Riyadh, Aug. 23, 2021, SPA -- President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Dr. Munir bin Mahmoud Al-Desouki said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is among the top 50 countries in the world with the most scientific research share as revealed by the Nature Index 2021, an achievement attributed to the unlimited support of the Saudi government for research, development and innovation sectors. Al-Desouki said this achievement was driven by the accelerated steps taken by the leadership to enhance the Kingdom’s position in scientific research internationally, citing the government’s decision to form a higher committee for research, development and innovation headed by HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Research and Development, as well as the establishment of the Research, Development and Innovation Development Authority, which will contribute to enhancing the Kingdom’s opportunities to achieve advanced competitive ranks in scientific research and consolidate its leading position globally, to achieve the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in shifting towards an innovation-based economy. In his statement, Al-Desouki thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH the Crown Prince for their continuous support for and interest in the research, development and innovation sector. According to the Index, the Kingdom topped the Arab countries in the list of the world's 50 countries with the most share in scientific research and maintained its position globally as the highest contributor to the scientific research among Arab countries and the second-highest contributor in West Asia and the Middle East and Africa countries included in the this year’s Index. Saudi Arabia also topped the Arab countries in all four disciplines of the natural sciences periodicals that were analyzed, as well as being the highest contributor in the scientific research for each discipline. --SPA 19:53 LOCAL TIME 16:53 GMT 0023 www.spa.gov.sa/w1607273