Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)

KISR has been playing an outstanding role in the field of scientific and technological research and consultations, and in orienting them toward the objectives of social and economic development of Kuwait. This is done through close coordination with the various related organisations and institutions in Kuwait.

KISR was established in 1967, and at that time its activity was confined to introductory studies and field surveys in the field of agriculture. Later, by a Decree in 1981, it became a government institute of scientific research operating autonomously through a clearly defined scientific strategy aiming at achieving the following objectives:

Encouraging Kuwait’s citizens to pursue scientific research and inculcating interest in scientific research in the younger generation.
Studying, developing, making use of and protecting natural resources, especially water, marine, energy and farming resources.
Conducting technological and scientific research and providing scientific consultancy to government bodies.
Following up recent developments in the fields of science and technology and applying them to the local environment.
Establishing and developing scientific cooperation through joint research and information exchange programmes with academic and technological institutions locally and abroad.

To achieve these goals, the Institute drew up a five year plan (1984-1989) under the title Strategic Research Programmer which is based on major scientific programmes closely related to the local needs of Kuwait.

Positive results have been achieved by the Institute, and its programmes are now being implemented in many fields. The Institute, for instance, in an attempt to develop food resources, has succeeded in developing techniques for producing new types of fish, and in discovering a protein which can be used for feeding animals. Studies have also been conducted to improve agricultural production and certain types of plants have been developed to be planted in the water front project. It has also conducted scientific studies in the field of sea water desalination through the method of reverse osmosis, and has developed new designs for computers used in forecasting the low spread of oil slicks in regional coastal waters. It has also undertaken studies using solar energy in some chemical processes.

Since its inception, KISR has helped in the preparation of national qualified cadres and in setting training systems aiming at improving the skill and proficiency of the Institute’s researchers, especially the young cadres, who now constitute 50 per cent of its scientific staff.

The new premises inaugurated in 1986 have helped the Institute to double its efforts in the field of scientific research. It is now ranked fifth out of 50 scientific institutions in the third world countries.

For more information, visit: www.kisr.edu.kw