Development Specialist (Water)
  The Business Development Specialist (BDS) will work within the business development unit of the Industry Engagement and Partnerships (IEP) Office. BDS is responsible for attracting and retaining companies to engage with KAUST, utilizing the different offerings available to industry including, but not limited to, research collaboration projects, technology commercialization, KICP membership, KRTP tenancy, and student employment. Moreover, he/she will be responsible for developing a market map for targeted industries in alignment with KAUST areas of strength to systematically and strategically approach and engage companies with KAUST. The BDS will also participate in planning and executing key strategic enabling platforms to enhance the attraction efforts of companies to partner with KAUST.

Living & Working at KAUST

The University’s award-winning campus has everything you need to live, work, study and play. Designed to inspire and motivate our faculty, students, staff and their families to maintain an active lifestyle, KAUST is more than an university. With state-of-art fitness facilities, a golf course, numerous fine dining and casual fare restaurants, elementary and secondary schools, and of course, the Red Sea just steps away, there is something for everyone.

Find out more

“…We are a catalyst for innovation, economic development and social prosperity in Saudi Arabia and the world…”, Mission of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

In line with its mission, KAUST launched a new initiative designed to support the venture capital landscape in Saudi Arabia and the GCC region. The initiative, named KAUST Arabian Venture Forum, took place this on November 19, 2016 and was hosted in partnership with Cleantech Scandanavia – a renowned promoter of Cleantech entrepreneurial and VC ecosystems. This year’s theme was Energy, Clean Technologies (Cleantech) and Information Communication Technologies (ICT).

“We are excited to work with you in changing our economy to a knowledge based economy”, Tristan Walker -VP (A) Innovation and Economic Development.

The 2-day event saw over 200 guests come through the KAUST gates with almost one fifth of them being early and growth-stage startup companies. Venture capitalists from around the globe were present to discuss investment opportunities, technology trends, industry outlooks and regulatory challenges through a series of keynote speeches, panels and informal exchanges. This made for a very exciting and buzzing atmosphere with successful connections, which we hope, will lead to fruitful outcomes.

KAUST Arabian Venture Forum provided a unique, cross-border platform to create the essential connections between local and international investors on one side and local and international entrepreneurs on the other side.

To learn more about how you could attend, participate or sponsor next year’s event, please contact us at innovation@kaust.edu.sa

I am finishing my 6-month internship with KAUST Innovation & Economic Development and I can honestly say that it has been a great experience. The internship program was created by eBIG and provided me the opportunity to learn how the research discoveries from the labs are brought to society to improve our everyday life.

I have been lucky to work within the marketing and outreach team. They were very welcoming and made my integration to the team smooth. I am working with people from different backgrounds, having different perspective outside the research world. With them, I am learning how to convey and spread ideas or products through strategic passive and direct marketing tactics.  It was very interesting for me to learn how the new discoveries from the labs are explained in simple, non-scientific, terms for a non-specialist to understand.

One of my projects was to make a video promoting the eBig internship program. I was interviewing the interns and myself, then I put everything together. This was my first video ever, and the whole process of making it was really exciting! Check it out.

ABOUT KAUST’s Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation Group (eBIG)

eBIG is a student-run entrepreneurship business and innovation group which aims to provide a link between the student body and KAUST Innovation & Economic Development. The aims of the group are to engage students in entrepreneurial-spirited activities and competitions, encourage them to build new sets of soft skills and learn what it takes to get a research idea beyond the laboratory stage.

The group was established in 2015 by three students: Michael Margineanu, Nadia Kouraytem and Martin Ibarra. They were inspired to create the group after serving in the International Business Relations Committee of the Graduate Student Council when they realized that KAUST needs active student engagement outside-the-lab to help achieve one of its core goals, that of economic development. The founding group members  strongly believed that there are many ways in which both students and KAUST Innovation could benefit from having such a group on campus.

