The British University in Dubai and Saint-Gobain UAE sign a collaborative MoU on academic research and innovation

Dubai, UAE

Sallam Sallam

The British University in Dubai (BUiD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saint-Gobain UAE to collaborate on academic research and innovation. The MoU will align the two organisations’ efforts to conduct research in the field of energy efficiency and the built environment through deep retrofitting.

The MoU was signed at BUiD campus by Professor Abdullah Alshamsi, BUiD’s Vice Chancellor, and Paul Button, CEO of Saint-Gobain UAE.

The two organisations share the same interest in sustainability and their collaboration will establish an in-depth knowledge of building energy retrofit, strategies, measures and principles applicable to the UAE. This MoU is an important step to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

The British University in Dubai is a research- based university and it was one of the first universities in the UAE to offer specialised postgraduate programmes in sustainability of the built environment and energy efficient buildings.

Saint-Gobain UAE offers solutions that help to renovate and create more sustainable and energy efficient buildings, which improve the comfort and well-being of their occupants.

Through this collaboration, the two organisations will be conducting studies on four selected buildings in the UAE. The project’s main objective is to review the status of energy-retrofit and its impact on total energy consumption, carbon emissions, and indoor air quality.

Professor Abdullah Alshamsi commented: “We are very pleased with this collaboration with Saint-Gobain UAE. This MoU is a good example of university-industry partnerships and we are looking forward to a long-term collaboration. I’m sure this project will provide a good reference for the effectiveness of various deep retrofit measures in the UAE and the GCC that can be used in improving existing retrofit programmes.”

Mr. Paul Button said: “Our strategic partnership with The British University in Dubai (BUiD) is aligned with Saint-Gobain’s global focus in developing sustainable retrofitting solutions which in turn reduce a building’s energy consumption, decrease OPEX costs and improve well-being for its occupants”.

In addition, both parties agreed on joint initiatives to conduct research and exchange of knowledge in the domain of energy in the built environment and to coordinate expert seminars, conferences and workshops related to the joint research.