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:
- Inculcating a strong understanding of the R&I discipline and its critical role for strategic development within GPCA member companies and other associated stakeholders.
- Emphasizing the importance of establishing links between R&I and business activities within member organizations.
- Sharing and advocating best practices in the management of R&I amongst GPCA members.
- 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.
- Enhancing links and cooperation between the GPCA member companies and regional and international universities and National Research Centers (and other similar research institutions).
- Promoting a culture of innovation among GPCA member companies and regional and international universities and National Research Centers (and other similar research institutions).
- 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

Dr. Saumitra Saxena
Research Scientist
KAUST

Arthur Foutsitzis
Regional R&D Director
ME, Honeywell UOP

Zayd Alathari
Partner, Head of Intellectual Property
Norton Rose Fulbright

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
Vice President, Technology & Innovation
Tasnee