Guidance

UK Science and Innovation Network Country Snapshot: Saudi Arabia

An introductory brief from the UK Science & Innovation Network which covers local Science & Innovation landscape, UK priorities and successes in Saudi Arabia.

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UK Science & Innovation Network Country Snapshot: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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Details

The Science and innovation network engages with the local science & innovation community in support of UK policy overseas and also to aid in the development of strategic partnerships.

Science and innovation are at the heart of the government strategy for promoting prosperity and growth. Research and knowledge is increasingly developed and transferred through international collaboration which provides opportunities to work with the best in the world, exchange students and researchers, and gain access to large scale international facilities; leading to mutual benefits for the UK and Saudi Arabia.

Responsibilities

The Science and Innovation Network (SIN) has more than 100 officers in over 40 countries and territories around the world building partnerships and collaborations on science and innovation.

In Saudi Arabia, SIN is working on the following global objectives:

  • Establishing the UK as Saudi Arabia’s pivotal partner of choice in science and innovation.
  • Supporting the Saudi Arabia in enhancing their resilience and security by addressing long-term threats, including emerging health issues and global challenges on water and food security, as well as through building their capacity to deliver evidence-based policies.
  • Increasing trade and investment
  • Broadening security cooperation between the UK and Saudi Arabia – keeping Britain, and our interests, safe.
  • Strengthening bilateral relationship through engagement on science and innovation.
  • Helping Saudi Arabia to deliver commitments made at COP 26.
  • Helping Saudi Arabia deliver on Vision 2030 and achieving economic diversification.
  • Engaging with the next generation of thinkers.
  • Helping Saudi Arabia to deliver on G20 commitments.

Priorities for Saudi Arabia

SIN activities in Saudi Arabia are focused on the following priority thematic areas:

  • Clean and Renewable Energy
  • Future/SMART Cities
  • Future Tech
  • Climate Change
  • Artificial Intelligence

Our services

The Gulf Science and Innovation Network consist of four officers covering all six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with the Head of SIN (Gulf) leading from Doha. In Saudi Arabia, SIN is based at the British Embassy in Riyadh. We work closely with Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Political and Prosperity teams, as well as with the British Council.

For an introductory brief which covers the local Science and Innovation landscape, UK priorities and activities in Saudi Arabia, read the UK Science and Innovation Network Country Snapshot.

Opportunities

For information on forthcoming science collaboration events, these are publicised on the Embassy Facebook page, and we chat about them regularly on Twitter, too.

Contact us

You can email, or telephone us on:
Email: SIN.Gulf@fcdo.gov.uk
Tel: +966 11 481 9293

Or

Head of UK Science and Innovation Network (Gulf)

Nick Boucher: Nicholas.Boucher@fco.gov.uk

Tel: +974 4496 2057

Mobile: +974 3375 9387

Updates to this page

Published 12 December 2016
Last updated 3 January 2023 + show all updates
  1. Updated Content

  2. Update August 20-2020

  3. UK Science and Innovation Network Country Snapshot: Saudi Arabia attachment updated

  4. Attached new Saudi Arabia Snapshot for 2018.

  5. First published.

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