Advanced Materials Strategic Plan for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. For the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia’s national science agency, SRI facilitated the development of a National Advanced Materials Strategic Plan. Initiated to align national R&D priorities with the national needs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the plan was developed in close collaboration with national stakeholders and technology experts. In support of the planning effort, SRI conducted a global review of advanced materials R&D trends by exploring R&D activity at global benchmark institutes, and performing a global indicators study of advanced materials publication and patent activity. These analyses provided the Kingdom with an assessment of its relative level of R&D activity and practical examples of how other organizations are grappling with and addressing research opportunities and challenges.
Design of King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST). SRI participated in a team led by Saudi Aramco to design a new graduate university focusing on science and technology education and research in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. SRI led the component to identify the critical technologies that will be the focus of the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology. SRI provided analysis and recommendations on the university’s technology clusters and key research centers.
Feasibility Study for the Saudi National ICT Incubator (SNICTI) and Related Technology Commercialization. For the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and the national telecommunications company, SRI produced a blueprint for development of a world-class ICT incubator in Saudi Arabia. In designing the country’s first national technology incubator, SRI conducted a series of tasks including: analysis of market needs and current incubation efforts in Saudi Arabia and incubation strategies adopted by benchmark countries; review of typical business models for incubators as input to recommending an appropriate model for the national ICT incubator; design of a tailored organization structure, processes and business plans to support the complete incubation life-cycle in Saudi Arabia; review of KACST strategic and operational plans relevant to technology commercialization, for example through business incubation, and development of recommendations to apply international best practices in technology commercialization to KACST. In the incubator blueprint, SRI developed detailed recommendations regarding the incubator’s mission, goals and focus; organizational structure; financial model; marketing strategy; potential policies for company selection and graduation, services provided to member companies, and education and training activities; an implementation plan; and a monitoring and evaluation plan.
King Saud Science Parks Feasibility Study. Commissioned by the Saudi Real Estate Company (AKARIA), in conjunction with the King Saud University of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this project provided an assessment and road map for the feasible development of a sustainable science park adjacent to King Saud University. SRI identified the research strengths and capacity of King Saud University and proposed an appropriate framework for future development. SRI also identified the technological and R&D needs of the private and governmental sector in the Riyadh metro region. Drawing on bibliometric analysis and extensive interviews, the project laid out an operational planning framework for the development of a university-driven science park, and established a series of development, program and cost benchmarks to inform on its establishment.
Knowledge-Based Industry Development Strategy for Saudi Arabia. On behalf of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), SRI prepared a comprehensive plan to stimulate knowledge-based industries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The team began by conducting a thorough diagnosis of the strengths and weaknesses of knowledge activities in four key sectors – information and communications technologies, education, health services, and life sciences/biotechnology. SRI proceeded to identify and prioritize initiatives to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s economic foundations that support knowledge industries. SRI also determined and ranked specific investment opportunities for SAGIA to promote, and crafted a detailed knowledge sector implementation plan.
Lebanon Economic Growth Strategy and Industry Cluster Development. For the past five years, SRI has been working with public and private sectors in Lebanon to achieve accelerated, sustainable economic growth, under support from USAID Lebanon. SRI began by identifying key, export-oriented industries – tourism, business services, and agribusiness – and organized key stakeholder leadership groups to determine the strengths and weaknesses of economic foundations and to craft growth-oriented initiatives. Since that time, SRI teams have provided implementation assistance to improve the competitiveness and growth prospects of the three industry clusters. Major initiatives in the tourism sector include the establishment of a National Tourism Council; preparation and passage of a new hotel classification and rating system; crafting a new brand image for nature and rural-based tourism; development and marketing of new tour packages with local tour operators; development and launch of a national tourism website; design of regional tourism development strategies in key geographic regions in Lebanon; extensive international and domestic marketing initiatives; and provision of hospitality skills training for small tourism-related businesses. Egypt Tourism Workforce Development and Training. Over 2002-2004, SRI provided support to the Federation of Egyptian Tourism Industries on a number of tourism workforce enhancement initiatives, including: pilot training initiative on Destination Marketing; case studies on how companies faced and overcame HR development challenges in Egypt; conducting workforce demand and training demand surveys, and others. These initiatives laid the foundation for a larger training program to develop workforce skills for line-level workers in the industry. In partnership with the Education Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, SRI co-led the follow-up initiative that trained more than 9,000 workers in Egyptian 2- to 4-star hotels during 17 months of implementation. Upon project completion, the training program was transferred to ongoing, independent management by the Federation of Egyptian Tourism Industries for long-term sustainability.
Monitoring & Evaluation - Egypt GTG – SEGIR: SRI provided monitoring and evaluation services to USAID/Egypt through a series of competitive contracts in the management of its Growth Through Globalization (GTG) Results Package encompassing a $135 million set of programs designed to stimulate Egyptian private sector-led export growth.
Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Opportunities for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries. In collaboration with the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), SRI assessed the potential for knowledge-based industries (KBI) in GCC countries and developed a roadmap for KBI development for each country. To support this effort, SRI performed an in-depth analysis of global nanotechnology and biotechnology trends and identified research and investment opportunities for GCC countries in these fields. SRI’s KBI assessment included an analysis of GCC countries’ existing economic and KBI foundations, competitiveness benchmarking, identification and analysis of potential KBI segments and relevant emerging technologies, as well as major resource gaps for KBI development.
R&D Divisions