The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) is set to bring its flagship event, the 19th Annual GPCA Forum, to Bahrain for the first time.
Held under the patronage of the Oil and Environment Ministry, the premier industry event will take place between today and Thursday, at the state-of-the-art Exhibition World Bahrain.
Hosted by the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC), this year’s forum will tackle the theme, ‘Catalysing Competitiveness through Strategic Partnerships’.
The highly-anticipated gathering of global chemical CEOs, policymakers, and industry leaders will be highlighted by a keynote address from renowned theoretical physicist Professor Jim Al Khalili CBE FRS.
Prof Al Khalili will deliver his high-profile address on the opening day. Titled ‘Pathfinders of Innovation: Lessons from the Golden Age of Science for Today’s Global Leaders’, the address will see the academic draw parallels between the great historical epochs of scientific discovery and the modern innovation challenges faced by global industry. Prof Al Khalili will explore how the spirit of scientific breakthroughs can inspire chemical leaders to foster collaboration, overcome uncertainty, and champion bold strategies for transformation in the decade ahead.
Prof Al Khalili CBE FRS is a leading British-Iraqi physicist and a renowned science communicator, holding the Distinguished Professor Emeritus chair at the University of Surrey, UK.
His works, including The House of Wisdom and Pathfinders: The Golden Age of Arabic Science, challenge the prevailing narrative of Western intellectual history. Prof Al Khalili argues that during the Middle Ages, the Arab world was an intellectual “hothouse” where science flourished, saving ancient knowledge and providing the foundational innovations that ultimately sparked the European Renaissance.
He champions forgotten pioneers like the physicist Ibn Al Haytham (who established the modern scientific method) and the mathematician Al Khwarizmi. Educated in Iraq, Prof Al Khalili is passionate about showing that this legacy belongs to all humanity.
As the global chemical sector grapples with the energy transition, digital disruption, and geopolitical uncertainty, the forum will underscore the urgent need for collaboration, innovation and sustainability. The agenda will focus heavily on how strategic partnerships, AI-driven innovation, and circularity strategies are essential for securing competitive advantage, improving operational efficiency, and accelerating industry transformation.
The event will open today with welcome remarks from Abdulrahman Al Fageeh, chief executive officer of Sabic and chairman of GPCA, followed by a ministerial address from host country representative Oil and Environment Minister Dr Mohammed Bin Daina.
avinash@gdnmedia.bh
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