RIYADH, Jul 1 (NNN-SPA) – Saudi Arabian Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, announced yesterday, national priorities in research, development and innovation in the next 20 years.
The national “priorities and aspirations” aim to boost the contribution of the sector to GDP, to 60 billion Saudi riyals (about 16 billion U.S. dollars), in 2040.
The two-decade plans cover human health, environmental sustainability, energy and industry pioneering, and future economies, it said.
The crown prince highlighted the ambition of Saudi Arabia, to become a global innovation leader, with spending in the sector amounting to 2.5 percent of the GDP by 2040.
As part of the plans, the kingdom will expand high-tech digital healthcare, develop water desalination, and facilitate alternative energy innovation, including green hydrogen, solar and wind.
A national strategy for the sector will be launched, to pave the way for national programmes, to tackle local and global challenges.
