Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond is to travel to the Middle East this week on a two-day visit to sign a technology research agreement with renewables enterprise, Masdar.

The contract, which is the first of its kind between the company and an individual nation, will see Scotland’s Energy Technology Partnership, a union of 12 Scottish universities, partner with the Masdar Institute – the research-driven graduate-level university focusing on advanced energy and sustainable solutions – to develop new green technologies in wind, wave, tidal and solar power.

“It is clear that the work Masdar is taking forward on leading us to a low carbon society is in perfect synchronisation with the work we are doing here in Scotland,” explained Salmond.

“This is the first agreement of its kind between Masdar and an individual nation and will work towards developing further university research into renewable energy.”

“This landmark deal rightly puts Scotland firmly at the forefront of the green energy revolution and I look forward to this relationship between Scotland and Masdar growing and delivering for all our global futures.”

Masdar has also invited the First Minister as its guest at the World Future Energy Summit, where he is due to address an audience of world leaders. Other speakers at the summit include UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Premier Wen Jiabao of China.

This week’s trip to Abu Dhabi follows the Minister’s five-day visit to the Middle East in October last year.