Buraidah, March 03, 2026, SPA -- President of Qassim University Dr. Mohammed Al-Sharekh and CEO of South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Dr. Thulani Dlamini signed an executive program agreement on Sunday covering scientific research and innovation. Qassim University’s vice presidents attended the signing, which took place at the university campus.

The agreement aims to foster cooperation in research, development, and innovation projects in advanced technologies prioritized by both sides. It also provides for the exchange of researchers and experts in various areas, particularly in the space and defense sectors, and the activation of the space and defense research program as a key platform for joint research and innovation activities.

The program further includes collaboration in human capacity-building initiatives and the training of technical and research personnel, as well as cooperation in technology transfer and the commercialization of research and industrial outputs. It also enables mutual use of research facilities and scientific data to support joint projects, in addition to joint supervision of graduate students and support for academic and training programs.