SOUF Center Project Wins 2026 Innovative Energy Project Award from Global Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)

Kuwait City, September 16 (KUNA) -- The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) announced that the “Sof” Center project, one of the flagship initiatives supported by the foundation, has won the “2026 Innovative Energy Project of the Year” award for the Middle East and North Africa region, granted by the Energy Engineering Association (AEE), a global non-profit professional organization.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the foundation stated that the award was accepted by Eng. Dina Al-Naqib, Director of the Research Activation and Technology Department at KFAS, and Sheikhha Bibi Duaij Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Sadu Artisans Association, during the regional awards ceremony held in Orlando, Florida, USA.

The foundation added that this recognition honors the project’s excellence in deploying innovative and sustainable energy solutions, reflecting the success of the “Sof” Center as a model that integrates scientific research, sustainability, and practical application. It explained that the project leverages clean energy solutions, water recycling, and circular economy principles to process local wool and utilize it, thereby transforming a local resource into a product with economic and environmental value.

The foundation noted that the project idea was initiated by the Sadu Artisans Association, while KFAS funded, supported, and facilitated the implementation of the associated scientific research through the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) in collaboration with a livestock transport and trading company. It emphasized that the project exemplifies the integration of roles among national entities to transform ideas into practical and sustainable solutions.

The foundation affirmed that this achievement aligns with its strategic direction of supporting applied research, development, and innovation, and enhancing the use of science and technology to address priority challenges, thereby contributing to sustainable economic, environmental, and social impact.

It further highlighted that the “Sof” Center’s receipt of this regional award recognizes the joint national efforts that contributed to the project’s development, and underscores the capacity of research- and innovation-based projects to deliver practical, impactful solutions, while strengthening the regional presence of innovative Kuwaiti projects.

The Energy Engineering Association (AEE) awards recognize outstanding projects, institutions, and specialists in the fields of energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability. The “Sof” Center project was selected to win the “2026 Innovative Energy Project of the Year” award for the Middle East and North Africa region as part of the association’s 2026 regional awards. (End) A.Y.S.