The British Council has signed a new agreement with the Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA), awarding funding for nine new joint research projects in the areas of healthcare, clean energy and environmental protection, delivered through the UK–KSA Research Collaboration Programme on behalf of the UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The first round of nine new research projects has received more than SR4 million to build UK-Saudi collaboration in areas such as water efficiency, environmental protection, antimicrobial resistance, precision medicine and genomics. This builds on previous research funding from the British Council and represents an important milestone in advancing scientific excellence.
The Research Collaboration UK–KSA Programme was funded through the first phase of the UK's flagship International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), building on a government-to-government MOU on research and innovation finalized between the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Research, Development and Innovation Authority in March 2024.
These nine research projects, including awards to KAUST and KACST, Princess Nourah University and King Saud University, bring to life the shared commitment.
The British Council is proud to be implementing the Research Collaboration UK-KSA Programme on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. As we look to the year ahead, it will be exciting to see these projects deliver innovation and discovery in areas of shared strategic interest.
Matthew Knowles, country director KSA and Bahrain, British Council, said: “When researchers from Saudi Arabia and the UK work together, they produce high-quality results. But we need new ways of increasing the breadth and volume of our partnership. Working on behalf of the UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and in partnership with the Research, Development and Innovation Authority, it is exciting to be planting nine new prestigious research projects in the critical areas of Healthcare and Clean Energy.
“From solar-powered technologies that harvest drinking water from the air, to new antimicrobial materials tackling some of the most urgent health threats of our time, we are drawing on our diverse strengths to ensure that these collaborations deliver real-world impact, accelerate innovation, and build lasting scientific links that benefit both our nations.”
Stephen Hitchen, British ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said: “This announcement is a powerful reflection of the depth and ambition of the partnership between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is especially encouraging to see our two countries investing together in scientific research and innovation, bringing outstanding researchers and institutions into closer collaboration to address shared priorities and unlock new opportunities for the future. I warmly welcome this milestone and look forward to seeing these partnerships strengthen further, to the benefit of both our countries and the wider global community.”
Dr. Rami Niazy, deputy governor for national programs and grants and acting deputy governor for strategy at the Research, Development and Innovation Authority, said: “This milestone reflects the strength of Saudi-UK collaboration in research and innovation. By supporting joint projects in health, clean energy and environmental protection, we are enabling researchers from both countries to develop practical solutions and create lasting scientific impact.”
Nicholas Boucher from the Science and Innovation Network in Saudi Arabia said: “These grants reflect the growing strength of the UK’s partnership with Saudi Arabia in research, development and innovation. By bringing together the world-class scientific expertise, innovation capability, and shared ambition of our two countries, we are creating new opportunities for collaboration in key areas we have identified together. The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is grateful to the Research, Development and Innovation Authority for its valued partnership, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration over the months and years ahead.”
