Dr. Munir Eldesouki, President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Acting Governor of the Research, Development and Innovation Authority, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s pioneering experience in strengthening trust in science during the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum in Kyoto, Japan. The high-level gathering, held in October 2026, brought together leading scientific and technology figures, policymakers, and heads of research, academic, and industrial institutions from around the world to address rapid transformations in science and technology and their implications for societies and the future of development.
Context and Background
The STS Forum, an annual international platform, serves as a critical venue for dialogue on the intersection of science, technology, and society. This year’s discussions covered trust in science, artificial intelligence, open science, and the future of scientific research, as well as the responsibility of scientific institutions to balance the opportunities offered by advanced technologies with the responsible management of their challenges. Saudi Arabia’s participation underscores its commitment to contributing to international scientific cooperation and building strategic partnerships.
Dr. Eldesouki spoke at the plenary session titled ‘Why Trust Science?’ following his appointment as a distinguished member of the STS Forum Council. He was joined by Japan’s Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Yoshihiro Seki; Japanese scientist Professor Shimon Sakaguchi; Editor-in-Chief of Nature Magdalena Skipper; Chair of the Board of the Nobel Foundation Astrid Söderbergh Widding; and Professor Santa J. Ono. The session was chaired by Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Dr. Sudip Parikh.
Key Details
During the session, Dr. Eldesouki outlined several directions for building a more open and trusted research ecosystem. He emphasized that trust in science is grounded in scientific humility, openness, and accountability, as well as in the scientific community’s ability to review, verify, and transparently correct its findings. He highlighted the Kingdom’s direction toward expanding access to national research infrastructure for researchers and innovators, enabling broader use of laboratories, facilities, and scientific capabilities.
Dr. Eldesouki also underscored the advancement of open science principles to support research quality and the reliability of scientific findings, strengthen their testability, verification, and reproducibility, and expand opportunities for scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange locally and internationally. Furthermore, he addressed the Kingdom’s investments in Arabic-language artificial intelligence models and its progress in AI ethics and governance, supporting the development of technologies that reflect linguistic and cultural diversity, enhance the reliability of intelligent systems, clarify accountability for their decisions, and enable their outputs to be examined and verified.
He commended the STS Forum for providing a high-level international platform that brings together scientific and technology leaders from around the world, and recognized the efforts of the forum’s organizers in strengthening dialogue, exchanging perspectives and expertise, building bridges for international cooperation, and anticipating the opportunities and challenges associated with scientific and technological advances, helping direct their impact toward serving people and advancing development.
Implications and Impact
Saudi Arabia’s active participation in the STS Forum reflects its continued contribution to strengthening international scientific cooperation, building strategic partnerships, exchanging knowledge and expertise with leading scientific and research institutions, and contributing to international discussions on the future of science and emerging technologies. This engagement aligns with the Kingdom’s broader efforts to position itself as a global hub for innovation and research.
The emphasis on open science and AI ethics resonates with global trends, as nations worldwide grapple with ensuring that technological advancements are trustworthy and beneficial. Saudi Arabia’s focus on Arabic-language AI models is particularly significant, as it addresses the need for linguistic and cultural diversity in technology, potentially setting a precedent for other regions.
Vision 2030 Alignment
Saudi Arabia’s participation in the STS Forum and its initiatives to strengthen trust in science are directly aligned with Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy, foster innovation, and enhance the Kingdom’s global competitiveness. By investing in research infrastructure, open science, and responsible AI, Saudi Arabia is not only advancing its own development but also contributing to global scientific progress, reinforcing its role as a leader in shaping the future of science and technology.
20 Questions
Q1. What event did Dr. Munir Eldesouki attend in Japan?
A1. Dr. Munir Eldesouki attended the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum held in Kyoto, Japan, where he highlighted Saudi Arabia’s experience in strengthening trust in science.
Q2. What is Dr. Eldesouki’s position in Saudi Arabia?
A2. Dr. Munir Eldesouki is the President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Acting Governor of the Research, Development and Innovation Authority.
