Kuwait's "Sof" Center Wins Regional Energy Innovation Award for 2026 - Sarmad
The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences announced that the “Sof” Wool Spinning Center won the “2026 Innovative Energy Project” award at the level of the Middle East and North Africa region. The award is granted by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in recognition of the center’s excellence in applying innovative solutions in the fields of energy efficiency and sustainability.
In a statement, the foundation said the center is the country’s first sustainable factory for processing local wool, resulting from a strategic national partnership with the Sadu Artisans Association and a livestock transport and trading company. The aim is to add value to this natural resource and promote concepts of sustainability and the circular economy.
It added that the project idea was initiated by the Sadu Artisans Association to utilize underexploited local wool. The foundation adopted the idea and funded a research project implemented by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research to study the feasibility of producing, processing, and improving the quality of wool from local Naimi sheep.
The foundation clarified that the project’s results proved the technical and economic viability of this industry, contributing to the establishment of the center as a successful model for transforming scientific research outputs into a sustainable industrial project with social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
It noted that the center contributes to reviving the craft of wool spinning and weaving by providing high-quality local wool used to train community members. It also adds value to animal production, as wool was previously exported at low prices, thereby enhancing the economic viability of livestock farming in Kuwait.
The project embodies the principles of the circular economy, enhances resource efficiency, and reduces environmental impact by using clean energy sources, recycling water, and utilizing production waste to manufacture soil-enhancing fertilizer.
The foundation emphasized that the center’s win of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ awards, among the most prominent specialized awards, demonstrates the ability of Kuwaiti projects based on scientific research and national partnerships to compete and achieve excellence at both regional and international levels.
