Riyadh, May 23, 2025 (25 Dhu al-Qa'dah 1446 AH) — In an unprecedented event for the Middle East and North Africa region, the 13th annual meeting of the Global Research Council concluded in the capital, Riyadh, with the participation of more than 200 experts and heads of research organizations from 66 countries, who gathered to chart the future of scientific research and international cooperation amid the artificial intelligence revolution.

The closing statement issued from the meeting, held from May 18 to 22, laid out new and innovative principles setting a roadmap for deploying artificial intelligence in scientific research management responsibly and securely, strengthening global creative collaboration and contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals.

At a Glance: Key Recommendations of the Closing Statement

  • Supporting transparency in AI systems and clarifying how data is stored and analyzed.
  • Ensuring AI-supported decisions remain subject to human oversight and logical explanation.
  • Strengthening international cooperation to transfer knowledge to countries and communities with limited digital capabilities.
  • Developing AI models that consume fewer computing resources, to close the digital divide and achieve technological equity.
  • Encouraging the adoption of free and open-source models by research funding agencies.

The statement also called for publishing systems' training data while adhering to privacy and security standards, and for establishing specialized task forces with mature knowledge and technical expertise in artificial intelligence, alongside continuous evaluation of the effectiveness of models used in managing research.

On Shared Creative Collaboration

  • The meeting affirmed principles of inclusivity and equitable access to resources, and expanding stakeholder participation in planning, implementation and evaluation phases.
  • Supporting interdisciplinary projects and encouraging general public participation in data collection and analysis.
  • Using artificial intelligence, blockchain technology and the Internet of Things to strengthen transparency in research project management.
  • Developing indicators to measure the environmental, social and economic impact of research projects.
  • Activating joint international funding and flexible legislative frameworks that enable long-term global cooperation.

The meeting produced a set of initiatives and policies establishing a new global era for scientific research and innovation, underscoring the pivotal role of artificial intelligence not merely as a technical tool but as a platform for digital equity, ethical governance and global partnership.