President, KAUST
Dr. Tony F. Chan
President, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)'s third president, Thuwal, KSA
Ph.D. Computer Science, Stanford University, CA, USA
M.S. Aeronautics, Caltech, CA, USA
B.S. Engineering, Caltech, CA, USA
KAUST is a graduate research institution committed to excellence in all that we do. Our community comes together with a diversity of backgrounds, experiences and ideas, but we share the same goal: To make a difference through innovation and discovery in some of the most important scientific areas for today and tomorrow.
Dr. Chan assumed his role as the third president of KAUST in September 2018 after nearly a decade as president of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He led a strategic planning process to lead KAUST into its second decade, including growing the faculty and students by up to 50%. He has expanded KAUST's research emphasis from energy, water, food and environment to include digital and health, launching new initiatives in Artificial Intelligence, Smart Health, Cyber Security and Circular Carbon. He is increasing investment and capacity in innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer. By positioning the University to leverage Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 strategic plan, he is strengthening its engagement with the nation. Finally, he is leading efforts to enhance the global and national visibility of KAUST.
He serves as a member of the Board/Council/Directors of the Future Investment Initiative Institute; King Abdulaziz City of Science & Technology; the Biotechnology City Initiative of Riyadh; the Supreme Committee for Research, Development and Innovation (RDI SC), Skolkovo, Russia; Yidan Prize Foundation, Hong Kong; IPAM, UCLA and the Hong Kong Academy of Science. He also serves on the Advisory Board/Committee of King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals; NEOM; KAPSARC College, the Supervisory National Strategy Committee of Data and AI of the Saudi Data & AI Authority; KAIST, Korea; RIKEN, Japan; Hang Lung Mathematics Awards, China, SUSTech, China; and the Academic Ranking of World Universities, China.