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
Talk Outline
Part I: About KFUPM
 Part II Research in College of Computer
Sciences & Engineering
 Part III: University–Industry Collaboration
via Science Park
 Discussion
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About KFUPM (Part I)
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About KFUPM
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King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM),
was officially established by a Royal Decree in 1963. 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
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Campus View
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Campus View
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Campus View
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Academic Organizations
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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
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Academic Buildings
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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.)
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Information Technology Center
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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
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Research Institute
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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)
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On-Campus Services
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Central Services
– Projects & Maintenance
– Housing & Office services
– KFUPM Press & Educational Aids
– Food services
– KFUPM Medical Center
– Safety & Security Department
– Administrative services
– Recreational facilities
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Glimpses of KFUPM
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Graduate Programs

Deanship of Graduate Studies at KFUPM offers
Graduate Programs leading to:
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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)
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Graduate Admission Support
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All admitted graduate students (satisfying a
certain criteria) receive the following benefits:
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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
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Research in College of Computer
Sciences and Engineering (Part II)
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Computer Engineering
Department
Research Profile
Computer Engineering Faculty
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20 Professorial Rank faculty members
– 2 Full Professor
– 2 Associate Professor
– 16 Assistant Professor
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6 lecturers
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COE Research Areas
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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
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Current Research Projects: Data
Communications & Networks
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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
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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
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Current Research Projects: DA, & VLSI
System Design & Test
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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 NonDeterministic Evolutionary Algorithms targeting area, low
power and testability
Design and Implementation of Scalable Interconnect
Efficient LDPC Error Correcting Codes
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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
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Other COE Research Projects
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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
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Information and Computer
Science Department
Research Profile
Information and Computer Science
Faculty
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25 Professorial Rank faculty members
– 1 Full Professor
– 5 Associate Professors
– 19 Assistant Professors
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2 PhD. Holders
– 1 Instructor
– 1 Lecturer
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ICS Research Projects
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Operating Systems
– Natural Language Voice Interface for Controlling Audio-
Video equipment
– Multi-agent based eCommerce as an
technology for the next generation Web
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integration
Software Engineering
– Investigating
Design Quality Characteristics for
Refactoring and Refactoring To Patterns Using Software
Metrics
– Measuring Architectural Stability in Object Oriented
Systems
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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
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Database Systems
– Integrating XML documents
– Query optimization in XML databases
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Computer Algorithms
– Two-way linear probing with reassignments
– Limit laws for sums of functions of sub-graphs of
random graphs.
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Embedded System Design
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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)
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Phases of design can be basically reduced to
constrained NP-hard optimization problem
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Expertise is available in partitioning, co-design,
OS, HW Design, Optimization, etc.
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University – Industry Collaboration
via Science Park (Part III)
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Outline
 Mission of the University
 Strategic Plan of KFUPM Science Park
 Progress and Status
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Mission of the University
A Balance between three key elements:
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Generation of new knowledge
Passing on this knowledge to future
generations
Serving the needs of industry (business) and
community
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Methods for Supporting KnowledgeBased Business
• Science Cities
• Technopolis
• High Technology Industrial Parks
• Science & Research Parks
• Business Incubators
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Plan of KFUPM Science Park
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The Vision of the Park
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The Mission of the Park
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Objectives
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Science Park Site
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Benefits to KFUPM
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Benefits to Tenants (Japanese Companies)
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Success Factors
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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
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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
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Objectives
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Providing an opportunity for national and Int’l
organizations to enhance their business
opportunities in the field of petroleum and IT
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Utilizing the Kingdom’s industrial and market
strengths in Petroleum and IT sector
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Commercialization of University research
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Providing incubator programs to young Saudis, and
promoting emerging small-businesses
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Modes of Participation in Science Park
• Single-unit building
• Multi-tenant building
• Incubator building
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KASP SITE
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Chronology of Events
 KFUPM Science Park Project Committee Formed: 19/05/2002
 Conceptual Plan Prepared:
 Foundation
Stone
by
HRH
15/09/2002
Prince
Abdullah
Bin
Abdulaziz:
20/10/2002
 Project Awarded for Layout/Infrastructure Planning:
09/04/2003
 Schlumberger Building Construction Ending:
01/10/2005
 Incubator Program Launched:
01/06/2005
 Intel to Open a Technology Center at KFUPM:
01/02/2006
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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
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KFUPM Research Strengths?
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Benefits to Tenant Firms
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Tenant companies can have a significant point of
presence in the oil producing region
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Tenant companies can enhance their business
opportunities in the region
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Availability of a skilled work-force pool from the student
body, faculty members, and researchers
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Opportunity for commercial deployment of University’s
intellectual property
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Access to the University’s facilities, i.e., research
facilities, library, computer center, etc
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KFUPM Pilot and Demonstration Plants
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KFUPM Laboratories
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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)
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Progress/Status
1.
What to Expect?
2.
Major Companies Involved in KFUPM
3.
Current and
Science Park
potential
tenants
of
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What to Expect?
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University will be surrounded by some of the
world’s leading technology companies
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Industry participation in academia
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The University will build on its current strengths
due to proximity with industry
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Research & teaching programs will concentrate
on modern high-technology
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Major Companies Collaborating with
KFUPM
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SABIC
Saudi Aramco
Schlumberger, USA
Japan Cooperation Center Petroleum
Ciba, Switzerland
Others
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International Companies in KASP
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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
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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 KASPKFUPM Company
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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
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Finally….
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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
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Finally….
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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
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Contact Info
Dr. Sadiq M. Sait
Member, KFUPM Science Park (KASP) Committee
KFUPM No. 673, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 3 860-1099, Fax: +966 3 860 3955
Email: sadiq@kfupm.edu.sa
Website: http://www.kfupm.edu.sa/sciencepark
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Thank you
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