Space Activities in Saudi Arabia

1. ASE Prague 2009 - XXII ASE Congress of Space Explorers Space Activities in Saudi Arabia Turki Bin Saud Al-Saud VP for Research Institutes King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology

2. Overview • Saudi National Science, Technology, Innovation Plan • National Science and Technology Policy • Elements of the National Policy • Programs and Technology Priorities • Plan Implementation • Space Technology Strategy • Highlights on Activities

3. National Science and Technology Policy: Origins and Achievements KACST was directed by its charter of 1986 • to “propose a national policy for the development of science and technology and to devise the strategy and plans necessary to implement them.” • to coordinate with government agencies, scientific institutions and research centers in the Kingdom for enhancing research; exchanging information and expertise; and avoiding duplication of efforts

4. National Science and Technology Policy: Origins and Achievements The Council of Ministers approved the comprehensive National Science and Technology Policy on the 8th of July 2002 Over 500 participants from research, academia, industry, government and non-governmental organizations Three years of intense deliberations with stakeholders The Kingdom is the first in the region to embark on a national S&T policy KACST-Ministry of Planning Collaboration

5. Long-termVision Join the advanced knowledge-based economies with highly competitive STI ecosystem by 2025 Transform to a knowledge-based economy and society, joining the advanced industrial nations 4th 5y Plan (2025) 3rd 5y Plan (2020) Become a leading country in STI in Asia 2nd 5y Plan (2015) Become a leading country in STI in the region Establish infrastructure for science, technology and innovation 1st 5y Plan (2010)

6. Elements of the National Policy: Goals, Objectives and Strategic Bases Policy Highlight Create an integrated and effective National Innovation System that moves the Kingdom into a knowledge-based economy • Strategic Basis # 1: A comprehensive vision for the development of the Kingdom’s science, technology and innovation system and catalyzing productive interactions among all system components • Strategic Basis # 2: Enabling education and training so as to create and absorb scientific and technological advancements • Strategic Basis # 3: Developing national capabilities in science and technology to address sustainable development and other societal needs

7. Elements of the National Policy: Goals, Objectives and Strategic Bases Policy Highlight Increase research and development funding from various sources to reach 1.6% of national GDP by 2020 Strategic Basis # 4: Addressing national security priorities through competitive science and technologies Strategic Basis # 5: Promotion, development and diversification of sources of financial support for scientific research and technology development Strategic Basis # 6: Continuation and expansion of various forms of technology transfer, and enhancement of competitiveness of productive sectors through appropriate technologies

8. Elements of the National Policy: Goals, Objectives and Strategic Bases Strategic Basis # 7: Supporting and fostering human capabilities for creativity and innovation Strategic Basis # 8: Development and enforcement of necessary regulations for efficient governance and improved management of scientific and technical institutions Strategic Basis # 9: Orchestrating scientific and technological cooperation at the Gulf, Arab, and Islamic region, and international levels Strategic Basis # 10: Making scientific information available and facilitating access to such information

9. Elements of the National Policy: The Roles of Government and the Private Sector Investment in Science, Technology and Innovation • Governments often intervene in the marketplace to address market failures in STI investments • Governments can support the development of self-sustaining clusters of high growth industries through strategic initial investments • Throughout the world, virtually all major universities are supported at least in part by government or philanthropic funding (Harvard, Oxford etc.) • South Korea, Finland, India, Ireland, Malaysia, and Singapore, are all noteworthy for the emphasis they have placed on education and research

10. Programs and Technology Priorities Strategic and advanced Technologies Scientific research and technical development capabilities Transfer, development and localization of technology Science, technology and society PROGRAMS Scientific and technical human resources Diversifying financial support resources Science, technology and innovation system Institutional structures for science, technology and innovation

11. Technology Priorities for the Kingdom Water Oil and Gas Space and Aeronautics Petrochemicals Advanced Technologies of Strategic Importance to the Kingdom Nanotechnology Biotechnology Information Technology Electronics and Communications Energy Environment Advanced Materials

