Hello everyone and Happy New Year to you all!

New Year resolutions: As the new year is upon us, it marks a new beginning, or rather a new restart in our work... and in our lives! Though 2024 was a milestone year for KFUPM, this part of the letter is not about that. It is about you.

With a new year comes new-year resolutions. Although many think them passé–promises that are made in the first week of the year only to be broken the second–I urge you to actually make some.

Take a moment from it all – a moment away from your daily routine, from your work, and even from your family. And think! What have I done in 2024? More importantly, what do I want to do in 2025? Not only what I want to do for my career, but what I want to do for myself and for my family. How can I grow as a person? Is there something negative about me I want to change? What are the positives I want to reinforce?

Take a moment and step back, and think about yourself. And make some resolutions. Think of goals in all aspects of your life, spanning health, personal relationships, family ties, network of friends, neighbors, and work–from resolutions to losing weight, to quitting smoking, to treating our spouses with more kindness. Even if you break them tomorrow, the exercise is nonetheless a fruitful one.

We often forget ourselves in the daily grind of work and home. We owe it to ourselves to make some reflections about ourselves and make plans to improve our lives.

What we have done so far: There is no better time to reflect on the challenges–and successes–of the past than the beginning of a new year. Hence, I would like to highlight here what we have achieved over the four years or so since we started our transformational journey at KFUPM, but with a slight twist. Rather than focus just on the results, I would like to also describe the how… what endeavors, efforts, and new initiatives upon which we embarked –together– to take us from where we were as a university to where we are now.

The reason for this is three-fold. First, it is instructive to review the how in order to draw lessons from it for the future. And the second is that these actions –the how– can demonstrate that no good deeds go… unrewarded. When you work hard at something, you invariably achieve results. And the third is for history, as this how may be used and re-used in the future to tread the same path we have taken, such that others can achieve similar results, and in fact perhaps even in a shorter amount of time. In other words, this how can be used as a ready-made recipe for their own success (and if we were feeling snobbish, we could say from faculty, staff, and students who are master chefs in their kitchen). Hmm, the more I stretch this analogy, the hungrier I feel :).

Now rather than stuff this email message with a dozen or so more pages, I am attaching herein this reflection –or recipe– in a separate file. I must admit that one of the lessons I drew after writing the attached document is that we were bold –very bold indeed– and that is a very good thing. Attached for your reading enjoyment, a total of ten pages!

The year of entrepreneurship: From reading the attached file, we can see that we have done a lot in academia and research. However, I will be the first to admit that we have not moved the needle much in terms of entrepreneurship. This is no fault of the various stakeholders; it is just the system itself was clustered and fragmented. Therefore, we want 2025 to be the year in which we make significant strides in this domain, and the following three critical steps will hopefully be instrumental in getting us there:

#1 – Entrepreneurship restructuring: To that end, the entrepreneurship structure at KFUPM has been completely overhauled, eliminating duplicative organizations, and streamlining the various functions to be much more streamlined, and FAST®. The following is a very condensed summary of the new structure.

Entrepreneurship Education is now handled by KBS, which will be the leading academic body for all activities related to entrepreneurship education, including offering academic entrepreneurship courses and training for the University ecosystem and the public sector, as well as developing case studies on entrepreneurship and startup behavior, but without engaging in other aspects of the entrepreneurship process, such as incubation, raising funds, venture capital, venture buildings, etc.

IP Management and Licensing is now under the Dean of Research. This includes IP protection and management, as well as market assessment and technology licensing. We plan to continue aggressively supporting our faculty and students with help to protect their inventions and secure the resulting IP rights, but we also want much more conversion of IP into actual commercialized products. After all, our goal at KFUPM is to help humanity, and that help is not forthcoming if the inventions are not converted into practical applications and commercialized products.

Prototyping and product development will be under a new organization called the Dream Realization Lab, led by the Assistant VP of Entrepreneurship (and mirror position the DTVC, Executive Director of Entrepreneurship). All activities, infrastructure, and resources related to prototyping and product development will be under this organization. We are also currently in the process of converting Building 19 into this Dream Realization Lab. I am sure all of you understand the link between this name and our motto.

