Saudi Arabia adopts a strategy to promote development, innovation and research | So Good News

Saudi Arabia’s top officials have revealed the imminent completion of a strategy for research and development, identifying key trends to boost development, innovation and research as part of the country’s transformation plan.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Education launched the first dialogue conference on “Integration and Sustainable Partnership” in Riyadh, which highlighted the possibility of developing a research and innovation system in Saudi universities to contribute to the Kingdom’s investments and economy.

Speakers, including ministers and officials, called for the importance of integration between different sectors by linking the research and innovation system at universities with the private sector to help achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

In this context, Minister of Investments of Saudi Arabia Eng. Khalid Al-Falih revealed that an integrated strategy for research and development in the Kingdom will soon be completed.

He said that public R&D spending on universities should be commensurate with the capabilities of the universities, which places a huge responsibility on them to earn the trust of the government.

Al-Falih stressed the need to turn research ideas in Saudi universities into investment value, stressing the importance of investing in research, development and innovation to further boost the overall economy.

In turn, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, Bandar al-Khorayef, stated that the innovative strategy will support domestic products and increase the Kingdom’s exports.

Research and development work will be allocated from the budget in all government agencies, he said, emphasizing the important elements that will contribute to the achievement of the Kingdom’s ambitious goals.

Al Khorayef noted that the restructuring of the research, development and innovation system and the achievement of coherence between all sectors contributed to increasing opportunities and strengthening economic success. In this regard, he emphasized the importance of connecting scientific research and innovations with industry, energy, and military-technical fields.

The Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal Al-Ibrahim, stated that the ministry is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and is responsible for coordinating the efforts of the public and private sectors to achieve the goals of the 2030 Vision.

Education Minister Youssef al-Bunyan affirmed that Saudi Arabia has valuable opportunities to compete in the global market.

“We have promising opportunities for training and employment of young people, forming an innovative generation,” he said at the conference.