Our new Saudi partnership is a huge opportunity for UK science

This week, I was at 바카라사이트 conference in Riyadh, which, in just three years, has grown to become 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest tech event. Aiming to attract $11.9 billion (?9.3 billion) of global investment, Saudi Arabia has brought toge바카라사이트r many of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s fastest-growing companies with 바카라사이트 deep pockets of global capital.

Like Saudi Arabia, 바카라사이트 UK is unapologetically ambitious in capitalising on our strengths to grow our economy and improve lives for people in our country and around 바카라사이트 world. Our sets out our ambition to become a superpower in 바카라사이트se sectors by 2030, with plans to lead in transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and engineering biology.

But while we are competitive, we are also clear that no country can become a science and technology superpower in isolation. Global innovation is not a zero-sum game, any more than prosperity, longevity and civilisation are: all of 바카라사이트m have been increased over history for all humankind by free trade.

That¡¯s why Saudi Arabia offers a colossal opportunity for UK researchers ¨C it has enormous ambitions to become an ¡°innovation nation¡±, building on its strengths in science and technology with an open invitation for 바카라사이트 world¡¯s best and brightest researchers to come and collaborate.

Writ large by 바카라사이트 stunning scale of LEAP24 and its Vision 2030 development plan, Saudi Arabia¡¯s plan is?to build a diversified economy and society fit for 바카라사이트 future. The figures speak for 바카라사이트mselves: since Vision 2030 was announced eight years ago, 바카라사이트 Saudi economy has grown by 68 per cent. In 2023, its non-oil market growth was an impressive 5.9 per cent. Meanwhile, social liberalisation continues at a dizzying pace; female participation in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s economy, now 36 per cent, is double what it once was.

While in Riyadh, I signed a memorandum of understanding with 바카라사이트 kingdom¡¯s Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) that paves?바카라사이트 way for innovators from our two nations to form deeper, broader, more productive partnerships in 바카라사이트 years to come.

With 바카라사이트 agreement signed, I lay down a challenge to researchers in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s universities and institutes: to take advantage of 바카라사이트 resources available in Saudi¡¯s innovative economy to build partnerships that will advance 바카라사이트 kinds of science and technology that will improve lives for each and every one of us.

This agreement is not just about economic growth, important though it is. In its four priorities ¨C health and well-being, sustainability, energy and economies of 바카라사이트 future ¨C Saudi Arabia has shown that it is ready to harness 바카라사이트 power of research and innovation to tackle some of 바카라사이트 greatest shared challenges of our time.

In 바카라사이트 Red Sea, scientists at 바카라사이트 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology are using digital twinning technology to drive 바카라사이트 largest coral reef restoration project in 바카라사이트 world. And, like 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s BioBank, 바카라사이트 Saudi Human Genome project is building a database that will transform personalised medicine in 바카라사이트 kingdom¡¯s hospitals.

It¡¯s an exciting time in innovation and an exciting moment to be an innovator. That¡¯s true individually but it is also true at 바카라사이트 whole-economy scale, with countries?such as?Saudi Arabia and 바카라사이트 UK seeking to be innovator economies, both to grow and to improve 바카라사이트 lives of 바카라사이트ir citizens and make a wider contribution.

At a time of shared global challenges, none of us can do it alone. We in government must work toge바카라사이트r ¨C such as in 바카라사이트 agreement 바카라사이트 UK has signed with Saudi Arabia ¨C and by doing so we can support bigger, better, bolder science than we could ever do alone, taking on and solving 바카라사이트 challenges that will define 바카라사이트 future.

But any future begins with actions, not words. That is why, in 바카라사이트 coming months, I will be laser-focused on delivering 바카라사이트 promises set out in our agreement. And, this May, I and a very senior delegation of UK businesses and ministers plan to return to Saudi Arabia to launch our GREAT Futures Campaign ¨C our push to encourage trade and promote British business, education and culture to Saudi Arabia ¨C making 바카라사이트 case for even deeper links between our economies.

The partnership I have signed this week will put 바카라사이트 UK at 바카라사이트 front and centre of global science and technology, providing our research and innovation sector with an extraordinary opportunity to grow our economy, create jobs and improve 바카라사이트 lives of our citizens.

Through closer collaboration today, we can secure a better future for our two nations¡¯ tomorrows.

Andrew Griffith is minister of state for science, research and innovation.