Minister of Higher Education Khaled Al-Anqari inaugurated the 3-day international conference dubbed ‘Nanotechnology: Opportunities and Challenges' at King Abdul Aziz University (KAAU) here Tuesday under the patronage of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The King has agreed to be the honorary president of the Saudi Nanotechnology Society, the minister said in his inaugural speech. “The conference proves King Abdullah's moral and financial support to higher education in general and beneficial implementation of nanotechnology in particular,” he added. In an attempt to transform its commerce from oil production to knowledge-based industries using nanotechnology and biotechnology, the Kingdom plans to launch several new centers to boost nanotechnology research in the region. “The King realizes the importance of nanotechnology applications in today's world in different fields of knowledge and research,” the minister said. KAAU has launched a leading think tank and public interest institute to guide research in the field and public policy and education to address the critical challenges facing humanity. The Kingdom has done so to keep pace with new technologies, especially those which have proven efficiency like nanotechnology, said KAAU President Osama Taib. “Since its foundation, the Kingdom has diversified funds into knowledge economy to maximize the benefits of latest technologies,” he said. With a donation of up to SR40m funneled to establish further nanotechnology institutes at universities across the nation, “King Abdullah emerges as a firm believer that nanotechnology will be a major component of the Kingdom's future and prosperity,” said Sami Habib, chairman of Nanotechnology Center at KAAU. While nanotechnology has made great advances in the last two decades, it has yet to fulfill its ultimate potential. Scholars in the field aim at fostering nanotechnologies that can make a significant contribution in solving critical challenges faced by the humanity including providing renewable clean energy, supplying clean water globally, improving health and longevity, making information technology available to all, and enabling space development. __
