King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, (KAUST) and the Bruker Corporation recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) officially launching the KAUST–Bruker Center of Excellence (CoE) in Magnetic Resonance. The agreement marks the culmination of a long and mutually beneficial association between the two organizations.
“Scientific advancement is dependent on the close relationship between research and technological developments,” said Professor Jean M.J. Fréchet, senior vice president for research, innovation, and economic development at KAUST.
“The KAUST-Bruker CoE offers all KAUST users the exceptional opportunity to work with technologies at the very frontline of innovation, adapting them to suit their specific research needs. This CoE will also serve as a launch pad for new technologies, providing the region with an international demonstration and training site.”
This level of enhanced support from Bruker, in conjunction with the university’s expert staff, comprehensive research ecosystem and magnetic resonance research infrastructure, places KAUST in a preeminent position in Saudi Arabia, the region and the international scientific community. “Bruker’s philosophy of relentless innovation and our long track record in developing leading analytical instrumentation and enabling scientific tools is based on close relationships with our customers,” said Frank Laukien, president and CEO of Bruker Corporation. “Our long and fruitful relationship with KAUST and its world-class researchers is an example of how a symbiotic vendor-customer relationship leads to better instruments and scientific outcomes.”
The daylong program of events marking the new partnership included a tour of the KAUST Imaging and Characterization Core Lab, and concluded in the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) unit, where a number of Bruker technologies were demonstrated. These included the world’s first 900 MHz wide-bore NMR spectrometer, the 950 MHz NMR, the Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) NMR system, as well as the first 500 MHz super wide-bore MRI spectrometer.
A technical forum was also held, including talks by Bruker delegates, members of the KAUST faculty, and staff from the KAUST Core Labs, to showcase Bruker technologies and their applications in research and scientific development.
The launch of the KAUST-Bruker CoE is part of an effort to closely align KAUST with world-class vendors. CoEs function as on-campus technology hubs — primed to train and inspire students and staff.
KAUST-Bruker CoE in magnetic resonance inaugurated
KAUST-Bruker CoE in magnetic resonance inaugurated
Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Endowment projects worth SR8bn launched in Makkah
Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Real Estate Company has announced the launch of several real estate projects belonging to the Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Endowment system in Makkah, with a total investment exceeding SR8 billion ($2.1 billion). These projects include commercial, residential, and hospitality developments, as well as strategic land plots, as part of the company’s commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s real estate sector and enhancing the quality of life in the holy city.
The announcement was made during a field tour by a delegation of high-level officials including Saleh Al-Rasheed, CEO of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites; Ihsan Bafakih, chairman of the board of directors of Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Rajhi Holding Company; Haitham Al-Fayez, chairman of Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Real Estate Company and CEO of Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Holding Company; Moath Al-Mukhudub, managing director and CEO of Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Real Estate Company; and Anas Mansour Abadi, CEO of real estate at Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Holding Company and representative of the Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Endowment, alongside members of the board of directors of both the holding and real estate companies and the executive team.
The tour included the launch of the Tilal Towers project, with an investment value of SR2 billion, featuring more than 2,500 hotel rooms, strengthening the hospitality sector in Makkah.
The delegation also visited the Tilal Village project, valued at SR2.8 billion. It is one of the prominent qualitative projects within the hospitality ecosystem in Makkah.
Furthermore, the visit covered the residential buildings within Tilal Village, comprising 828 units, with an investment of SR800 million. The delegation inspected the specialized hospital, medical complex housing, and the office and commercial plazas.
During the tour, a contract was signed for the Al-Rajhi Center project, valued at SR250 million, as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan.
The inspection also included the Al-Ukayshiyyah land, spanning 4 million square meters, and the Al-Ghazzawi project land, valued at SR250 million.
The tour concluded with prayers at the Aisha Al-Rajhi Mosque, the second-largest mosque in Makkah after the Grand Mosque, with a capacity for 50,000 worshippers.
This visit underscores the importance of these investments, which represent a clear direction toward enhancing the management of the endowment’s assets through diversification, redevelopment, and strategic expansion, in line with the development goals of the Makkah city and Saudi Vision 2030.
Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Real Estate, a subsidiary of Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Rajhi Holding Company, continues to provide innovative solutions to elevate the real estate sector to international standards.
