​Vision 2030 aims to increase KSA’s competitiveness and university rankings which highlights the overall importance of R&D for the Kingdom:

• R&D is specifically critical in helping Saudi Arabia achieve its long term goals. One of the Kingdom’s goals as stated in the Vision 2030 is to be among the top 10 countries in Global Competitiveness Index by 2030, increasing from its rank of 25th in 2015. 2 core components of the Global Competitiveness Index are directly related to R&D and KSA can improve these only by increasing its R&D competitiveness.  Another objective stated in the Vision 2030 is to have at least 5 Saudi universities among top 200 universities in international rankings. Achieving this objective requires that high quality research is performed at universities across the Kingdom.

• Both of these ambitions can be realized by supporting the Research and Development efforts in the universities and across national industries in a way that contributes to the stimulation of research and knowledge production, social development, economic development and private sector partnership.

• In recognition of the importance of strengthening the R&D ecosystem in Saudi Arabia by supporting universities and collaborating with different stakeholders,a total budget of SAR 6 billion has been allocated to this important program.

Global R&D Current State

   
H-index is an author-level metric that attempts to measure both the productivity and citation impact of the publications of a scientist.