Highlights From The Riyadh Global Summit For Medical Biotechnology

An important part of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is to be a global leader in the knowledge based economy that includes biotechnology. On September 14-16, 2021, biotechnology leaders from around the world came together for the?Riyadh Global Summit For Medical Biotechnology 12th Annual Forum for Medical Research. The objective of this conference was to outline the future by pushing the boundaries of current thinking and practices towards a sustainable medical biotechnology enterprise in the Kingdom. Distinguished speakers addressed the challenges and opportunities that will impact the Kingdom, the region, and the world and proposed models for biotechnology development and academic-industrial partnerships.

Privileged Patronage

The Summit was under the privileged patronage and the auspices of HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and was inaugurated by HRH Prince Abdullah Bib Bandar bin Abdulaziz Minister of the National Guard. This reflects the utmost importance given by the leadership of the country and all other interested parties to this strategic field of biotechnology.?

Speakers and Attendees

Distinguished speakers included senior executives from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, GSK, Bayer, Novartis, Moderna, Sanofi Pasteur,?GE Healthcare, Saudi Ministry of Investment, National Industrial Development Center, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), Apricity Health, Rockland Immunochemicals, The Biodesign Institute, Sporos Bioventures, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Imperial College London, Northeastern University, AbZyme, Pharmacopea, MAScIR Foundation, Biotech Cluster Development GmbH, Danaher Corporation, Hevolution Foundation, The Gene Editing Institute at ChristianaCare, Alvarez & Marsal, and Constellation.

Summit Highlights

1) Welcome by Dr. Bandar Al Knawy

The Summit was opened with a welcome message from Dr. Bandar Al Knawy, CEO of Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs and President of King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.

2) KAIMRC?and SDAIA

During the first day of the Summit a MOU was signed between?KAIMRC?and Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) for the purpose of supporting research in collecting and analyzing medical data.

3) KAIMRC, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, and Pfizer

At the Summit a MOU was signed between?KAIMRC, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, and Pfizer for the purposes of vaccine development.?

4) Collaborations Focused On Vaccine Development

KAIMRC Executive Director, Dr. Ahmed Al Askar, signed a number of MOUs virtually with specialized companies during the Summit for the purpose of?vaccine development.?

Organizing Committee

Scientific Topics

International Speakers & Participants

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

Summit Organizers, Sponsors, and Partners

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This article was written by?Margaretta Colangelo.?Margaretta is Co-founder and CEO of?Jthereum an enterprise Blockchain technology company. She is associate editor at AI Time Journal and serves on the advisory board of the AI Precision Health Institute at the University of Hawai?i?Cancer Center. She is based in San Francisco.?@realmargaretta