12. Plan ImplementationProgress in the NSTI Plan Implementation Policy and Governance Supervisory Committee for the National STI Plan Formed Comprising KACST, Ministry of Higher Education Ministry of Planning Ministry of Industry Ministry of Finance Six Leading Universities Highest Level of Policy Commitment Attained SR 7.9 Billion ($2.1 Billion) approved for the next five years Alignment of NSTI Plan With Five-Year Economic Development Plan National interventions being designed Program Design And Implementation NSTI Detailed Plans Technology Innovation Centers (TICs) BADIR For Technology Incubation Peer Review Process Reengineering National Innovation Ecosystem R&D Management Training Intellectual Property Management System International Cooperation Technology Development Fund Outreach and Awareness

13. Develop detailed plans for 11 advanced technologies of strategic importance to the Kingdom • Initiate cross-institutional interactions to identify technology priorities and implementation strategies • Generate excitement in the research community Strategic Intent Beneficiaries • Research community at large • Academia • Industry • Public research-performing organizations • KACST • Ministry of Planning • All major stakeholders from academia, industry and government • International panel of advisors Implementation Partners • 12 science, technology and innovation plans completed • Plans for Healthcare, Agricultural and Building and Construction technologies underway • Major breakthroughs achieved in collaborative planning Progress Till Date Plan ImplementationNational Science, Technology, and Innovation Plans

14. Process Highlights Strategic planning team formed and key stakeholders identified Strategic goals identified; vision, mission and technology targets developed Technical consultations with stakeholders and international experts Stakeholder workshops for KSA requirement and SWOT analysis Strategic plan Formalized Plan ImplementationNational Science, Technology, and Innovation Plans Analysis of current status of technology and other countries’ experiences

15. Promote university-industry research collaboration and technology transfer • Strengthen university research and education • Address selected economic and social goals of the Kingdom • Implement best practices - structure, incentives, and requirements of successful programs in countries similar to KSA Strategic Intent Beneficiaries • Private Sector (Large Companies as well as SMEs) • University Researchers • Students • Universities • Ministry of Higher Education • Ministry of Finance • KACST Implementation Partners • TIC Design Completed by International Panel • Program to be Launched Formally at the ATF 2009 • Implementation Underway, First 3 TICs to be Funded in 2009 Progress Till Date Plan ImplementationTechnology Innovation Centers

16. Plan ImplementationTechnology Innovation Centers • Informed by Global Best Practices • Focus on research in fields that are linked to national priorities • Strong emphasis on research, strong or moderate stress on technology transfer and industrial or user relevance • Strategic planning is practiced and is an important ingredient • Strong center leadership is evidenced • Co-investment by state or local government units is common • Co-investment by universities is also present • Enjoy financial support from industry • Student involvement is strong in most center programs • Include substantial numbers of permanent research staff • Show a strong role by the funding program or agency in the program design

17. Promote technology entrepreneurship in the Kingdom • Transfer technologies from research labs to market • Create high-wage, value-added employment • Stimulate economic growth through knowledge-based industries Strategic Intent Beneficiaries • Individual entrepreneurs with creative ideas • Researchers with technologies (from universities, private or public research organizations) • Students • KACST • Saudi Credit Bank • Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, SAGIA • Mawhiba • Private and Public Sector Organizations Implementation Partners • BADIR – ICT launched and operational • BADIR – Biotech under implementation • BADIR – Advanced Manufacturing Incubator design completed • Incubation Policy for KSA drafted Progress Till Date Plan ImplementationBADIR: Program for Technology Incubation

18. Plan ImplementationBADIR: Program for Technology Incubation • BADIR-ICT Highlights • Incubator launched in Jan 2008 First tenant accepted in Nov 2008 • Currently, number of client companies: 12 10 on-site + 2 off-site • Total Incubator Space: 5,800 Sqm (over 75% reserved for client firms) • Incubator focuses on ICT and ICT-related enterprises, supporting both technology and service companies, with flexible services suited to each segment • Major stakeholders include Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Saudi Credit and Savings Bank, Mawhiba, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Saudi Arabian Government Investment Authority (SAGIA) and other major private sector and government institutions.

