Dhahran Techno Valley (DTV) will complete the development of various infrastructure projects worth over SR100 million at its Dhahran site before the end of 2010, according to Dr. Halim Hamid Redhwi, DTV Assistant Supervisor. In addition to the SR100 million infrastructure projects, Redhwi said DTV will construct its main building that has been earmarked to cost about SR115 million. He said the contract to build the building will be awarded soon. DTV, envisaged as the region's leading research and technology development nucleus with comprehensive business support, was established by the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) to attract research and development centers of local and international companies and to promote new businesses. Redhwi made this announcement as three more world-class international companies signed contracts with DTV to locate their research and development facilities at the Dhahran site. The three new companies are Halliburton, Weatherford, and General Electric (GE) Energy, all of which are major players in the field of oil, gas and energy. “DTV is on its way to full-scale operations as these infrastructure projects come into fruition,” Redhwi said. “We continue to receive keen interest from both local and international companies seeking to locate their R&D and business development projects at the site. As of now there are 19 companies which are in different stages of construction and operation at the Dhahran site,” Redhwi said. He said 13 of these companies already have existing offices and laboratories, while six are in the process of planning the construction of their facilities. Redhwi said KFUPM has strict entrance criteria for accepting companies seeking to locate their business development operations at DTV. “The selected company-partner should be a technology company, active in R&D work, particularly technology development, able to provide strong interaction with the KFUPM community (its faculty members, students and researchers), and active in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs,” Redhwi said. DTV includes the King Abdullah Science Park (KASP), an innovation center at KFUPM, liaison office, business incubator, industrial consulting office and a science and technology exhibition Scitech.
