The Kingdom elected Vice-Chair of the Global Research Council for the third time
Renewing international confidence in Saudi competencies
The GRC Board of Governors reaffirmed its strong confidence in Saudi expertise, unanimously electing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by His Excellency Dr. Munir bin Mahmoud Al-Dasouqi, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), as Vice-Chair of the Board. This significant announcement was made during the 14th Annual Meeting of the GRC, held in Bangkok, Thailand. This election, for the third consecutive time, is a solid international testament to the Kingdom's growing leadership in the global scientific and research landscape and its active role in supporting the GRC's future directions and objectives.
Historical context and importance of the World Research Council
Established in 2012, the Global Research Council is a high-level international platform that brings together the heads of research councils and scientific and research funding institutions from around the world. The Council's primary aim is to foster effective communication, support high-quality research collaborations, and facilitate the exchange of international best practices. In this context, the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) plays a historic and pivotal role as the national umbrella organization for scientific research in Saudi Arabia, leading efforts to transfer and localize technology, support innovation, and empower scientific and research institutions to develop their capabilities in accordance with international best practices.
Regional influence and representation of the Middle East region
Regionally, this election reflects the Kingdom's prominent presence in the global research landscape, as Saudi Arabia represents the Middle East and North Africa region on the Board of Governors of the Global Research Council. The Kingdom plays a leading role in supporting collaborative regional efforts among research councils in the region, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and innovation. As a culmination of these efforts, the Kingdom continues its pivotal role by hosting the Secretariat of the periodic regional meetings of research councils in the Middle East and North Africa at KAUST, thus contributing to a unified vision and the allocation of research funding to priority issues for the region.
Alignment with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030
Domestically, this international achievement aligns closely with the ambitious aspirations of Saudi Vision 2030. The wise leadership has placed great emphasis on the research, development, and innovation sector, culminating in the launch of the National Research and Development Priorities. The Kingdom's presence at the forefront of the World Research Council enables the Saudi R&D and innovation ecosystem to build robust international strategic partnerships, thus accelerating the Kingdom's transformation towards a sustainable knowledge-based economy.
International impact and shaping the future of scientific research
Internationally, through this position, the Kingdom contributes to shaping the future direction of the World Research Council. The continued international confidence in Saudi Arabia's leadership reflects its unwavering commitment to supporting the global research and development ecosystem and addressing shared global challenges through innovative scientific solutions. By strengthening its research and scientific collaborations at both the regional and international levels, the Kingdom reaffirms its role as a key partner and decision-maker in charting the future course of science and technology for the benefit of humanity.
