RIYADH: The Global Research Council has approved Saudi Arabia, represented by the Research, Development and Innovation Authority and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, to host its 13th annual meeting in 2025, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The 12th annual meeting of the Global Research Council was hosted this week by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Fund for Science, Technology and Innovation in Interlaken, Switzerland. Munir bin Mahmoud El-Desouki, president of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and deputy chairman of the Global Research Council, highlighted the importance of the topics to be discussed at the upcoming 13th annual meeting in Riyadh. The event will be held in partnership with Turkiye, represented by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye. The meeting will focus on “research management in the age of artificial intelligence” and “collaborative innovation to address global challenges toward achieving sustainable development, including climate change, pollution, and biodiversity.” These themes have been chosen to align with global trends and the Kingdom’s future aspirations in research, development and innovation. El-Desouki highlighted that the use of AI applications in research and development had been one of the most significant global advancements in recent years. He said that employing this technology would help to identify opportunities and address challenges in the research, development and innovation sectors. He urged the council’s member states to share their experiences and insights on AI advances and their contributions to research and development. He also stressed the importance of research in supporting sustainable development, noting its crucial role in understanding the complex environmental, social and economic challenges facing the world. Mohammed Al-Otaibi, general supervisor of the Research, Development and Innovation Authority, welcomed the Global Research Council’s decision to have the Kingdom host the 13th annual meeting in 2025. He highlighted the importance of enhancing regional collaboration among research councils in the Middle East and North Africa to strengthen their impact and contributions to global knowledge and innovation.