19. Reengineer peer review process for scientific research proposals • Inject international best practices in peer review • Create a fair, transparent and efficient review system Strategic Intent Beneficiaries • Researchers at • Universities • Public research-performing organizations • Private sector participants in collaborative research • KACST • International panel of advisors Implementation Partners • International models reviewed • AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) selected as review partners • Digital infrastructure under assessment Progress Till Date Plan ImplementationScientific Peer Review Process Reengineering

20. Catalyze the flow of knowledge, technology and information across all stakeholders • Provide a platform for dialog and cross-institutional collaboration • Leapfrog Saudi Arabia towards a knowledge economy within a reasonable timeframe Strategic Intent Beneficiaries • The Kingdom as a whole • Individuals • Industry • Society at large • KACST • Al Aghar Group • Ministry of Planning • A host of leading minds from industry, academia and government • International panel of mentors and advisors Implementation Partners • Platform for cross-institutional dialog developed • Consensus built around vision, mission and strategic goals • NIE frameworks compared with intellectual rigor • Analysis of gaps and design of interventions underway Progress Till Date Plan ImplementationNational Innovation Ecosystem

21. IP Management Focus is on process Fast decisions on IP protection IP policies and organizational systems Technology Development Fund Funding options under study Scope to cover all strategic technologies R&D Management Training Purpose is to prepare “good” R&D managers Training by professionals International best practices Outreach and Awareness International Cooperation International Technology Incubation Forum (ITIF 2009) Advanced Technologies Forum (ATF 2009) International cooperation with the EU and the US Technology partnerships with IBM, Intel and others Alliance with Stanford Research Institute (SRI International) Plan ImplementationOther Key Initiatives

22. Overview • Saudi National Science, Technology, Innovation Plan • National Science and Technology Policy • Elements of the National Policy • Programs and Technology Priorities • Plan Implementation • Space Technology Strategy • Highlights on Activities

23. Space Technology Strategy: • Priority Areas in Space Platforms • Areas • Earth observation • Navigation • Telecommunications • Geodesy • Space science • Applications • Satellite System Development • Space Services • Science Missions

24. Space Technology Strategy: • Priority Areas in Remote Sensing and GIS • Areas • Monitoring and change detection • Natural hazards • National spatial data infrastructure • Applications • Urban development • Vegetation • Pattern recognition • Dust storms • Flood • Fires (forest, brush-fires) • Regulations • Standards • Networking • Intelligent transport systems

25. Overview • Saudi National Science, Technology, Innovation Plan • National Science and Technology Policy • Elements of the National Policy • Programs and Technology Priorities • Plan Implementation • Space Technology Strategy • Highlights on Activities

26. Nano Satellites

27. Remote Sensing Satellites

28. Images from SaudiSat-3

29. Geostationary Satellites

30. Scientific Collaborations • Texas A&M University • Near Earth Object studies • Currently working on developing a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mission to validate an asteroid mitigation method • Advanced optical systems research • Joint offer of course in space systems design Maintain ~ 400 m standoff distance from Apophis for 4 years Launch mission by ~2022 Deploy albedo altering experiment during mitigation Rendezvous with Apophis after ~ 5 month travel time Relay data to ground stations on Earth to determine mitigation effectiveness

31. Scientific Collaborations • Stanford University • Gravity Probe B data analysis • UV LED flight experiment • Spacecraft Bus design and launch • Angular Grating flight experiment • Spacecraft Bus design and launch • Space Time Anisotropy Research (STAR)

32. Scientific Collaborations • NASA • NASA Lunar Science Institute (NLSI) • Saudi Lunar and Near Earth Object Center to become an affiliate research center • NASA Ames Research Center • STAR in collaboration with Stanford University • UV LED • Angular Grating • LEO science and technology demonstrator missions