SDG Research

Scientific Research Priorities

Green and sustainable energy systems
Safe and effective use of energy
Water Recycling
Waste management

Research proposals should be submitted through Deanship of Scientific Research website

PSAU SDG Research Funding Programme

Preamble

As part of its commitment towards the attainment of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University (PSAU) is launching the PSAU 2030 SDG Roadmap. A core component of that blueprint is PSAU’s investment in supporting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia SDG target via advanced research on the SDGs.

Whereas Humanity finds itself at crossroad regarding numerous challenges than ever before, we also have at our doorstep the greatest advances in technology in recorded history. Moreover, as clearly enunciated by the UN, research and development, and technology are paramount for achieving the SDGs.To this end, the PSAU management has approved a SDG-focused research programme whose details are enumerated in this document.

The 2023/2024 cycle of PSAU SDG Research Funding Programme (PSAU SDG–RFP) is focused on leveraging the advance in technology to address the SDG challenges threatening our existence. Consequently, deserving proposals will be funded to explore how technology can be used to address the 5Ps of the PSAU SDG roadmap namely: People, Planet, Prosperity, and Peace and Partnerships.

Programme Terms and Scope

To qualify for funding, deserving faculty must satisfy the criteria below.

Be faculty must be affiliated with PSAU.
Exhibit commitment to research addressing the SDGs.
Submit a proposal for evaluation.
Accept the funding terms and conditions.

Funding under the PSAU SDG–RPF is anchored on carefully articulated, tested, and validated strategies that would produce the following measurable contributions.

Projects: must produce tangible outcomes with positive, measurable impact on any of the 17 SDGs
Policies: Ground-breaking legislative or regulatory reforms that, if enacted,could advance the use of technologies to address the SDGs.
Innovative applications: Game-changing solutions and applications, or practical deployment of technologies to advance the attainment of the SDGs.

PSAU SDG – RFP Categories
Category 1: People – Empowering lives and communities
The People category of the PSAU 2030 SDG Roadmap encapsulates projects, applications, and policies that utilise the power of technology to empower people and communities, create opportunities, and address social challenges. In particular, while the PSAU SDG blueprint prioritizes solutions aimed at members of its university and host communities, partnerships leading to local insights to solve global challenges will also be encouraged.

Submissions in the People category may include:

The submissions under the People category PSAU SDG–RFP should align particularly with:
- Access to technology and information for marginalised communities.
- Technologies to empower individuals through skills training and employment opportunities.
- Promoting inclusive and equitable access to health care and education through technologies.
- Technologies advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment through innovations.
- Advancing quality of life and inclusivity for people with disabilities, special needs, and other challenges.
- Other use cases where technology can be leveraged to enhance livelihoods, economic wellbeing, prosperity, health, and education, etc. can improve lives and strengthen livelihoods.
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Category 2: Planet – Innovation for our climate and environment

The Planet category of the PSAU SDG–RFP will tailor projects, applications, and policies to support ground-breaking innovation for a healthy and sustainable planet, helping to protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and build a more sustainable future for humanity.

Submissions in the Planet category may include:

Use of technology to monitor systems for adequate access to clean water and sanitation.
Design smart technologies to optimise energy consumption, accelerate access and use of renewable and clean energy.
Sustainable urban planning and smart city solutions to create live able and resilient communities.
Applications of technology aimed at promoting responsible consumption and waste management.
Technology solutions to mitigate climate change and foster climate resilience, digital innovations to preserve marine life and ecosystems, and digital, data-driven approaches to protect biodiversity and natural habitats.
State-of-the-art technologies for smart farming, irrigation, sanitation, etc.
Other use case of how technology can strengthen environmental protection, address climate change, and help preserve our planet’s health.

Submissions under the Planet category of the 2023 cycle of the PSAU SDG–RFP should align particularly with:

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 14: Life Below Water
SDG 15: Life on Land
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Category 3: Prosperity – Promoting economic growth

he Prosperity category of the PSAU SDG–RFP should include projects, applications, and policies aimed at spurring economic growth, creating jobs, and development of sustainable infrastructure within the PSAU host communities, nationally, and globally.

