SALALAH: Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, in association with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), launched on Tuesday the 'Forum for the Present and Future of Scientific Research and Innovation in the GCC Countries - 2023.'
The two-day event began in Salalah under the auspices of His Highness Marwan bin Turki al Said, Governor of Dhofar. The forum aims to foster collaboration and advancement in scientific research and innovation among the GCC member states.
Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, stressed that scientific research is the key to producing and possessing knowledge, and that it is the role of higher education institutions and research centres.
She also said that the efforts of knowledge producers must be integrated with technological efforts in order to turn the products of scientific research into a tangible reality. This could take the form of a new product, a significant improvement to an existing product, a new marketing method, or a startup.
"Since the establishment of GCC, the Arab Gulf countries have realised that the benefit of knowledge produced by scientific research remains limited if it does not have a continuous and sustainable development impact on the industry," Dr Rahma said.
Abdullah al Rubaie, Head of the Human and Environmental Affairs Sector at the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, said that scientific and technical research has been a key priority since the inception of the GCC. This commitment was further solidified by the Economic Agreement of 2001.
Al Rubaie, while speaking on behalf of the GCC, highlighted the unwavering dedication of the Gulf leaderships towards advancing scientific research. Right from the outset, the leaders of the GCC countries recognised the pivotal role of scientific and technical progress in shaping the region's future.
The GCC's endeavour to promote cooperation in scientific and technical fields reflects their ambition to leverage joint projects for the collective benefit of member nations. This concerted effort aims to strengthen the region's position on the global stage and enhance its capabilities in various scientific domains.
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