Any graduate student on campus can be a member of the group. As of December 2016, eBig has had over 80 KAUST students participating in activities over the last two years. Actively engaged students benefited from the networking as well as entrepreneurship and innovation educational opportunities.

Get Involved
If you would like to become an active member of the group, please email us at eBIG@kaust.edu.sa.

‘Promising Saudi Startups’ is a term Forbes Middle East has associated with a number of KAUST startups this year.

Forbes Middle East recently published a list of startups they announced as The 50 Most Promising Saudi Startups featuring KAUST startups in the top 20. Leading the way is FalconViz at fifth place which is followed by Acadox (#8), Sadeem (#13), NOMADD (#16) and Visual Experience (#19).

Three of the mentioned companies are not new to being highlighted by the Forbes Middle East. Last year saw FalconViz, NOMADD and Visual Experience being highlighted as Entrepreneurs Shaping Saudi Arabia’s Future at an exclusive ceremony and gala dinner hosted by Forbes Middle East. 

KAUST Innovation Fund and Entrepreneurship Center play an instrumental role to the development of the companies born at the university. For more information on their activities please contact us at innovation.kaust.edu.sa

“…We are a catalyst for innovation, economic development and social prosperity in Saudi Arabia and the world…”, Mission of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

In line with its mission, KAUST launched a new initiative designed to support the venture capital landscape in Saudi Arabia and the GCC region. The initiative, named KAUST Arabian Venture Forum, took place this on November 19, 2016 and was organized by the KAUST Innovation Fund in partnership with Cleantech Scandanavia – a renowned promoter of Cleantech entrepreneurial and VC ecosystems.  This year’s theme was Energy, Clean Technologies (Cleantech) and Information Communication Technologies (ICT).

“We are excited to work with you in changing our economy to a knowledge based economy”, Tristan Walker -VP (A) Innovation and Economic Development.

The 2-day event saw over 200 guests come through the KAUST gates with almost one fifth of them being early and growth-stage startup companies. Venture capitalists from around the globe were present to discuss investment opportunities, technology trends, industry outlooks and regulatory challenges through a series of keynote speeches, panels and informal exchanges. This made for a very exciting and buzzing atmosphere with successful connections, which we hope, will lead to fruitful outcomes.

KAUST Arabian Venture Forum provided a unique, cross-border platform to create the essential connections between local and international investors on one side and local and international entrepreneurs on the other side.

To learn more about how you could attend, participate or sponsor next year’s event, please contact us at innovation@kaust.edu.sa.

KAUST Provides Funding Support for New Ventures
The KAUST Innovation Fund aims to grow an innovation and technology investment community and to attract international investors and VCs to the emerging Saudi technology ecosystem. KAUST makes venture capital investments in high-tech startups from seed (less than $200,000) to early-stage (up to $2 million) and becomes a long-term strategic partner of these ventures.  For more information on the fund click here or email kif@kaust.edu.sa.

I am finishing my 6-month internship with KAUST Innovation & Economic Development and I can honestly say that it has been a great experience. The internship program was created by eBIG and provided me the opportunity to learn how the research discoveries from the labs are brought to society to improve our everyday life.

I have been lucky to work within the marketing and outreach team. They were very welcoming and made my integration to the team smooth. I am working with people from different backgrounds, having different perspective outside the research world. With them, I am learning how to convey and spread ideas or products through strategic passive and direct marketing tactics.  It was very interesting for me to learn how the new discoveries from the labs are explained in simple, non-scientific, terms for a non-specialist to understand.

One of my projects was to make a video promoting the eBig internship program. I was interviewing the interns and myself, then I put everything together. This was my first video ever, and the whole process of making it was really exciting! Check it out.

ABOUT KAUST’s Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation Group (eBIG)

eBIG is a student-run entrepreneurship business and innovation group which aims to provide a link between the student body and KAUST Innovation & Economic Development. The aims of the group are to engage students in entrepreneurial-spirited activities and competitions, encourage them to build new sets of soft skills and learn what it takes to get a research idea beyond the laboratory stage.

