Souf Project Wins Global Award

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. The award is presented by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), a global non-profit professional organization.

In a press statement, the foundation said the award was accepted by Eng. Dina Al-Naqib, Director of the Research and Technology Activation Department at KFAS, and Sheikh Bibi Duaij Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Chairperson 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 in ways that transform 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 scientific research related to the project. The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) implemented the project in collaboration with a livestock transport and trading company.

The foundation highlighted that the project exemplifies the integration of roles among national entities to transform ideas into practical and sustainable solutions. It emphasized that this achievement aligns with the foundation’s strategy 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.

The foundation pointed out 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-based and innovation-driven projects to deliver practical, impactful solutions, while strengthening the regional presence of innovative Kuwaiti projects.

The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) awards honor 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 AEE’s 2026 regional awards.