The company has taken another stride toward becoming a global leader in technology, and research and development with the opening of the Beijing Research Center (BRC) in Beijing, China last week. HE Ali I. Al-Naimi, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, officially opened the state-of-the-art 4,400 sq. meter center, making it the latest addition to Saudi Aramco’s global research and development network. It will be managed and operated by Aramco’s office in Beijing. The inauguration ceremony was led by Al-Naimi; Yahya Al-Zaid, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to China; Amin H. Nasser, acting president and CEO of Saudi Aramco; Ahmad O. Al Khowaiter, chief technology officer; Ahmed A. Al-Subaey, executive director for Marketing, Supply, and Joint Ventures Coordination; and Ibrahim Q. Al-Buainain, president of Aramco Asia. The inauguration ushers in a new era of collaboration between the two countries, founded on a commitment to knowledge, research, and innovation, Al-Naimi said in keynote remarks at the opening attended by government officials from Saudi Arabia and China as well as business partners. “Saudi Arabia recognizes that the participation of its leading companies in China’s innovation system today brings great potential for mutual benefit tomorrow,” Al-Naimi said. “It is a part of our plan to engage in global innovation in regions that have complementary expertise and capacities.” Aramco’s global research program encompasses facilities in Houston, Detroit, and Boston in North America, as well as European facilities in Aberdeen in the UK, Paris in France, and Delft in the Netherlands. The Beijing center extends the company’s research network in Asia, joining the CO2 Management Center at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, South Korea. These facilities complement Saudi Aramco’s EXPEC Advanced Research Center (EXPEC ARC) and the Research and Development Center (R&DC) activities in Dhahran, and another key Saudi research center in Thuwal at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Nasser spoke at a panel session about “Energy and Sustainability Challenges in China and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Potential and Mechanisms for Future Cooperation.” He said the BRC would deliver “step changes” in Aramco’s global research capabilities. “This research facility will add momentum as we produce fit-for-purpose innovation and technologies tied to our objectives and business needs,” Nasser said. “These areas are crucial to Saudi Aramco’s strategic goals in discovery, recovery, sustainability, and reliability, and therefore, they are the center’s main research thrust. Another key enabler is that China has a world-renowned expertise in chemical and enhanced oil recovery.” Al-Buainan explained why Saudi Aramco chose Beijing.“We view the BRC as the nucleus of technology and innovation development, and will bring about desired results,” he said, “such as the development of cutting-edge technologies, not only in the upstream field, but also in the downstream sector, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.” BRC director Khalid O. Rufaii added: “One of the main objectives of the center is to create science and develop technology that fundamentally changes and improves how we explore for oil and gas, extend reserves, and manage reservoirs.”