The group was established in 2015 by three students: Michael Margineanu, Nadia Kouraytem and Martin Ibarra. They were inspired to create the group after serving in the International Business Relations Committee of the Graduate Student Council when they realized that KAUST needs active student engagement outside-the-lab to help achieve one of its core goals, that of economic development. The founding group members  strongly believed that there are many ways in which both students and KAUST Innovation could benefit from having such a group on campus.

Any graduate student on campus can be a member of the group. As of December 2016, eBig has had over 80 KAUST students participating in activities over the last two years. Actively engaged students benefited from the networking as well as entrepreneurship and innovation educational opportunities.

Get Involved
If you would like to become an active member of the group, please email us at eBIG@kaust.edu.sa.

We’ve heard about the madness: 165,000-plus techies convene in Las Vegas for the hottest gadget conference of the year, also known as Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
KAUST Innovation will be making its first CES appearance, with 21 prototypes ready for the next level. We’re looking forward to meeting up with companies interested in partnering or licensing our innovations.

Check out our website for all things CES, including where to find us: innovation.kaust.edu.sa/CES2017

About CES
For 50 years, CES has been the launch pad for new innovation and technology that has changed the world. Held in Las Vegas every year, it is the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies and where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (International CES) showcases more than 3,800 exhibiting companies, including manufacturers, developers, and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content, technology delivery systems and more; a conference program with more than 300 conference sessions and more than 165K attendees from 150 countries.

Consumer Electronics Show 2017
Jan 5-8
Las Vegas, Nevada
Sands Expo
Booth #51310
www.ces.tech

‘Promising Saudi Startups’ is a term Forbes Middle East has associated with a number of KAUST startups this year.

Forbes Middle East recently published a list of startups they announced as The 50 Most Promising Saudi Startups featuring KAUST startups in the top 20. Leading the way is FalconViz at fifth place which is followed by Acadox (#8), Sadeem (#13), NOMADD (#16) and Visual Experience (#19).

Three of the mentioned companies are not new to being highlighted by the Forbes Middle East. Last year saw FalconViz, NOMADD and Visual Experience being highlighted as Entrepreneurs Shaping Saudi Arabia’s Future at an exclusive ceremony and gala dinner hosted by Forbes Middle East. 

KAUST Innovation Fund and Entrepreneurship Center play an instrumental role to the development of the companies born at the university. For more information on their activities please contact us at innovation.kaust.edu.sa

If you “Google” Consumer Electronics Show (CES), large news networks, tech writers and basement bloggers all agree on one thing: it is HUGE. And from January 5-8, KAUST was able to be a part of that large, tecchie jigsaw puzzle of gadget makers in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For the first time, KAUST joined in on the most anticipated electronics show in the world. Imagine 4,000-plus exhibitors from over 150 countries, sprawled out into three fully packed convention centers in Las Vegas, Nevada—all ready to show the next big innovation hitting the market.

KAUST’s presence 

Amongst the horde of 165,000-plus people, KAUST made its debut in Eureka Park, where University Innovations were on display. The energy of the show was palpable. Eyes prowled the booths, hungry to consume the hottest tech before it hit the market. Huge screens showcased products—from virtual reality to robots to self-driving cars. Nothing was off-limits (like this Einstein talking robot or machine that folds your clothes). Being a part of that connected experience was memorable and enthralling.

Part of that experience was showcasing tech not just to scientists or specialists in a field, but directly to consumers. It was a great way to bridge the gap between tech and the masses, communicating life changing inventions to all kinds of people.

Still reeling from the buzz of the first CES, we hope to make an even bigger impact next year!

What we showcased:

I&ED’s Technology Management team as well as KAUST researchers were on hand to showcase 21 prototypes; from electronics to sensors and wearables.

