(Scientific Progress) Concludes Regional Meeting of the World Research Council for the Middle East and North Africa

Kuwait -- The Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) concluded the regional meeting of the Global Research Council for the Middle East and North Africa, which discussed supporting curiosity-driven scientific research and developing its funding policies. In a press release on Wednesday, the foundation said it hosted the meeting on November 2 and 3 at the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre, in cooperation with the National Council for Scientific Research in Lebanon and with the participation of representatives from regional and international research funding institutions and research bodies. It explained that the discussions addressed the role of funding agencies in supporting exploratory research, its scientific and societal value, and the balance between research freedom and national priorities and developmental challenges, emphasizing that scientific curiosity opens pathways to knowledge and solutions to future challenges. The sessions also explored developing evaluation mechanisms that recognize the originality of ideas, supporting early-career researchers, strengthening international partnerships, and leveraging shared research infrastructure. They reviewed the council’s working groups on equality, diversity, inclusion, responsible research assessment, and multilateral cooperation. The meeting paves the way for shaping a regional perspective that reflects the region’s priorities and expertise in preparations for the council’s fifteenth annual meeting, scheduled to be held in Cape Town in 2027. Hosting the meeting for the third time, following 2014 and 2021, coincides with KFAS’s celebrations of its 50th anniversary since its establishment and reflects the continuity of its partnership with the council and its role in supporting research, innovation, and the development of national capacities. (End) A.Y.S. / N.W.F.