The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, is the largest post-graduate university in the Red Sea region. As such, the University provides marine researchers with high-end facilities and services to carry out advanced research in many marine topics, with focus on the Red Sea and the region at large. The University is planning to expand its marine research portfolio and support Saudi Arabia’s blue economy.
BlueWise Marine has been engaged by the Coastal and Marine Resources Core Lab (CMR), an advanced marine research facility at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), to provide a range of strategic advisory services for infrastructure, management, human resources and innovation investment initiatives related to the activities at the Lab. Our support included advice on appropriate Management and Consortium models for the operation of Research Vessels ahead of the delivery of KAUST’s new research vessel in 2026.
An extensive internal and external stakeholder consultation process has been undertaken, which helped to identify current and future critical areas for the realisation of the Lab’s mission and enabled the high-level design for the development of the Lab. This process helped to create a road map which included a set of 18 key recommendations together with a costed Strategic Investment Plan for CMR.
At the same time, BlueWise developed and presented recommendations for Management and Consortium models for the operation of KAUST and other local Research Vessels. Our team continues to provide support and advice to CMR and the Red Sea Research Centre.
