An advanced materials research facility was launched by Ras Al Khaimah today.

The Ras Al Khaimah Centre for Advanced Material (RAK-CAM) will position the emirate as a key contributor to the long-term technological development of the Middle East, by emerging as a global leader in advanced materials research that addresses critical issues in areas such as alternative energy sources, construction, water purification and environmental preservation, said a statement.
 
The facility was launched during a press conference held at the Al Hamra Fort Hotel, under the patronage of Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

RAK-CAM will also provide educational and training opportunities for aspiring scientists and engineers from both the UAE and internationally.

In addition to pursuing ground-breaking research on advanced materials, the centre will carry out research in support of local industries and spawn new business opportunities in the form of start-up companies. A search is currently under way for the RAK-CAM director and interviews are expected to be held in late 2007, it said.

'RAK-CAM is part of Ras Al Khaimah's ambitious growth program and supports our mission to boost the emirate's reputation as a proactive contributor to the economic development of the region. Moreover, the centre will encompass a very broad scope of interdisciplinary materials science, including areas concerning energy security and sustainable development in Ras Al Khaimah,' said Matt Sawaqed, executive committee member, RAK-CAM.

The scope of RAK-CAM will embrace interdisciplinary materials science in the broadest sense.

Initially, RAK-CAM will comprise a director, an associate director, eight research scientists, and several visiting professors. These personnel will be supported by permanent technical and administrative staff, as well as post-doctoral researchers and graduate students.

A state-of-the-art 6000 sq m building is currently being designed by Consolidated Consultants - Jafar Tukan Architects; and construction is expected to commence in early 2008.

'The Ras Al Khaimah Centre for Advanced Material will usher in a new phase in the emirate's quest for excellence in materials science and technology. As a world-class, state-of-the-art facility, the Centre offers tremendous benefits to all sectors worldwide. Moreover, we also look forward to creating new and exciting prospects for education and training, as well as improving the quality of living in Ras Al Khaimah. These forward-looking goals will be pursued in part by leveraging opportunities for international collaboration,' said Professor Anthony K Cheetham, chairman of RAK-CAM.

Honorary chairman Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi will be the patron of RAK-CAM. A distinguished Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) has been established, comprising Prof Cheetham, chair (Goldsmiths’ Professor of Materials Science at the University of Cambridge), Naser Bustami (managing director of Stevin Rock), Prof Mildred Dresselhaus (Institute Professor of Electrical Engineering and Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Sir Richard Friend (Professor of Physics at the University of Cambridge), Prof Michael L Klein (director of the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Materials at the University of Pennsylvania), Prof. CNR Rao (Linus Pauling Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bangalore), and the Hon Dr Peter Watson (president and CEO, Dwight Group). The administrative duties of the centre are currently handled by an executive committee that includes executives and members of the SAB. – TradeArabia News Service