KUWAIT: Interest in scientific research has been growing in Kuwait, stemming from its belief in the vital importance of this field in driving national development, enhancing a knowledge-based economy, developing national talent and offering innovative solutions to societal challenges.
Kuwait’s commitment to promoting scientific research is rooted in its constitution, which states that education is a fundamental pillar of societal progress, guaranteed and supported by the state, along with arts and literature, and an encouragement of scientific research.In recent months, Kuwait has recorded several scientific achievements by public and private academic and research institutions, as well as by individual Kuwaiti innovators who have registered notable inventions.
Kuwait University announced on August 18, 2024, that the Computer Engineering Department at the faculty of Engineering and Petroleum won first place in Huawei’s “Seeds for the Future 2024” competition held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) announced on August 27, 2024 that Dr. Badriya Al-Helaili, from its Energy and Building Research Center, was selected as the first Kuwaiti to join the judging panel for scientific research at the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Conference.
On November 12, 2024 the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity, affiliated with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), honored Kuwaiti inventors Dr. Kholoud Al-Najjar and Dr. Sultan Al-Sharif for receiving a patent from the US Patent and Trademark Office.On January 14, the center also announced winning Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Informatics Award.
On November 19, 2024, the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the global innovation and entrepreneurship company, Plug and Play, to implement innovation programs. On November 23, it signed another MoU with the University of California, Berkeley to enhance international cooperation and support innovation and creativity.
On November 25, the center signed an MoU in Riyadh with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) to support talented students and teachers, and develop scientific and technological activities locally and internationally. On December 16, KISR announced that its Environment and Life Sciences Research Center had received a US patent for inventing a vertical tuber planting and harvesting device.KISR signed an MoU with the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Kuwait on January 29 to enhance cooperation in research and development, and support scientific studies in public health, science, technology and innovation.
KISR, on February 1, achieved a scientific breakthrough by completing the life cycle farming of the sheem fish for the first time in the Middle East.Abdullah Al-Salem University signed on February 1 a partnership agreement with King’s College London, a leading institution in medical education, to establish a College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the university.
On February 24, the Kuwait Science Club announced it had won two gold medals and a special award at the 2025 Egypt International Science and Technology Fair (EISTF) held in Cairo. Dr. Nawaf Al-Hajri, faculty member at the College of Life Sciences at Kuwait University, announced on February 28 that he had won the 2025 Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation in the UAE, in the category of pioneering developmental and productive projects aimed at enhancing food and water security and sustainable development.
On March 5, Kuwait signed a strategic partnership agreement with Microsoft to accelerate digital transformation and boost Kuwait’s position as a regional hub in artificial intelligence, in line with Kuwait Vision 2035. On April 3, KISR announced the completion of a scientific study on the origin and development of freshwater reserves in northern Kuwait aquifers using advanced hydrochemical techniques and with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Kuwait University signed an agreement with KFAS on April 23 to establish and operate the Kuwait National Space Research Center, aiming to advance scientific research in space science and technology and support education and research programs in Kuwait.On May 28, KFAS launched its new strategy for 2025-29, aiming to advance the national scientific and research ecosystem, and leverage science, technology and innovation to address national challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Kuwait Scientific Center signed on June 2 a partnership agreement with the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) to boost cooperation in environmental awareness, sustainable education, and community engagement. On June 29, Minister of Education Jalal Al-Tabtabaei announced the establishment of the Office for the Gifted, affiliated with the Minister’s Office, to support and sponsor Kuwait’s creative youth and prepare them to represent the country in international scientific forums.
On July 2, KFAS signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the British King’s Foundation, aiming to enhance joint efforts in areas including food security, education, scientific research and the preservation of cultural and environmental heritage.
On August 7, Minister of Oil and Chairman of the Board of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Tareq Al-Roumi, inaugurated the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center affiliated with the Kuwait Oil Company, as part of digital transformation strategy in the energy sector. On August 12, KISR launched “ICARUS,” Kuwait’s first integrated national platform for high-performance computing and artificial intelligence, designed to support the scientific and research communities and strengthen Kuwait’s presence in advanced technologies. — KUNA