Scale-up Activities, including our growing portfolio of scale-up assets such as the newly completed Petroleum Conversion Research Center (PCRC), will be enhanced. The DTVC will serve as the external interface and the sole entity within the University ecosystem to manage legal service agreements related to technology scale-up services, including signing all legal agreements with external customers on-behalf of the current and future scale-up facilities under the University, either directly or through a new subsidiary to be created in the future.

#2 – Relaxed venture ownership: One of the difficult impediments towards achieving a full swing in entrepreneurship has been the difficult laws governing new venture ownership, which were quite restrictive. I am now very pleased to report that KFUPM worked with the relevant government entities and managed to relax most all these restrictions. Here is a brief description of what we managed to achieve.

Students (Saudis and expats) can have direct ownership of new startups. Expat faculty can have direct ownership of new startups after obtaining approval from MISA (Ministry of Investment). However, that license need not be obtained from MISA itself, as our DTV can now grant it directly. Saudi faculty and staff on GOSI (Social Insurance) contracts can have direct ownership of new startups. Saudi faculty and staff under the Civil Service system will have direct ownership of new startups once they are converted to the GOSI system (we are hoping this will be soon). Until then, we developed an arrangement called SAFE (Simplified Agreement for Future Equity), through which DTV will hold their equity stake for them on their behalf and transfer it to them once they become GOSI employees.

So, in a nutshell, everyone will now be able to hold ownership equity in their startup, though perhaps taking different routes to that ownership. But it gets better, much better…

#3 – Zero royalties: When you make a new invention whilst employed at a university, that organization facilitates developing the intellectual property (IP) and owns those patents. It then allows the inventors to develop their invention into a new startup. However, the universities charge those startups various fees to recoup the expenses the universities incurred, and a share in future profits. These fees vary widely. However, universities typically fall into two categories: those who require free equity in the new startup (typically 5-10%) and those who demand royalties on the venture’s revenues (typically 1-5%). Some universities require both, by the way.

What should KFUPM do? Drum roll! We decided we will require neither. Yes, you read this right: KFUPM will demand nothing, absolutely nothing, from the ventures of its faculty and students. We will even continue to pay maintenance fees on the patents for free. We want to help the entrepreneurship ecosystem around us thrive, and to contribute to the well-being of humanity by turning research and ideas into useful products. We will not suck the life out of these new ventures through required equity stakes or royalties. We do ask, however, that if you venture becomes successful that you consider donating 5% of your net sales to the University, but that is optional.

Let us start right now. If you are in the process of starting a new venture, send an email to the team at ventures@dtvc.com.sa. I was promised a reply time of no more than 14 days.

The seven habits: “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” is a self-help book by Stephen R. Covey, first published in 1989. It outlines seven key principles that aim to help individuals achieve personal and professional effectiveness. After its initial release, the book gradually gained traction in the self-help and business communities, and it began to influence not only individual readers but also major organizations and corporations, who adopted the habits as part of their leadership training programs. As of now, the book has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling books of all time, and has been translated into more than 40 languages, reaching readers across different cultures and backgrounds. Moreover, companies big and small have been teaching it as courses of various lengths to develop their employees.

OK, but what is the relevance to KFUPM? We have a similarly sounding paradigm: The Seven Habits of KFUPM Students, or, if you want to be more general, The Seven Habits of KFUPMers (spanning students, faculty, and staff). I have very frequently spoken about the importance of developing well-rounded graduates who are not only technically proficient,but also possess the skills and mindset to thrive in a rapidly changing world. In other words, we do not want to graduate just geeks or bookworms, but geeks who are also leaders (By the way, “geek” here is not a derogatory term–I am a confirmed geek and I am proud of it).

These seven habits, in their most condensed version, are: 1) High Aspirations, 2) Self-Reliance, 3) Global Citizenship, 4) Undergraduate Research, 5) Interdisciplinary Thinking, 6) Entrepreneurship Spirit, and 7) Positivity and Kindness. There is no space here to cover them (they are detailed to some extent in the attachment), but I will describe them some more in the future.

