KUWAIT: The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) said that the cooperation agreement (Kuwait Program) with the London School of Economics and Political Science provides training and research opportunities to develop the capabilities of Kuwaiti researchers and enhance their communication with the international research community.

The Director General of the Foundation, Dr. Amina Farhan, said on Sunday: “The renewal of the five-year cooperation agreement is aimed at supporting the capabilities of Kuwaiti researchers through the establishment of workshops, academic training opportunities, and collaborative research grants.” Farhan added that the agreement program focuses on supporting efforts to prepare research that is related to public policies and share its results with specialists and decision-makers to formulate policies in the country. It will also enhance research in various disciplines such as public health, energy, environment, education, and economics.

“The agreement seeks to fund 15 collaborative projects between Kuwait’s researchers and the London School of Economics and Political Sciences in the fields of diversifying energy sources, improving the level of health care, developing the educational system, supporting digital transformation, diversifying the economy, as well as environmental protection and improving water and food security in Kuwait,” she clarified.

She explained that the agreement will provide opportunities for 20 Kuwaiti researchers to join the university for a period ranging from two to three months through the research fellowship program, which provides support to researchers to complete their research projects, provided that all research is translated into Arabic for the benefit of all specialists and decision-makers in the country.

She pointed out that the program will organize an annual conference in Kuwait to provide a platform that brings together researchers, specialists, and decision-makers to discuss issues and challenges from a scientific and applied perspective with the aim of formulating effective and sustainable solutions and plans.

“The agreement comes within the framework of the Foundation’s efforts to promote scientific and research culture and develop the capabilities of individuals and public institutions and its keenness to continue the process of cooperation with international research centers to support local researchers, noting that the relationship between the Foundation and the university extends for more than 16 years,” Farhan stressed. She stated that the Kuwait Program will start announcing the opening of applications in the coming weeks through the program’s website, in addition to the communication accounts of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences.