Jeddah, Oct. 03, 2022, SPA -- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) participated in the 19th session of the Annual Meeting of Science and Technology in Society forum (STS 2022), taking place in Kyoto, Japan, from 2-4 October 2022, in the presence of the Japanese Prime Minister, the honorary president of the forum, and a group of leaders and experts. The Kingdom’s delegation to the forum was headed by KACST President Dr. Munir bin Mahmoud Al-Desouki, who confirmed in a dialogue session chaired by the President of the European Council Maria Leptin, that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that invested in basic research, and its funding amounted to 50% of the total funding in research and development, adding that Saudi Arabia will continue to support such research, and will focus more in the next stage on innovation and the role of the private sector in it. Dr. Al-Desouki highlighted the key transformation that the Kingdom is witnessing in the research, development and innovation sector in light of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, and the efforts led by the state to develop this vital sector through the formation of the Supreme Committee for Research, Development and Innovation (RDI), chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, establishing the Research, Development and Innovation Development Authority, and launching national aspirations and priorities for research, development and innovation that focus on human health, environmental sustainability, leadership in energy and industry and future economies. The forum saw the signing of a letter of intent by Dr. Al-Desouki, who is also supervising the founding team of the Research, Development and Innovation Development Authority, and the Director of the American National Science Foundation Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, to explore areas of scientific, technical and research cooperation of common interest, and possible ways that benefit the two countries. The signing of the letter comes within the framework of the scientific and technical cooperation agreement signed between the Kingdom and the United States, to develop the research, development and innovation sector, and achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to transform towards an innovation-based economy. On the sidelines of the Forum, Dr. Al-Desouki held several meetings with the heads of participating universities, institutes and research centers to enhance cooperation in areas that focus on national aspirations for research, development, and innovation. --SPA 23:16 LOCAL TIME 20:16 GMT 0042 www.spa.gov.sa/w1793307