Objectives

The Committee shall support the GPCA Board of Directors by discussing, analyzing, seeking alignment on and recommending solutions to all issues of common interest and undertake activities and programs relevant to the promotion of R&I, based on the three strategic pillars of effective networking, thought leadership and advocacy:

  1. Inculcating a strong understanding of the R&I discipline and its critical role for strategic development within GPCA member companies and other associated stakeholders.
  2. Emphasizing the importance of establishing links between R&I and business activities within member organizations.
  3. Sharing and advocating best practices in the management of R&I amongst GPCA members.
  4. Identifying research areas of common interest, such as projects associated with environmental protection, safety, analytical methodologies or any other topic of mutual interest leading to joint research programs beneficial to member companies on the condition that no antitrust issues are created.
  5. Enhancing links and cooperation between the GPCA member companies and regional and international universities and National Research Centers (and other similar research institutions).
  6. Promoting a culture of innovation among GPCA member companies and regional and international universities and National Research Centers (and other similar research institutions).
  7. Aligning, articulating, and advising on general chemical and petrochemical R&I strategy in view of global and regional challenges and trends.

Committee members

Dr. Bob Maughon

Chief Technology & Sustainability Officer

SABIC

(Chairman)

Dr. Farhan Al-Shahrani

Head of Strategic Innovation Partnership

KAUST

(Vice-Chairman)

Dr. Moayyed Al-Qurtas

GPCA

(Advisor)

Abdulhadi Al Ajmi

Research & Development Director

EQUATE Petrochemical Company

Adnan Al Mahmood

IT & Knowledge Manager

GPIC

saumitra

Dr. Saumitra Saxena

Research Scientist

KAUST

Arthur Foutsitzis

Arthur Foutsitzis

Regional R&D Director

ME, Honeywell UOP

Zayd Alathari

Partner, Head of Intellectual Property

Norton Rose Fulbright

Dr. Ammar Al Ojaili

Dr. Ammar Al Ojaili

Vice President, Innovation

OQ

Ali Alkharji

Research & Technology Team Leader, Mega Project & R&T Dept.

PIC

Khalid Mohamed Abdulla

Chief Technical Officer

QAFCO

Dr. Mabrouk Ouederni

Product Development & Innovation
Manager

QAPCO

Mohammed  Al-Qahtani

Senior Product Compliance & Regulatory
Specialist

Q-Chem

Dr. Hatim Aldekhiel

General Manager, Chemicals Technology

SABIC

Diderico van Eyl

General Manager and head of IP Law

SABIC

Abdullah Albaity

Supervisor, Chemicals R&D Technologies Unit

Saudi Aramco

Samir Al-Jishi

General Manager, Strategy & Business Development

Sipchem

Dr. Sulaiman S Al Khattaf

Dr. Sulaiman S Al Khattaf

Vice President, Technology & Innovation

Tasnee