Kuwait Foundation for Science Progress concludes regional meeting of the Global Research Council for the Middle East and North Africa - Sarmad
The Kuwait Foundation for Science Progress concluded the regional meeting of the Global Research Council for the Middle East and North Africa in Kuwait, with participation from the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research, to discuss supporting scientific research and funding policies.
Translated by Qiyas from سرمد — Original source
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, the foundation stated that it hosted the meeting on November 2 and 3 at the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre, in collaboration with the National Council for Scientific Research in Lebanon, with participation from representatives of scientific research funding institutions and regional and international research bodies.
It clarified that the discussions addressed the role of funding agencies in supporting exploratory research and its scientific and societal value, as well as the balance between research freedom and national priorities and developmental challenges, emphasizing that scientific curiosity opens pathways to knowledge and solutions for future challenges.
The foundation added that the sessions also explored developing evaluation mechanisms that value originality and support early-career researchers, enhancing international partnerships and leveraging shared research infrastructure. It also reviewed the work of the Council’s groups on equality, diversity, and 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, as part of preparations for the Council’s fifteenth annual meeting, scheduled to be held in Cape Town in 2027.
It noted that Kuwait’s hosting of the meeting for the third time, following 2014 and 2021, coincides with the foundation’s celebrations of its 50th anniversary since its establishment, reflecting the continuity of its partnership with the Council and its role in supporting research, innovation, and national capacity building.
