KACST allocates SR263.2m for 147 research projects

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Chairman Prince Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed Al-Saud said here that the city has allocated SR263 .2 million for 147 research projects within the Kingdom.

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The chairman made this announcement when he presided at the 20th meeting of the Supervisory Committee for the National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (NPSTI) held at the KACST headquarters recently. 
He thanked Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his support to carry out the initiatives of the supervisory committee.
He pointed out in cooperation with the national plan of the Kingdom to work for a knowledge-based economy, the NPSTI has allocated around 85 percent of its funds for research in mega projects that would benefit both the researchers and the Kingdom . 
Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Sweilem said that 3,265 graduates have participated in various research projects undertaken by the KACST. The young researchers involved in the project is a substantial number from the graduate population in the country, he added. 
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has developed a long -term vision of science, technology and innovation (STI) to create a “knowledge-based economy and society through a globally competitive national STI ecosystem,” thus achieving the Kingdom’s strategic goal of becoming one of the advanced countries in science, technology and innovation by 1445H (2025). 
Accordingly, the Royal Decree issued in 1406H (1985) directed KACST to “propose a national policy for the development of science, technology, and innovation, in addition to developing the necessary strategy and plan to implement this policy.”
KACST’s achievements in this context began with the development of “the National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation National Plan (NPSTI) , which was approved by the Council of Ministers in 1423H (2002).
It embodies the Kingdom’s vision and its fundamental strategic plans, ensuring the continuous sustained developmental efforts to enhance the science and technology ecosystem activities, all the while providing a framework of appropriate priorities, options and policies for each planning phase, building the Saudi knowledge-based economy and society. 
To ensure the achievement of the national policy of science technology and innovation plan strategies, a national science, technology and innovation plan (NSTIP) was developed. 
The NSTIP consists of eight (8) strategic programs diverging into a number of projects to be co-executed by all national public and private Saudi economic sectors, so as to ensure the realization of the Kingdom’s long-term vision, which reflects the vision of government.