Dow to Open Middle East R&D Center at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia

Initial Research to Focus on Water and Water Treatment Technologies

Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and The Dow Chemical Company today announced that they plan to build on their partnership by establishing the Dow Middle East R&D Center at the University’s adjacent Research Park and Innovation Cluster.

Substantial completion of the proposed state-of-the-art R&D center, to be jointly designed by the partners, is expected by the end of 2010. Initial research at the Dow Middle East R&D Center at KAUST will focus on water and water treatment technologies, eventually expanding its scope to oil and gas, processes research and development, and infrastructure materials. All of these activities are aligned with existing KAUST Research Centers.

KAUST is a graduate-level institution and the realization of the vision of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to promote the advancement of science and technology and act as a catalyst in transforming Saudi Arabia into a knowledge-based economy. Dow’s plans for an R&D Center at KAUST come on the heels of Dow’s June announcement that it would become a Founding Member of the University’s Industrial Collaboration Program (KICP), which aims to enrich the research experience at the University while promoting economic development in Saudi Arabia. Dow’s plans include an initial annual minimum funding commitment of $1,000,000 USD to support multi-year R&D sponsored projects and initiatives catering to the mutual objectives of Dow and KAUST students and faculty.

The R&D Center will also financially and intellectually support a number of dynamic programs and initiatives, including funding thesis research and semi-annual technology research challenges, as well as the Dow Talent Program to develop and train Saudi talent.

“By establishing the Dow Middle East R&D Center at KAUST, Dow has taken the lead among a group of distinguished multinational companies to partner with the leading representation of King Abdullah’s vision for KAUST,” said Andrew Liveris, chairman and chief executive officer, The Dow Chemical Company. “This is a memorable and promising day in Dow’s history, as we strive to invest for growth in fast-paced and high-potential economies like that of Saudi Arabia, and as we strive to ensure that our growth is sustainable and that our contributions to the world help address global challenges and provide for everyday, human needs. We stand by our partner in the endeavor to translate Saudi Arabia’s aspirations into reality”.

The initial research conducted at the Dow Middle East R&D Center at KAUST will focus on water treatment technologies, showing that the partners are working toward generating discoveries that are acutely relevant to sustainable development in the surrounding communities and economy.

Professor Choon Fong Shih, the president of KAUST, said: “The Dow Middle East R&D Center at KAUST represents a promising commitment on Dow’s part to the vision of King Abdullah to have KAUST act as a catalyst in transforming Saudi Arabia into a knowledge economy by directly integrating research produced at the University into our economy. We are pleased to have Dow, a 112 years old world leader in the field of science and technology, as a partner in realizing this great vision. The establishment of the Dow Middle East R&D Center at KAUST is a significant event by itself, but we are also excited by Dow’s commitment to support research within KAUST’s walls, as well as by the prospect of having KAUST graduates hired by Dow, here in Saudi Arabia”.

The signing of this significant agreement between Dow and KAUST on the day of KAUST’s inauguration reinforces the pride that all Saudis take in the contribution that KAUST is making to the Kingdom, its economic development and the advancement of science and technology both nationally and globally.

About Dow

Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in approximately 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. In 2008, Dow had annual sales of $57.5 billion and employed approximately 46,000 people worldwide. The Company has 150 manufacturing sites in 35 countries and produces approximately 3,300 products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008, 98 manufacturing sites in 30 countries and approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About KAUST

On September 23, 2009, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has been inaugurated in Saudi Arabia as an international, graduate-level research university dedicated to inspiring a new age of scientific achievement in the Kingdom, across the region and around the globe. As an independent, merit-based institution, KAUST will enable top researchers from around the globe and across all cultures to work together to solve challenging scientific and technological problems. The KAUST global research and education network supports diverse talents both on its campus and at other top universities and research institutions through collaborative research agreements, grants, and student scholarship programs. The core campus is located on the Red Sea, in Thuwal, on more than 36 million square meters. For more information about KAUST, visit http://www.kaust.edu.sa