Latest news with #scienceandtechnology
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi's SFD signs two development loan agreements to support social infrastructure in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo: The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) signed Monday two development loan agreements worth $32 million to support social infrastructure in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The loan agreements were co-signed by CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al Murshid, and Minister of Finance and Treasury, Srdan Amidzic, on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The purpose of the two loans is to finance the construction of a science and technology park worth $19 million, and the construction and furnishing of student housing at the Borisa Starovic Public Institution in Foca worth $13 million. The Science and Technology Park project aims to establish a multidisciplinary scientific center with a total area of approximately 200 thousand square meters to develop technical fields, advance economic development, healthcare, and the growth of higher education. The center also brings together researchers, scientists, and businessmen from various fields. Meanwhile, the student housing project aims to support development in the education sector and encourage increased student enrollment in universities, as this provides vital opportunities for learning and community development. It is worth noting that the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) began its development activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1996, by financing the first housing reconstruction and infrastructure support project. The Fund has also financed 27 development projects and programs through 9 soft development loans, valued at more than $163 million, in addition to 4 grants provided by the Saudi government through the Fund, valued at more than $ 53 million, to contribute to social growth and sustainable economic prosperity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Oxbridge corridor will 'create jobs for everyone', says government
The government has said its plan to create a "European Silicon Valley" between Oxford and Cambridge will generate jobs across all sectors - not just for those at the top of the science and technology Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor proposal was unveiled by Chancellor Rachel Reeves earlier this Patrick Vallance, the minister responsible for leading the plan, said it was about creating jobs and opportunities to have "a thriving community right the way across the corridor".His comments came during a visit to Oxford Science Park and Oxford University alongside a delegation of Saudi Arabian government officials and industry leaders. The plans are "definitely not just about the few people at the very high end of academia," Lord Vallance said."Because this is such a powerhouse of invention, it will also fuel the economic growth of the county, so this is definitely about making sure we get the benefits of all these opportunities felt by everybody," he said."Everything begins to benefit as a result of the growth that comes from these science and technology companies." The plans for East-West Rail, which would connect the two cities, are a major part of the growth Vallance said: "The ability to link between Oxford and Cambridge is one that people have known is important for a very long time."The rail is the very backbone of allowing this to work effectively."The government hope their growth corridor will add up to £78 billion to the UK economy."If we don't do that at speed then we're going to lose out to other countries, and ultimately that's going to do a disservice to all of us," Lord Vallance added. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
South China Morning Post
06-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Future of Science and Technology Agreement is a bellwether for US-China ties: Denis Simon
Denis Simon is one of the leading experts on US-China science and technology cooperation as well as China's innovation system. He has held senior roles including executive vice-chancellor at Duke Kunshan University and director of the US-China programme at Pennsylvania State University. He is teaching a graduate course on China science and technology policy at the Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University in Beijing. This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus . For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here Can you explain the core elements of the STA and its role in fostering scientific collaboration between the US and China? Why is it considered a cornerstone of bilateral relations, and what makes it so politically and strategically sensitive, especially in today's geopolitical climate? The US-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement (STA), first signed in 1979 during the [Jimmy] Carter administration, is the foundational legal and diplomatic framework governing official S&T cooperation between the two nations. Its core elements include government-to-government cooperation via ministries, agencies, and labs; institutional and academic exchanges, supporting researcher mobility and joint projects; joint working groups on specific fields like health, agriculture, energy and environmental science; and mechanisms for sharing data, coordinating funding and protecting intellectual property. It is considered a cornerstone of bilateral relations because of its highly symbolic value as the first formal and peaceful engagement between the US and China after normalisation. At a time when diplomatic ties were still fragile, scientific cooperation provided politically 'safe' ground to build trust. Its overall impact has been immense – it made science diplomacy real. In the current geopolitical climate, the STA sits at the intersection of national security concerns (e.g., espionage, IP theft, cybersecurity), economic competitiveness (particularly in AI, life sciences, semiconductors) and techno-nationalism (growing on both sides). The very openness that once made the STA a success is now seen by some as a vulnerability. Current discussions of the STA evoke debates not just about science but about how much the US should engage with a so-called strategic competitor. During a delegation visit to Beijing in the mid-2000s, I was part of a round table where a US scientist shared breakthrough research in clean coal technology. The Chinese side responded with enthusiastic interest, proposing a joint pilot project. The US delegation, however, hesitated – concerned that the technology might be commercialised without reciprocal IP protection. The moment highlighted both the promise and peril of STA-enabled openness. Fortunately, an agreement called CERC (Clean Energy Research Centre) was signed and it contained a detailed addendum regarding the disposition of any new intellectual capital developed under the programme.
Bloomberg
20-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Thriving Southern Cities Face Economic Threat From Funding Cuts
Economics North Carolina's Research Triangle shows how federal efforts to curb spending are unleashing economic uncertainty in communities across the US. The same economic anchor that propelled North Carolina's Research Triangle into one of America's most thriving economies now risks becoming a liability. Major academic institutions in the community have helped lure businesses of all sizes — and the jobs that come with them — to Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, transforming an economy once reliant on industries like tobacco and textiles into a leading science and technology hub.
The National
19-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Abu Dhabi's Khalifa University jumps 25 spots in rankings to 177th globally
The UAE's Khalifa University of Science and Technology jumped 25 places to 177th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Khalifa University, which is based in Abu Dhabi, has remained the top institution in the UAE for eight consecutive years, according to the rankings released on Thursday. The university leads across several key indicators, including 11th in the world for "international faculty" top in the UAE for "citations per faculty" and "faculty student ratio", affirming its leadership in attracting global talent and producing high-impact scientific research, QS said. The rankings evaluated more than 8,467 universities from across 106 locations, with Khalifa University leading all 12 universities from the UAE, with a "graduate employment rate" of 94 per cent. 'As global academic and research landscape evolves, our consistent climb to reach the top 200 in the 2026 QS World University Rankings reinforces Khalifa University's status as a driving force in science and technology, particularly among researchers and students seeking world-class opportunities closer to home," said Prof Ebrahim Al Hajri, president of Khalifa University. "The 177th rank remains a testament to our faculty and students whose work continues to make a positive impact, while highlighting our global growing presence. Through our diverse academic community and our expanding international and regional industry collaborations, we are consistently contributing to meeting the UAE's ambitions in knowledge economy leadership.' Consistent growth More than 1,500 of the world's universities are included in the 2026 edition of the rankings. Other UAE universities saw improvements in this edition. United Arab Emirates University, for example, was second in the UAE list and went from 261 to 229. American University of Sharjah came in at three and saw its ranking improve from 332 to 272. AUS said the new position places it among the top 18 per cent of institutions worldwide – a consistent upwards trend since 2018. 'This achievement further validates the shared vision to develop AUS as a world-class centre of academic excellence, beneficial research and global engagement. