
Session Chairperson: Dr. Salem Alhajraf
Founder and CEO of EdamaConsult, Kuwait
Dr. Salem Alhajraf is a science, technology and R&D expert with outstanding expertise in the fields of energy, environment and clean technologies. He has extensive experience spanning more than 30 years, including 16 years in the field of applied research and studies funded by the public and private sectors with funds exceeding 600 million US dollars. In addition, Dr. Alhajraf has spent more than 15 years in the management and leadership role in the field of science, technology and innovation (STI) with a greater effort on developing R&D strategies, strategic planning, setting key performance indicators (KPIs), time management, fund raising and human capacity development. Throughout his career, Dr. Alhajraf held several leadership positions including the Deputy Director General for Strategic Programs at the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), the Executive Director of the Energy and Building Research Center and Director of the Renewable and Innovative Energy Program at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR). Dr. Alhajraf has carried out many consulting studies and applied research projects in various fields such as solar energy, wind energy, infrastructure projects, master plans and feasibility studies. His expertise includes preparation of strategic plans, critical thinking and numerous administrative and leadership experiences gained from the official leadership positions he held, as well as from his membership in many boards and higher committees such as the Board of Trustees of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, the Higher Committee of the Public Private Partnership Projects Authority and the Supreme Committee for Energy. Dr. Alhajraf has managed and executed more than 15 research and applied projects and has more than 30 research papers published in scientific and specialized journals in addition to his contribution as a speaker in many local, regional and international conferences. Dr. Alhajraf holds a PhD and MSc degrees from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom in Mechanical Engineering and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Kuwait University.