Here’s a preview of three prototypes we featured:

KAUST’s Smart Dental Brace

Multipurpose aligner that speeds up regeneration of bones and teeth straightening. Non-toxic batteries & LED lights embedded into one device. 

KAUST’s Super Battery

Next generation flexible, rechargable lithim-sulphur battery. 

KAUST’s Paper Watch 

Thin, low-cost sensors made out of paper to provide unlimited options for future wearables. 

Missed us at CES? Let’s connect! Email ip@kaust.edu.sa for more information on how to partner or license our technologies. You can check out our CES featured tech here: innovation.kaust.edu.sa/CES2017

Twenty-eight student and faculty-led startup teams have been chosen to join the first Taqadam University Entrepreneur Accelerator program, which is based at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and sponsored by Saudi British Bank (SABB). The KAUST-SABB University Entrepreneur Accelerator “TAQADAM” aims to develop early stage entrepreneurs and their concepts into new, high-potential startups.

The early stage startups are working in a wide-range of technologies and industries including Healthcare, Bioinformatics, New Materials, Internet of Things, and Software. These teams represent co-founders from thirteen Saudi universities including KAUST.

The entrepreneurs were accepted into the TAQADAM cohort after participating in a highly competitive application process.  Over 600 applications were received, of which 168 teams advanced to the second round of judging. The TAQADAM program is the only multi-university startup accelerator in the Middle East.

These early stage startup teams completed the one-month pre-accelerator program leading to a pitch event at KAUST on January the 7^th. These entrepreneurs will spend the next five months participating in the intensive startup accelerator program designed to help them execute their business models, deliver valuable products or services, and create local jobs. The program will end with a Startup Showcase at the end of May.

“We were impressed by the scope and ambition level of the teams that applied for this first TAQADAM program, which says a lot about how entrepreneurship and innovation thinking is growing in universities across the Kingdom,” said Amal Dokhan, from the Entrepreneurship Center at KAUST. “The accelerator team is excited by the wide range of technologies and solutions that these university entrepreneurs want to bring to the market.”

Each year, the TAQADAM program will choose up to thirty startup teams from universities across Saudi Arabia. These successful teams will receive up to $20,000 each in seed grant funding as part of the program. The accelerator will also offer a mentor-led development program that includes access to office space at the KAUST Entrepreneurship Center, support from members of the KAUST international mentor group and training to help launch and scale their new ventures. The most promising startups will be eligible for additional seed funding from the KAUST Innovation Fund that will be matched by an equal amount from SABB.

Construction Update

Saudi Aramco and KAUST broke ground on the construction of a new state-of-the-art R&D Center on December 16, 2016 with an expected completion date of mid-2019.

The Center will be 11,300 square meter research facility housing 132 scientists and researchers, and will be aimed at supporting Saudi Aramco’s upstream and downstream research domains as well as the company’s environmental protection research efforts.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by the Saudi minister of Energy, Industry and Minerals, Saudi Aramco president and CEO and the Chairman and KAUST Board of Trustees and delegation from government, academia and business dignitaries. Read more

Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris officiated at the “Topping Out” ceremony for the Dow Middle East Innovation Center (MEIC) at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, marking an important milestone for the completion of the superstructure of the dedicated MEIC building, which is expected to be operational in the second half of 2018.

The ceremony was attended by members of the Board of Trustees of KAUST including Ali I. Al-Naimi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of KAUST; Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry & Mineral Resources; Amin Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco; and Jean-Lou Chameau, President of KAUST. Read more

New Resident Partners

Innovation and Economic Development is delighted to announce the presence of three new companies, SME Law, Rays Futuristic Innovations and Energya, at the KAUST Research and Technology Park (KAUST Park).

SME Law: provides specialized legal support services covering corporate formation, regulatory filing and licensing, corporate governance, legal compliance, trademark registration and investment advisory. SME Law is part of Hammad & Al-Mehdar legal firm in Jeddah and its chain worldwide.