Suffice it to say that our students have been embracing these habits most beautifully. Examples include the Yearbook (Self-Reliance), international summer training (Global Citizenship), high enrollment in undergraduate research (which started this academic year), TEAM-Design and the recent #1 position in the international drone competition (Interdisciplinary Thinking), recent letters from the students thanking their professors (Positivity and Kindness), etc. I am incredibly proud to say that our students have come to consistently embody these habits. Time and time again, when we place our trust in them, they not only meet but exceed our expectations. Way to go, KFUPM Students!

Infrastructure overhaul: Please please do not tell me that you do not “feel” that our campus and community are chock-full of projects! I have spoken a lot about major changes to our strategy, research, and student body; however, I must also note the importance of building an environment that inspires. That means our current campus infrastructure and facilities also need to see a significant transformation. We have worked at an accelerated rate over the year to begin the construction and renovation of many large-scale projects that should improve the University's research facilities, academic buildings, recreational spaces, and, most importantly, faculty and student housing (we know you have been especially patient with this one). Let me share with you a glimpse of what has happened, is currently ongoing, or is to come:

In research facilities, the Petroleum Conversion Research Center (PCRC) has just completed construction and is now open as a hub for innovative energy-sector advancements as a complete scale-up facility. Construction of the Central Laboratory Building is progressing, with over 100 advanced research labs, 24 offices, and seven conference rooms. A complete overhaul of the Research Institute (RI) Building has also begun, with plans for 104 labs, 200+ offices, and a large auditorium. Similarly, upgrades to the Heavy Equipment Laboratory Building (Building 26) have started and will feature 54 research labs and 10 academic workshops to meet the evolving needs of our research centers.

But that is not all. IT and other support departments are relocating to the new East Park Building. This frees space for the KFUPM Business School to be relocated to Building 14 after renovations–such that it is at the heart of the campus, connected to all other departments, and next to the aforementioned Dream Realization Lab. This is a key measure to improve the connectivity of the Business School with other departments. Moreover, the design for the new Engineering Building has been awarded (it will be in the space currently occupied by Building 1), and other future buildings are at various stages of design. These include the new Chemicals and Materials Building (in the space currently occupied by Building 11), new Design and Built Environment Building (next to Building 20), new Maaden

Mining Building, and new building for the KFUPM-Aramco Center for Carbon Materials. Moreover, Building 10 and the Main Library will be completely renovated. In fact, the Main Library will take on other functions, as the need for book stacks is waning.

Now to highlight one of the most important construction topics, Housing! For our male students, five buildings have been completely renovated, accommodating 826 students. The students who have already moved into new male accommodations have given us great feedback so far on the elevated housing experience. Currently, 34 buildings are under renovation and will be completely overhauled to include significant upgrades, such as newly renovated rooms, and for each floor: lounges, study spaces, laundry rooms, and, most importantly, private bathrooms for each room (yes, departing from KFUPM’s history!). Upon completion, the male accommodation will comprise 39 buildings, housing many beds, 102 lounges, and 102 study rooms.

Similarly, in Phase 1 of the Female Student Housing project, 17 buildings were completely renovated and converted into dorms, accommodating 1,607 students, and now Phase 2 of the project adds 18 new dormitory buildings, bringing the total capacity for female housing to 35 buildings and many rooms.

Of course, faculty housing is one of the major construction areas that we hold as the highest priority. A total of 566 housing units are currently under development or have recently been completed. All the housing projects focus on building or renovating into what are state-of-the-art modern homes for our faculty members. The Farooq Courts include 26 villas handed over in Phase 1 (Feb. 2023), 17 villas completed in Phase 2 (Dec. 2024), and 105 villas in Phase 3. In addition, 46 villas in the Khaleej Courts and 45 villas in Doha Courts are under renovation, while plans for 195 new villas in the Ferdaws Neighborhood are in the tender stage for new construction. Finally, bachelor housing was completely upgraded, with new buildings featuring lounge areas and fitness gyms, and with a total of 132 new suites. Such ambitious changes cannot succeed without the support and patience of everyone during this transformative phase, as we strive to elevate our community and deliver an exceptional living experience for all.

