RIYADH: Under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, a knowledge-based society is being established in the Kingdom for the greater good of its people, said Education Minister Prince Faisal bin Abdullah at the inauguration of the Advanced Technologies Forum (ATF) 2009 at King Faisal Hall here yesterday.
“Current development projects in e-government, and vocational and technical training, and the establishment of King Abdullah University for Science and Technology bear ample testimony to the king’s commitment to creating a knowledge and industry-based society in the Kingdom,” he added.
The three-day program, which was attended by public officials, policy makers, trainers, educators and international specialists in IT, science and technology, is sponsored by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).
Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel, president of KACST, said his organization has allocated SR8 billion for scientific and technological development in the Kingdom. He added that KACST has signed three agreements yesterday with international organizations relating to IT and nanotechnology. “These measures will transform the country into a knowledge-based society,” he added.
Al-Suwaiyel said the conference is aimed at obtaining scientific and technology knowledge needed for the Kingdom to achieve sustained development and offer a better quality of life. The conference will have 45 local and international speakers who will present 28 scientific papers during its seven sessions, he added.
“KACST’s efforts in the area of science and technology have culminated in the Council of Ministers approving the National Policy for Science and Technology as a first step toward completing the strategy and plans needed to implement the policies of the Comprehensive National Plan for Science and Technology, which outlines and defines the future directions of the system of science, technology and innovation in the Kingdom,” he added.
The conference’s second session was chaired by KACST Vice President Prince Turki bin Saud who spoke on the Kingdom’s national science and technology plan. During this session, professor Nuket Yetis, president of the Scientific and Technological Research Council in Turkey, spoke on the Turkish experience of science and technology development. This was followed by a presentation on science, technology and innovation initiatives with special reference to rapid transformation in Germany by professor Hans-Jorg Bulinger.