Rayz Futuristic Innovations (RFI):  a newly founded company with a focus on developing sustainable energy and transportation technologies devices, innovative research equipment for laboratories and complete solutions for a variety of laboratory requirements

Energya:
Specializes in all aspects of electrical contracting, with the capability to take on almost any client requirement, from lighting city centre bridges and cathedrals to designing and installing multi-megawatt power supply systems; we specialize in the most challenging and varied projects in our field.

The KAUST Park is a growing, innovation hub that provides companies of all sizes within the technology realm a space to collaborate, Innovate and Thrive. For more information on the Park, please contact us at innovation@kaust.edu.sa

Networking Updates

Over the last couple of years, social events have been organized for resident partners and service providers with an invitation extended to KAUST faculty and personnel. The objective of these events has been to foster closer relationships, broaden networking and encourage collaboration between the Park community; resident partners with other resident partners and resident partners with KAUST. At some of these events, a platform for information sharing has been provided which include the following topics

The KAUST Park’s social events are centered on the following formats:

• Bi-Monthly Partners Social Gathering: A networking event with a platform for information sharing by all attendees.
• Year-End Partners Family Gathering: An event which is about family time and a community favorite.

At the 2016 Partners Family Gathering held on December 8, 350 guests were welcomed to the KAUST golf course where they were entertained with live music and the children ran free from bouncy castles to the face painting station. The event was captured by FalconViz (KAUST startup and resident partner) with aerial photos and videos.

Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) is a program hosted annually by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). It is an academic, entrepreneurial and cultural interlude session in KAUST’s academic calendar with a primary purpose of enriching and inspiring the students beyond their normal academic curriculum.

This year WEP featured two events sponsored/organized by KAUST’s Industry partners, DOW Middle East Innovation Center and Saudi Aramco R&D Center.

Design & Build Your Own Robot, a workshop aimed at giving KAUST students hands-on experience with designing, building and programming robotic systems. Organized by Saudi Aramco and sponsored by Pioneers Technical Systems, the worksop was held for 3hrs a day over 5 days.

STEAM Innovation Challenge, an intensive three-day weekend ideation event held in KAUST for university students, was sponsored this year by DOW.

The Challenge involves about 170 students from KAUST and six partnering Saudi universities. Grouped into teams, the student teams develop & present well-defined solutions to three major real world challenges developed in partnership with a corporate partner in just three days.

Taking part in KAUST WEP is one of the many ways that our Industry partners can engage with KAUST. For more information on engaging with KAUST, please contact us at industry.engagement@kaust.edu.sa.

A new group has moved into KAUST Research and Technology Park! Meet the Young Builders, a group that lets KAUST community kids build, play and explore through robotics and toys.

Bringing the innovation spirit to our team, the kids now have their own work spaces and large areas to build together. The group, which is housed and financed by the Park, has been up and running with us since 2016.

The chance to have Young Builders be part of our KAUST innovation team is a no-brainer. Young Builders creator, Laurie Zienchuck says it best:

“They are exploring and seeing other projects they can do, what other kinds of robots can be made…what other shapes, what other forms, how do different gears link together in order for a different outcome. And I think through play, working with their parents, working with other children here at Young Builders they’re given the opportunity to explore, test, try. And that’s where innovation comes to life.”

Horticulture activities rely heavily on two important resources: light and water.

Artificial lighting technologies are particularly useful in countries with limited sunlight and rainfall. In arid regions such as Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, over 95 percent of water can be lost through evaporation. Due to the scarcity of water in these regions, it is often necessary to cultivate plants in an enclosed environment, which can conserve water by up to 90 percent.

Prof. Boon and his team at KAUST have developed a laser-based illumination system for indoor plant cultivation that is both efficient and cost effective.

 The laser-based system replaces traditional fluorescent or LED technologies that are energy intensive and require constant monitoring for maintenance purposes. A single source of a laser can potentially replace hundreds of fluorescent light tubes and LED lights.

Check out the video below to learn more or contact us today for more information. 