We have also prioritized spaces that promote wellness and community engagement. The Male and Female Student Sports Complexes, each spanning 11,830 sqm, will offer state-of-the-art facilities, including swimming pools, multi-sport courts, padel and squash courts, fitness areas, and gyms, with a collective capacity of 600 students. Renovations to the Stadium are underway, featuring enhancements such as a new soccer field, athletic tracks, an 8,000-seat spectator area, a VIP section, and advanced audiovisual systems, ensuring a world-class venue for sporting events and other activities.

Our campus community spaces continue to grow also. The KFUPM Inn, part of the redevelopment of the Old Shabab Neighborhood, is being transformed into a welcoming hospitality space with 36 suites, a community center, an open buffet, and gym facilities. It will most likely be renamed into the “Research and Relax Hotel”, or the “R&R Hotel”. R&R, get it? Meanwhile, the reopening of the faculty restaurant, Al-Jabal, along with the launch of the Student Boulevard and Community Center “The Place,” highlights our focus on fostering connectivity and creating spaces where everyone feels they belong. We are also currently designing a complete overhaul to the Community Fitness Facilities, with modern

equipment that can stand the passage of time and heavy use (to help you meet your future new-year resolutions :)).

These projects are not just about upgrading infrastructure; they reflect our priority of ensuring our community is comfortable and feels at home. However, I am sure you understand that renovations mean that existing houses and buildings will be unavailable for a while until their replacements are ready, especially if the same building is renovated or if it is to be demolished for a nicer new one to replace it. For example, Building 1 will be demolished, and one-third of Ferdaws Court will be demolished at a time. This, of course, puts some pressure on the existing resources, and means we will have some shortage of buildings and houses for some (hopefully short) period. Most of us have gone through experiences like these whilst moving to a new house that is not fully completed or whilst renovating our house. Bear with us a little; I am sure I can count on your understanding.

Faculty titles: Let us face it, titles matter! In the US, you cannot find a bank branch manager anymore, as all of them are called vice presidents, nor a salesperson, as they are now called sales executives, etc. Titles matter to faculty members, especially since academia is strongly driven by peer recognition. We want our faculty to feel good about their titles, and to display them proudly in their signature blocks and business cards. The task is easy for academic faculty, but it is not so obvious when they are jointly affiliated with a research center. We have given this a thought, but I am seeking your input.

In a nutshell, a standard faculty signature block would look something like this:

Dr. John Smith
[Professorial Rank], Department of Mechanical Engineering
[IRC Affiliation], Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Materials

“Professorial Rank” can be Chair Professor, Distinguished Professor, Professor, Visiting Professor, Associate Professor, etc. This is standard and requires no change. The question is: what should “IRC Affiliation” look like? We think it should satisfy the following criteria: 1) be prestigious, 2) does not duplicate or conflict with current center researchers’’ titles, 3) engenders loyalty to the center, 4) not be project specific, and 5) would be preferable if it is used elsewhere already. I would love to hear your feedback. Please help us decide by visiting this page: https://bit.ly/3Cemx8j.

Finally, finally (seven pages later, or rather 17 if you include the attached report), we come to the conclusion! Yes, as I said before, my emails are “somewhat” lengthy :). In my defense, I want you to get the full story directly from the horse’s mouth, so all of us are equally informed. It is evident that we have had a fantastic transformational journey so far, with substantial progress that is the envy of even the most prestigious of our peers. And this could not have been achieved without YOU, whether a faculty, staff, or student. Thank you very much indeed.

This new year, we are especially proud to celebrate the University at every opportunity and in various forms, including art around campus, such as the I “heart” KFUPM design on an academic building rooftop, visible in satellite images, and the unique KFUPM Utopia mural that showcases our imagination of what the future of KFUPM might one day look like. We are well on our way to achieving our vision of becoming a leading global university that

contributes to the advancement of humanity. Most importantly, we continue to aim to be even more transformative and stay ahead of the curve.

I am deeply grateful for the hard work of you all–faculty, staff, and students–who continue to dream big and accomplish! I look forward to 2025, where we will inshallah dream even bigger… and accomplish!

Best wishes for a successful and prosperous New Year.