Submissions in this category may include:

Technology-based entrepreneurship and digital innovation initiatives, support for start-ups, and leveraging technology to drive innovation and competitiveness.
Use of technology in job creation and skills development initiatives promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, particularly by creating jobs for youth and vulnerable populations, as well as enhancing digital skills through training and capacity-building programmes.
Sustainable infrastructure initiatives that leverage technology for the planning, development, and maintenance of resilient and sustainable communications, digital connectivity, energy, transport, or other services.
Technological frameworks support financial inclusion initiatives geared towards expanding access to finance and enhancing digital payment systems to support economic growth and empower individuals and businesses.
Leveraging technology to drive industrial transformation and sustainable production initiatives to support sustainable and responsible practices, including circular economy models, resource efficiency, and sustainable production and consumption patterns.

Submissions under the Prosperity category of the PSAU SDG–RFPshould align particularly with:

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Category 4: Peace and Partnerships – Building peaceful and inclusive societies

Research activities under the Peace and Partnerships category of the PSAU 2030 SDG Roadmap will prioritise technologies to power international cooperation, strengthen governance and transparency, and facilitate cooperation among diverse stakeholders – all vital to build peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.

Submissions in the Peace and Partnerships category may include:

Use of technology to accelerate peacebuilding and conflict resolution applications, promote conflict prevention and resolution, social cohesion, and to foster harmony within communities and societies.
Enhance access to justice through technologies that serve to improve legal systems and ensure equal rights and protection for all individuals.
Promote transparency and good governance by using technologies to provide platforms to enable citizens to engage with institutions.
Data-driven decision making, including initiatives that harness data and technologies to inform evidence-based policy making, improve public service delivery, and strengthen decision-making processes at local, national, and international levels.

Submissions under the Peace and Partnerships category of the 2023/2024 PSAU SDG-RPF should align particularly with:

Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Funding priorities and expected outcomes

Priority will be given to proposals that clearly elucidate connections between their outcomes and the SDGs as well as the 169 targets and 230 indicators linked to the SDGs.

While the funding will be tailored towards traditional outcomes, innovative outcomes with compelling links advancing the attainment of the SDGs will also be considered.

Traditional outcomes expected from the project include:

Research articles indexed as Q1 or Q2 categories on the Elsevier database (number of publications will depend on actual amount awarded)
Lead to creation of a startup with focus on the SDGs.
Each of the outcomes must be accompanied with a graphical abstract that clearly encapsulates the relationship between the project outcomes, the SDGs, their targets, and indicators.

Award amount:

UP to 125000 SAR (The funding amount would vary depending on the scope ,quality of the proposal and the required outcomes.)

Project duration:

12 months

Acknowledgment:

All project outcomes shall be deemed as property of PSAU and must be duly acknowledged via stipulated funding statements.

Authorship:

PSAU faculty should be the first or corresponding author in all outcomes funded under the programme.

In the spirit of the SDGs, at least 50% of the authorship of all project outcomes should be affiliated to institutions whose geographical location is in countries whose economic standing is at par or below that of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, such authors should come from at least two different countries or geographical entities.

Application Form

Personal details

Name:

Surname First name Other names

Rank: ●Lecturer ● Assistant Professor ● Associate Professor● Professor

ID Number:

Staff Number:

College:

Department:

Project details

Category(choose 1):

People
Planet
Prosperity
Peace & Partnerships

Targeted SDGs (at least 2):SDG1-17
Targets(Refer to link+++):1-169
Indicators(Refer to link+++): 1-260
Highlight the present challenges that the project is aimed at addressing.
Explain how technology can address the challenge(s)enumerated in B(1) above.
Explain how the proposed solution maps to the targeted SDGs as well as the targets and indicators that are addressed by the solution.
Reports at the end of the projects must provide measurable outcomes regarding the attainment of the indicators in B(4) above.

Application period :

3/9/2023 till 16/9/2023

The Submission of the proposal :

via the link

https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Through its deanship for scientific research, PSAU has designed and funded a number of policies programmes to promote research in all the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These programmes target academic and industrial partnerships with researchers, institutions, and NGOs locally, regionally, and globally.

The outcomes of the above research efforts include 2000+ articles in top journals as well as publications in proceedings of reputable conferences, symposia, and workshops.

The list below provides links to some of the enumerated publications majority of which were co-authored with researchers from developing countries globally.

SDG 1

https://repository.psau.edu.sa/jspui/simple-search?query=poverty

SDG 2

https://repository.psau.edu.sa/jspui/simple-search?query=food

SDG 3

https://repository.psau.edu.sa/jspui/handle/123456789/50

https://repository.psau.edu.sa/jspui/simple-search?query=covid

SDG 4

https://repository.psau.edu.sa/jspui/simple-search?query=health

SDG 5

https://repository.psau.edu.sa/jspui/simple-search?query=female

SDG 6