Related Information:

https://innovation.kaust.edu.sa/kaust-laser/

https://innovation.kaust.edu.sa/technologies/laser-horticulture-tech/

Twenty-four teams from across the Kingdom have been nominated for the 9/10ths Startup Accelerator Program, which aims to develop early-stage entrepreneurs and their concepts into new, high-potential startups, and to accelerate the development of the Saudi Arabian startup ecosystem. The 9/10ths Startup Accelerator program is one of HRDF’s initiatives, and is run in partnership with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

Participating teams come from a range of industries including Internet and media, healthcare, financial technologies, consumer products and food. Entrepreneurs were accepted into the 9/10^th Startup Accelerator Program after undergoing a highly competitive application process. In February the teams completed the pre-accelerator phase, which included intensive mentorship and resources to both validate and pitch their ideas.

“Although this program has been running for two cohorts, we have seen a magnificent amount of commitment, drive, passion, and hard work from the teams, and this is where our energy and drive comes from,” said Najla Barasain, developer of the 9/10ths Startup Accelerator Program. “We believe in Saudi Entrepreneurs and their impact on the economy in the short and long run, and we hope to continue supporting them both on a professional and a personal level.”

The teams are set to work with experienced, local and international mentors to conduct customer interviews and develop their business model. In addition, each team will be supported in the production of a prototype. At the end of this phase, entrepreneurs will be given a chance to present to potential investors in a showcase event in Riyadh in May 2017 that is open to the public.

“The 9/10ths accelerator is a full-time program for entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia, which provides the teams a unique opportunity to focus all of their attention and efforts on their potential startup,” said Hattan Ahmed, KAUST Entrepreneurship Collaboration Manager. “The teams have progressed within a short period of time, with strong levels of commitment. Their enthusiasm and dedication is impressive and we look forward to seeing very positive results from their efforts.”

“9/10ths and KAUST have arranged the perfect environment for us to have a positive impact on our economy,” said Ahmad Al-Rasheed, program participant and founder of Shoghol. “Thank you all for this incredible journey.”

The next cohort of the program will take place in Fall 2017. For more information visit https://910ths.sa/

An Arabic version of the article is also available.

Detecting floods can be the link between city planning and saving lives in disaster relief situations.

For KAUST researchers turned entrepreneurs Ahmad Delwah, Edward Canepa and Moustafa Moussa, it’s now their job.

They were students at KAUST when floods hit Jeddah in 2009, causing hundreds of casualties. Growing up in Mexico, Canepa had a firsthand experience of flood devastation in his own hometown.

As part of a team, they worked on research for flood and traffic monitoring. That research turned into a KAUST licensed technology.
Their startup Sadeem came to be after a realization at the KAUST Entrepreneurship Center. It was the Hikma Accelerator Program that opened the door. They could create a unique, much needed solution for cities. Something that could save lives and potentially millions of dollars for governments.

The business Sadeem, which in Arabic means nebula, has a layered meaning. Just like a nebula’s cluster of stars that glow from the sun, Sadeem gets its “star” power from solar panels connected to its sensor nodes. It’s the first of its kind: a solar powered urban flood and traffic monitoring system.

And just like the sun shining on nebula, Sadeem the company has also gotten some time in the spotlight.

In 2016, they were ranked #13 in Forbes Middle East list of “50 Most Promising Startups,” and they took home first place winnings in KAUST’s Accelerator Showcase.

The team is now at the KAUST Research Park, and their story has come full circle as they move forward with building their company.

As Moussa says: “We’re trying to give back to the places that we came from….KAUST supported us through the journey, and we got a PhD from KAUST….so it makes sense to give back in this way.”

To learn more about Sadeem, visit their website: http://www.sadeemwss.com

Tempe, Ariz., April 10, 2017 – Arizona State University has launched a trans-Atlantic partnership with one of the world’s fastest growing research universities, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), which is located along the coast of the Red Sea in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.

