- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology hosts "Korea-Saudi Arabia Partnership Forum on Key Technologies of the Future"

- Discussion on the necessity for cooperation in four key areas: digital technology, energy, biotechnology, and space

The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong Ho, hereinafter referred to as 'MSIT') announced that President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the "Republic of Korea-Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Partnership Forum on Key Technologies of the Future," (hereinafter referred to as the 'Partnership Forum') hosted by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology on October 23^rd, local time in Saudi Arabia.

The Partnership Forum was organized on the occasion of an invitation to the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (hereinafter referred to as 'KACST'), sent by the government of Saudi Arabia to President Yoon Suk Yeol. The event was attended by a number of prominent figures including H.E. Abdullah Al-Swaha, the Saudi Arabian Minister of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), H.E. Munir M. Eldesouki, the President of KACST, Lee Woo Il, the Vice President of the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology (PACST), and Lee Kwang Hyung, the President of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). The chairs of the four sessions representing each field consisting the Partnership Forum were also present. Together, the attendees discussed Korea-Saudi Arabia bilateral cooperation in the fields of advanced digital technology, clean energy, advanced biotechnology, and space, along with President Yoon Suk Yeol.

* (Session 1: Advanced digital technology) H.E. Mariam Nouh, the Vice President of Economies of the Future Sector, KACST, (Session 2: Clean Energy) Yi Chang-Keun, the President of Korea Institute of energy Research (KIER), (Session 3: Advanced biotechnology) H.E. Batoul Baz, the Vice President of Health Sector, KACST, (Session 4: Space) Choi Young-jun, the Senior Researcher at Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)

             The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology is a governmental organization for general research that plays a leading role in Saudi Arabia's science and technology innovation through its 6 national research institutes and 14 research cooperation centers for fostering collaboration between the industry, academia and research. Its research activities encompass a wide range of fields of study, from basic and applied sciences to big sciences, such as aerospace and nuclear power.

             During the field-specific sessions held earlier in the morning, experts from both countries shared recent advancements in technological development and discussed future cooperation, focusing on four key areas:

1) Advanced digital technology: smart city, hyper-scale artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and services

2) Clean energy: solar energy, hydrogen storage and transportation

3) Advanced biotechnology: bioinformatics for digital bio, genetic editing, RNA and tissue engineering for green bio

4) Space: Space and lunar exploration, development of satellites for scientific and technological purposes

             President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the forum and delivered a message that the focus of bilateral cooperation between two countries should expand from energy and construction to science, technology, and the digital technology, in line with the transition in industrial and economic paradigm. As digital technology, clean energy, and the endlessly promising areas of space and bio- and health technology serve as the first and foremost foundation for all industries and innovations, he expressed hope that these fields would become the point of departure for future bilateral cooperation.

             President Yoon Suk Yeol further emphasized that if Saudi Arabia, which is currently exploring options to increase foreign investment in the science, technology, and digital sectors, strengthens strategic partnership with Korea, a powerhouse in those sectors, it could see significant collaborative synergies and generate new added value through such cooperation.

             Before the meeting with experts scheduled on the same day, President Yoon Suk Yeol visited several exhibitions showcasing significant technological achievements of Saudi Arabia, including a virtual hospital, and listened to explanations from Saudi officials.

             In prior to this event, on October 6^th, Minister Lee Jong Ho of MSIT had a meeting with the Saudi Arabian Minister of MCIT to discuss ways to vitalize bilateral cooperation in the fields of science, technology, and ICT.

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.



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