The Saudi Water Authority (SWA), in partnership with the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Advanced Materials (IRC-AM) at KFUPM, has won the NCPD International Prize 2025 for developing a groundbreaking green corrosion inhibitor technology made from palm waste.

The award, presented on November 26 in Riyadh by the Saudi Arabian Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, recognizes the project’s impact on reducing materials degradation in desalination plants through sustainable, homegrown innovation.

The technology was jointly developed by SWA and KFUPM, showcasing a unified national effort to transform palm waste into a high-impact green solution for corrosion control. The KFUPM research team comprising Dr. Ahmad Sorour, Dr. Ime Bassey Obot, Dr. Saviour Umoren, and Dr. Nestor Ankah-played a central role in advancing the scientific foundation and materials innovation that made this achievement possible.