KAUST and ASU will partner to share entrepreneurial expertise, advance sustainability research, and commercialize research discoveries from both institutions.

“The ASU-KAUST partnership is an excellent example of what two global higher education institutions can accomplish when they join forces to share resources and expertise,” said Sethuraman Panchanathan, executive vice president of Knowledge Enterprise Development and chief research and innovation officer at ASU. “The partnership will not only further advance entrepreneurialism, innovation, technology transfer, and economic development in Arizona and Saudi Arabia, but also bring together our world-class scientists to tackle grand challenges, such as water resource management, quality and conservation, through interdisciplinary research.”

ASU will facilitate workshops at the KAUST campus and will host KAUST students at ASU who are interested in meeting with and exchanging best practices with ASU entrepreneurs. KAUST students who visit ASU will have access to ASU’s resources and connections in Arizona and in Silicon Valley, including Draper University.

“As part of its broader innovation and economic development mission, KAUST is expanding its support and training for entrepreneurship to meet the growing interest amongst students and young people across the Kingdom in innovation, creativity and design,” said Tristan Walker, vice president for KAUST Innovation & Economic Development. “Partnering with ASU provides further support for this effort as we look to enrich our entrepreneurial offerings and broaden the horizon for KAUST startups by providing a gateway to tap into global expertise.”

Additionally, ASU and KAUST will work together to commercialize new discoveries. ASU has resources to assist KAUST with commercialization in Silicon Valley and the U.S. and KAUST has resources to assist ASU with commercialization in the Middle East.

“This cross-sharing of entrepreneurial expertise will foster growth and diversification within Saudi Arabia’s economy,” said Charlie Lewis, senior vice president of venture development for Arizona Technology Enterprises. “KAUST is an incredible university that recruits the best minds from around the world. Joining together with that kind of intellectual horsepower will produce a valuable partnership for both institutions.”

The two universities also will collaborate on sustainability research, beginning with a topic of interest to both institutions: water quality and conservation.

The KAUST Industry Advisory Board (KIAB) meeting, an annual signature meeting that puts the University’s research, education and economic development activities in front of the eyes of industry, took place on March 1 and 2 on the University’s campus. Over the last eight years, KIAB has served as a major platform for identifying avenues of collaboration with and between members of the KAUST Industry Collaboration Program (KICP).

So you want to dominate your career…what’s next?  Guest blogger, REVelate mentor and corporate innovator John Eager shares how to get noticed on the job, and take your work skills to the next level.

Ten tips to jumpstart your career

Contributor: John Eager

In 25 years of working professionally, these key tips have kept me moving ahead personally:

10. Find an industry you have a passion for. You won’t get the dream job the first time, and you’ll have to work your way up. But working in your own field will certainly make the journey worthwhile.

9. Arrive a little early, leave a little late – you’ll achieve more, and show your commitment. Do more than is expected, always.

8. Be responsible and accountable for your own results. Winners admit their objectives, and adjust to win again. Losers blame others.

7. Always do the right thing – your business reputation and ethics are valuable assets.

6. Stay cool under pressure. Remain calm & effective when passion and pressure is high. Keep your temper.

via GIPHY

5. Be generous with your time and ideas. Be the “go-to” person.

4. Communicate early and often. Communicate in person, not by email (written words = 7%, tonality = 38%, body language = 55%)

3. Always develop your knowledge & skill with formal learning and industry designations and certifications.

2. Remember that enthusiasm is contagious. So is apathy. Choose wisely – which are you spreading?

1. Be an Optimist. Great leaders inspire hope.

via GIPHY

John Eager is a KAUST International Mentor, working with the Entrepreneurship Center. He is a Chartered Accountant and holds an MBA. He’s worked his way up from being a 17-year-old apprentice accountant, through several moves (and adventures) to becoming CEO of a leading Irish firm, and subsequently started WinAbu Consulting, his own international consulting practice in 2014.

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