Riyadh, February 24, 2020, SPA -- Under the patronage of Minister of Education Dr. Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Al- Sheikh, the Saudi Agency for Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Education will hold tomorrow the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Diseases Forum under the theme “Towards Achieving Sustainable Research Development” at the conferences center of King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS). The forum will present different research proposals on infectious diseases, including latest discoveries related to novel coronavirus, and latest updates related to Saudi scientists’ efforts to develop vaccine for this virus. The Minister of Education extended his thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense for their support and care for the research and innovation sector. The innovation and research sector is considered as a vital sector to achieve the Kingdom's Vision 2030; as a result, the Saudi government has paid great attention to research, innovation, and entrepreneurship sectors. One of the Kingdom's goals as stated in the Vision 2030 is to be among the top 10 countries in Global Competitiveness Index by 2030 which is related directly to research development. The second objective related to research and innovation sector is to have at least 5 Saudi universities among top 200 universities in international rankings. The Saudi Agency for Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Education in collaboration with universities and different institutions is working to support and enable research and innovation in Saudi Arabia. --SPA 13:04 LOCAL TIME 10:04 GMT 0008 www.spa.gov.sa/w1272623