Riyadh: The 13th Annual Meeting of the Global Research Council (GRC) kicked off yesterday in Riyadh, organized by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and the Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA), in partnership with the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Trkiye (T€¦‚¬Å“BITAK). The event brings together 200 representatives from 66 countries, including 54 heads of research organizations, alongside leaders and experts from global scientific research and innovation funding institutions.
According to Saudi Press Agency, in his opening remarks, President of KACST, Vice Chair of the GRC Governing Board, and MENA representative Dr. Munir M. Eldesouki emphasized that hosting the GRC meeting for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa region represents a major step toward enhancing global innovation.
He noted that the meeting is being held at ‘The Garage,’ a location that symbolizes the ambitious transformation driven by Saudi Vision 2030. Once a parking facility, the site has been transformed into the region’s largest deep-tech incubator, providing access to more than 100 national laboratories and enabling the transfer of applied research from lab to market. The Garage currently hosts over 300 startups, has graduated 600 startups over the past two years, created 7,500 jobs, and generated a market value exceeding $2 billion.
Acting Head of the RDIA Dr. Mohammed Alotaibi highlighted the Kingdom’s growing global presence, noting that hosting this meeting reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building world-class research infrastructure. He added that Vision 2030 seeks to attract top talent, foster an enabling environment that transforms ideas into reality, and promote open science principles and ethical AI frameworks.
Chair of the GRC Governing Board and President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Dr. Alejandro Adem expressed his appreciation to the Kingdom for hosting the meeting, describing it as a unique opportunity to address global challenges. He affirmed the international consensus on the vital role of research and innovation in tackling these challenges and reiterated the GRC’s commitment to sustainable global collaboration.
President of T€¦‚¬Å“BITAK Dr. Orhan Aydin underscored the importance of international cooperation among GRC members to address global challenges, such as the transition to clean energy and emissions reduction. He emphasized that through joint efforts, effective environmental solutions can be developed, helping to shape a better future for humanity and the planet through high-quality research and innovation.
The opening session also featured inspiring success stories from young Saudi innovators, showcasing the outcomes of the national research, development, and innovation ecosystem. Engineer Fajr Al-Khalifi developed a hybrid device that generates energy from both sunlight and rain, while Manal Alaskari designed an advanced system for capturing solar and thermal energy with high efficiency.
Saudi scientists also shared their experiences in transforming applied research outcomes into deep-tech startups that support the national economy and Vision 2030 goals. Dr. Ali Al-Hassan founded a company specializing in cost-effective nanotechnology treatments for genetic diseases, and Dr. Huda Al-Khalaf introduced ‘MammoStem,’ a startup offering advanced stem cell-based medical solutions.
The meeting’s agenda included discussions on innovative approaches to supporting science amid global challenges, with a keynote by Rector of the United Nations University Professor Tshilidzi Marwala. Dr. Waleed Al-Sunaie of KACST also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in advancing scientific research systems.
Sessions focused on regional collaboration strategies, the impact of AI on innovation, and empowering research communities through modern technology. Working groups addressed scientific innovation in the Americas, research cooperation prospects in Asia-Pacific, research priorities in Europe, and the development of research infrastructure in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The sessions concluded with a review of key principles for managing scientific research in the age of artificial intelligence.
