RIYADH: Munir Eldesouki, the president of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, has stressed the crucial role of science and technology in Saudi Vision 2030, during a speech in Kyoto, Japan.
Speaking at the Science and Technology in Society forum, he highlighted their importance in driving sustainability and economic growth while addressing global challenges such as climate change, food security, health crises, and artificial intelligence advancements, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Eldesouki spoke of Saudi Arabia’s goal of producing 600 tonnes of green hydrogen per day by 2026 through the world’s largest green hydrogen plant, potentially reducing global carbon dioxide emissions by 5 million tonnes annually.
He also stressed the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainability, with plans to establish the largest carbon capture and storage centers, reaching a capacity of 9 million tonnes annually by 2027 and expanding to 44 million tonnes by 2035.
Eldesouki stressed KACST’s eco-friendly technologies to combat dengue fever, which aimed for a 70 percent reduction in cases by 2027, and the Kingdom’s use of space technologies to conserve 9 billion cubic meters of groundwater.
He added that Saudi Arabia actively supported young scientists, researchers, and innovators, with KACST launching initiatives in Web3, electronic games, and augmented reality to equip them with digital transformation skills.
He highlighted the establishment of The Garage, a business incubator and accelerator for deep technology startups in Riyadh, which supports over 200 startups from over 50 countries.
Eldesouki invited global research and development leaders to Riyadh Expo 2030 — called “A Different Tomorrow” — in which Saudi Arabia will showcase innovations shaping a sustainable, prosperous future, with a focus on science and technology.
Eldesouki met Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou on the forum’s sidelines to discuss collaboration in R&D and healthcare cybersecurity.
He also met Mitsubishi Research Institute President Kenji Yabuta to explore cooperation in AI, renewable energy, healthcare, and digital transformation.
