MUSCAT: Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation took part in the 2nd Islamic Summit on Science and Technology which was held via video conferencing, on Wednesday.
Delivering the Sultanate’s speech at the conference, the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, said that this is the second summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that takes science and technology as a pivotal topic within the framework of its continuous efforts to keep abreast of developments in the field of technology and innovation which produced curtail invention that have made a drastic change in the human societies and affected the peoples’ lives in various levels whether social, intellectual, cognitive or economic.
The minister added that the importance of this summit lies on the fact that it is being held while the world is witnessing an accelerated race in the production and acquisition of emerging technologies that resulted from the Fourth Industrial Revolution as a result of specialized scientific research, creativity and innovation which became the main drivers of the global economy.
The unprecedented developments in areas such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of things, big data, nanotechnology and biotechnology are the results of science and technology.
The minister pointed out that the Fourth Industrial Revolution carries with it a set of challenges for human societies with the intertwining of technology and digitalization on one side with the human aspect on the other side.
Dr Rahma bint Ibrahim al Mahrouqiyah, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation said that it is hoped that the efforts of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will join forces in the in research areas related to pandemics and infectious diseases and in the pharmaceutical industries and the production of vaccines to ensure drug security and contribute to the preservation and continuity of life for all peoples of the world.
The minister added that cooperation in setting up joint and integrated databases that show the expertise and equipment available in the member states are available to all to facilitate communication between researchers and build partnerships thereby maximizing the benefit of all that is available in all countries.
The Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation indicated that the government realized, since the outset of the blessed Renaissance led by the late, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the importance of scientific research and laid their foundations at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) which was founded in In 1986. The university adopted scientific research, creativity and innovation among its most important objectives which prompted the university to open 14 research centers in various fields.
The minister said that His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik continues the approach of his predecessor the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said with a clear vision to enhance the role of education and higher education, scientific research and innovation in building the national capacities which constitute the foundation of transformation to the knowledge society and knowledge-based economy which is why the Oman Vision 2040 has encompassed these vital fields. — ONA
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