Biotechnology is set to play a vitally important role in all aspects of life. This new technology provides exciting opportunities in the discovery of ever-increasing knowledge for the benefit of humanity by improving the quality and availability of food and nutrition, reducing our environmental footprint and improving our healthcare.


Biotechnology's potential has prompted governments around the world to actively invest in life sciences' capabilities. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has identified biotechnology as one of the strategic technologies to be developed in its National Plan of Science and Technology.


The Ministry of Higher Education established and funded a program to establish centers for research excellence in Saudi universities in an attempt to improve the environment of research and development. The Center of Excellence in Biotechnology Research (CEBR) has been established on 1/3/1428 H (10/3/ 2007 AD) at King Saud University and was granted the sum of 45 million Saudi Riyals, by establishing a mission-oriented research association between:

The center is functioning as a multi-disciplinary virtual center utilizing facilities and human resources available at King Saud University, for the development of research programs to solve problems affecting our society.

The establishment of Center of Excellence in Biotechnology Research has streamed line research in Biotechnology at King Saud University. The center has functioned as multi- disciplinary virtual center utilizing facilities and human resources available at King Saud University and will develop research groups working to solve problems affecting our society. The goal was to build and facilitate a biotechnology network of people and facilities to enhance existing academic research, to catalyse unique interdisciplinary research initiatives and to foster the partnership that creates high quality research. The center has taken this opportunity to lead in the development and marketing of knowledge and expertise in medical, pharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology in the kingdom.