7 INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
INNOVATION UNDERPINS THE UNIVERSITY’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 Leveraging KAUST talent and research to promote safety and enable continuity
KEVIN CULLEN Vice President for Innovation
BY EMBRACING NEW WAYS OF WORKING AND LEARNING FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS, BY FORGING EVER CLOSER BONDS WITH OUR PARTNERS, BY MAKING THE MOST OF THE TECHNOLOGIES WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US, AND FINDING CREATIVE WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED, IT’S EMINENTLY POSSIBLE TO ADAPT AND THRIVE DURING THIS TIME – ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING PERIODS HUMANITY HAS FACED IN A GENERATION.
In early March 2020, as people, businesses and institutions around the world contended with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, KAUST focused on the twin goals of keeping its academic community safe and continuing its scientific mission – both in the public health arena and further afield. In the weeks and months that followed the outbreak, KAUST faculty and students leveraged the university community’s existing talents and research to meet both of these goals, and continue progress toward the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions. For example, two KAUST PhD candidates accelerated their development of an instant disinfectant with applications in travel and tourism, and the university partnered with local businesses to share knowledge on operating in the face of challenges while protecting public health. At the same time, KAUST prioritized international collaboration, including through the University-Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP). Early on in the pandemic, KAUST PhD candidates Luisa Javier and Sandra Medina realized their biotechnology research into disinfectants could be useful in the fight against COVID-19. Wayakit is a non-toxic, environmentally friendly disinfectant that kills 99.999% of bacteria and viruses on surfaces within 30 seconds, including the novel coronavirus SARSCoV-2. While other disinfectants are available, many can take up to 30 minutes to work. In addition, Wayakit can be applied to metals and other hard surfaces as well as textiles, without altering their surfaces, color or smell. Javier and Medina’s start-up, also named Wayakit, is one of 56 start-ups to receive funding from KAUST since 2011, and their product has quickly become a trusted brand in Saudi Arabia. For example, aviation services company Swissport International began using it at three of the largest airports it manages in the Kingdom. Javier and Medina are now working to scale up their business by getting Wayakit certified for use in different countries and across a wide variety of industries. In a reflection of their progress, the company inaugurated its