Q3. What was the title of the plenary session where Dr. Eldesouki spoke?
A3. The plenary session was titled ‘Why Trust Science?’ and focused on building a more open and trusted research ecosystem.
Q4. Who else participated in the plenary session with Dr. Eldesouki?
A4. Other participants included Japan’s Minister Yoshihiro Seki, Professor Shimon Sakaguchi, Magdalena Skipper, Astrid Söderbergh Widding, and Professor Santa J. Ono, with Dr. Sudip Parikh as chair.
Q5. What key directions did Dr. Eldesouki highlight for building trust in science?
A5. He highlighted scientific humility, openness, accountability, and the ability to review, verify, and transparently correct findings, along with expanding access to research infrastructure and advancing open science.
Q6. How is Saudi Arabia expanding access to research infrastructure?
A6. Saudi Arabia is enabling broader use of laboratories, facilities, and scientific capabilities for researchers and innovators to support research quality and collaboration.
Q7. What did Dr. Eldesouki say about open science?
A7. He emphasized that open science supports research quality, reliability, testability, verification, and reproducibility, and expands opportunities for scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Q8. What did Dr. Eldesouki mention about Arabic-language AI models?
A8. He addressed Saudi Arabia’s investments in Arabic-language AI models, which support linguistic and cultural diversity, enhance reliability, clarify accountability, and enable verification of outputs.
Q9. What is the significance of the STS Forum?
A9. The STS Forum provides a high-level international platform for scientific and technology leaders to strengthen dialogue, exchange expertise, build cooperation, and address opportunities and challenges in science and technology.
Q10. How does Saudi Arabia’s participation reflect its international scientific cooperation?
A10. It reflects Saudi Arabia’s continued contribution to strengthening international scientific cooperation, building strategic partnerships, and exchanging knowledge with leading institutions.
Q11. What is KACST’s role in Saudi Arabia’s science and technology sector?
A11. KACST is a premier national institution focused on advancing science and technology through research, development, and innovation to support Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and global competitiveness.
Q12. How does Saudi Arabia’s focus on AI ethics align with global trends?
A12. It aligns with global efforts to ensure trustworthy and beneficial technological advancements, addressing accountability, reliability, and cultural diversity in AI systems.
Q13. What is Vision 2030 and how does it relate to science and technology?
A13. Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia’s strategic framework to diversify the economy and foster innovation, with science and technology playing a central role in achieving sustainable development and global leadership.
Q14. What are the implications of Saudi Arabia’s participation in the STS Forum?
A14. It enhances Saudi Arabia’s global scientific standing, fosters partnerships, and contributes to international discussions on emerging technologies, aligning with its innovation goals.
Q15. How does open science benefit Saudi Arabia’s research ecosystem?
A15. Open science improves research quality, reliability, and reproducibility, and expands collaboration opportunities, thereby strengthening Saudi Arabia’s research ecosystem and global knowledge exchange.
Q16. What did Dr. Eldesouki commend about the STS Forum?
A16. He commended the forum for providing a high-level platform that strengthens dialogue, exchanges perspectives, builds international cooperation, and anticipates opportunities and challenges in science and technology.
Q17. How does Saudi Arabia’s investment in AI support Vision 2030?
A17. It supports Vision 2030 by driving innovation, enhancing technological self-sufficiency, and positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in responsible AI development that reflects cultural and linguistic diversity.
Q18. What is the Research, Development and Innovation Authority’s role?
A18. The authority oversees and coordinates Saudi Arabia’s research, development, and innovation efforts to ensure alignment with national priorities and Vision 2030 objectives.
Q19. Why is trust in science important for global development?
A19. Trust in science ensures that scientific findings are reliable, verifiable, and beneficial, fostering public confidence and enabling evidence-based policies that drive sustainable development worldwide.
Q20. How does Saudi Arabia’s participation in international forums advance its global role?
A20. It showcases Saudi Arabia’s leadership in science and technology, builds strategic partnerships, and contributes to shaping global agendas, reinforcing its role as a key player in international scientific cooperation.
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