RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology has signed a number of cooperation agreements with American research and academic bodies to establish centers of excellence in emerging technologies. The deals also aim to implement strategic projects that enhance economic growth in the Kingdom, in line with its vision to transform into an innovation-based economy, Saudi Press Agency reported. Agreements were concluded with US institutions including the University of California- Santa Barbara, Stanford University, University of California - Los Angeles and California Institute of Technology, known as Caltech. The partnership with the world’s leading research and technology centers seeks to consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a regional center for research, development and innovation, KACST President, Munir bin Mahmoud El-Desouki, said. It also aims to achieve Saudi Vision 2030 by transferring and localizing emerging technologies and empowering national human resources, he added.