In 2021, UNESCO drew up an assessment of STI policies in the Arab States, which showed that all countries in the region have implemented an STI policy or at least have related policies in place.
National STI policies listed below are regularly updated by the UNESCO Arab Science Podium team and through GO-SPIN.
Your country is developing a new STI strategy? Please inform us: info@unescoarabsciencepodium.org
National STI Policies in the Arab States
Algeria
STI Policy: No explicit STI policy
Other related policies:
- National Priority Research Programme 2018-2023 (2018)
- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Development Plan (2015)
- e-Algerie (2013)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Bahrain
STI Policy: National Research Strategy 2014-2024 (2014)
Other related policies:
- Telecommunications, ICT, and Digital Economy Sector Strategy 2022-2026, integrated into the Economic Recovery Plan of the country
- Government program 2023-2026 (2023)
- Economic Vision 2030
- Cloud First Policy (2017)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Higher Education Council, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications
Comoros
STI Policy: No explicit STI policy
Other related policies: Plan Comores Emergent 2030 (2019)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Ministry of National Education, Teaching, Scientific Research, Training and Professional Integration
Djibouti
STI Policy: No explicit STI policy
Other related policies:
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Egypt
STI Policy: National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation 2030 (2019)
Other related policies: Egypt Vision 2030 (2016)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Iraq
STI Policy: No explicit STI Policy
Other related policies: National Development Plan 2018-2022
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Jordan
STI Policy: National Policy and Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (2013-2017)
Other related policies:
- Jordan Energy Strategy 2020-2030
- Executive Action Plan of Jordan Energy Strategy 2020-2030
- Reach2025 (2016)
- National Innovation Strategy 2013-2017
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Higher Council for Science and Technology
Kuwait
STI Policy: No explicit STI Policy
Other related policies:
- New Kuwait 2035 (2017)
- Strategic Plan 2017-2021 of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (not a government policy)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences
Lebanon
STI Policy: Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (2006)
Other related policies:
- United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2025
- Charter of ethics and guiding principle of scientific research in Lebanon (2016)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: National Centre for Scientific Research
Libya
STI Policy: National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (2014)
Other related policies:
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: National Planning Council
Islamic Republic of Mauritania
STI Policy: National Research and Innovation Strategy (2022)
Other related policies:
- National Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity for the period 2016-2030
- Strategie nationale de l’enseignement superieur a l’horizon 2030 (2022)
- Agenda nationale de la transition numerique 2022-2025 (2022)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Scientific Research and Innovation National Agency
Morocco
STI Policy: National Strategy for the Development of Scientific Research towards 2025 (2015), National Plan to Accelerate the Transformation of the Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Ecosystem, ESRI 2030 Pact (Ongoing consultations)
Other related policies:
- Digital Morocco 2020 (2016)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation
Oman
STI Policy: No explicit STI policy
Other related policies:
- 2040 Oman Vision (2021)
- National Industrial Strategy 2040 (2018)
- National Innovation Strategy (2017)
- National Energy Strategy 2040 (2015)
- Digital Oman Strategy (2003)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Innovation Development andResearch Council, Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation
Palestine
STI Policy: Palestinian STI Policy Framework Document (2016)
Other related policies:
- Strategic Plan for the Higher Education and Scientific Research Sector 2021-2023
- National Policy Agenda 2017-2022 (2016)
- Open Data Policy (draft)
- National Policy for Digital Transformation (draft)
- Policy Agenda to Support the Palestine ICT Start-up Ecosystem (draft)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Higher Council for Innovation and Excellence (HCIE)
Qatar
STI Policy: Research, Development and Innovation Strategy 2030 (2020)
Other related policies:
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council
Saudi Arabia
STI Policy: National Strategy for Research, Development and Innovation (2019)
Other related policies:
- ICT Strategy 2023 (2021)
- Strategy for Data & AI (2020)
- National Industrial Strategy to 2030 (2018)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, The Research, Development and Innovation Authority
Somalia
STI Policy: No explicit STI policy
Other related policies:
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Ministry of Communications and Technology
Sudan
STI Policy: Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (2017)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, National Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation (est. 2018)
Syrian Arab Republic
STI Policy: The National Policy for Science, Technology and Innovation in the Syrian Arab Republic (2017)
Other related policies:
- National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Report (2017)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Higher Council for Scientific Research
Tunisia
STI Policy: Strategic Plan for Scientific Research 2017-2022 (2017)
Other related policies:
- Industrial and Innovation Strategy Horizon 2035
- National Priority Research and Innovation Programmes 2018-2020
- AI Roadmap (2019)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ministry of industry, mines and Energy
United Arab Emirates
STI Policy: Science, Technology and Innovation Policy in the United Emirates 2016-2021 (2016)
Other related policies:
- Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (2017)
- United Arab Emirates’ Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 (2017)
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: National Science, Technology and Innovation Committee
Yemen
STI Policy: No explicit STI policy
Other related policies:
Ministry and/or other body responsible for STI: Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Vocational Training