King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center 4.37

KAPSARC, the abbreviation for the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where it began its activities in 2010. It is as an independent, non-profit institution that focuses on research in energy economics, policy, technology, and the environment. Its research areas include global energy markets and economics, energy efficiency and productivity, energy and environmental technologies, and carbon management. The organization has a multi-national research team.It was established by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia as an element of the broader theme of reform in the region and emphasizes the openness, equality, and diversity of gender, nationality, and backgrounds—in a manner similar to the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. The Center has employees from over 20 nationalities, and its workforce is 40% women. One of its first research papers (2012) deals with the welfare state in Saudi Arabia, the social cost resulting from the high correlation between the Saudi income and the oil price.HistoryIn July 2007, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called for the establishment of an independent center to conduct objective and scientific research in the field of energy. Interim management was given to Saudi Aramco in 2008 to plan the center’s mandate and facilities. The Center’s real existence started in 2012. The first phase of the facilities opened in September 2012 when the center transferred its base of operations from Dhahran to Riyadh. In April 2013, the residential campus officially opened for business.