A new Saudi Arabian non-profit foundation called OceanQuest was formally established in Jeddah on Monday. Its lofty goal is to promote global collaboration in ocean science, stimulate innovation, and speed up deep-ocean discovery.
The program, which is in line with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, uses international collaborations to encourage innovative marine research while raising public awareness and ocean literacy.
OceanQuest, which has its headquarters at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, will be essential to achieving Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objectives by facilitating sustainable marine development, aiding in national RDI initiatives, and encouraging ocean conservation.
By 2050, the organization intends to support more than 150 scientists a year with SAR 3 billion for research and development. 30% of Saudi Arabia's marine habitats are to be preserved, biotech and pharmaceutical developments are to be supported, and deep-sea corals are to be used as natural carbon sinks to support the Kingdom's decarbonization efforts.
