Manama: As part of the Kingdom of Bahrain's presidency of the 46th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Dr. Diana Abdulkareem Al Jahromi, Secretary General of the Higher Education Council (HEC), chaired the sixth meeting of the Permanent Committee of Scientific Research and Innovation Officials of the GCC states. The meeting was organised by the GCC General Secretariat, represented by the Human and Environment Affairs Sector, and attended by scientific research and innovation officials and undersecretaries from GCC member states, as well as Dr. Mohammed Falah Al Rashidi, Head of the Human and Environment Affairs Sector at the GCC General Secretariat.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Dr. Al Jahromi emphasized the importance of strengthening joint GCC efforts in scientific research and innovation, highlighting that this sector is crucial for supporting sustainable development, building a knowledge-based economy, and enhancing the competitiveness of GCC states. She noted that scientific research and innovation are essential for advancing sustainable development, building knowledge-based economies, and improving the competitiveness of GCC states through unified research efforts, integration among member states, and focusing capabilities on shared scientific and developmental priorities with sustainable impact.
The meeting also reviewed the perspectives of member states regarding the establishment of a joint GCC fund and a center for scientific research and innovation. Participants discussed various technical and organizational aspects of the study to develop an integrated framework that considers the priorities and needs of member states, aiming to strengthen the scientific research and innovation ecosystem at the GCC level.