Innovation
From The Report: Saudi Arabia 2022
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A productive cross-sectoral innovation ecosystem underpins the world’s leading economies, enabling countries such as the US, China and Germany to respond effectively to existential challenges, economic inefficiencies and commercial opportunities that ultimately bolster economic sustainability. In recognition of this, Saudi Arabia’s government is working to plug gaps in the Kingdom’s own innovation ecosystem by ensuring each sector of its economy has a strong research, development and innovation (RDI) component. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign reserves and reformed regulatory frameworks have enabled rapid economic diversification, and its flourishing RDI entities have made significant contributions to the Kingdom’s search for solutions to national challenges, which include water scarcity, genetic diseases, the Covid-19 pandemic, the energy transition and food insecurity.

This chapter contains an interview with Munir El Desouki, President, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

The search for solutions: The Kingdom is working to bolster its economy through an enhanced research, development and innovation ecosystem
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A productive cross-sectoral innovation ecosystem underpins the world’s leading economies, enabling countries such as the US, China and Germany to respond effectively to existential challenges, economic inefficiencies and commercial opportunities – ultimately bolstering economic sustainability. In recognition of this, Saudi Arabia’s government is working to plug gaps in the Kingdom’s own innovation ecosystem by ensuring each sector of its economy has a strong research, development and innovation…

Interview

Ahead of the curve: Munir El Desouki, President, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), on the future of research, development and innovation, and encouraging greater private sector collaboration
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Interview:Munir El Desouki How can the Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) enhance the research, development and innovation (RDI) ecosystem? MUNIR EL DESOUKI: The RDI ecosystem is constantly evolving, and as such, the policies and regulations involved need to be regularly updated. This requires the undivided attention of all key stakeholders. The RDIA was established in 2021 to orchestrate and oversee the entire RDI ecosystem, ensuring that all stakeholders advance in the…

Analysis

Positive impact: Innovative and disruptive technologies are helping the Kingdom find cost-effective solutions to pressing challenges
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Economy-wide digitalisation and a steadily developing innovation ecosystem are aiding socioeconomic development in Saudi Arabia. When strategically implemented and harnessed, innovative and disruptive technologies not only positively impact commercial economic performance, but also equip nations to find cost-effective solutions to pressing challenges. Saudi Arabia’s government has built its long-term socioeconomic development blueprint, Vision 2030, around its appreciation of that fact, prioritising…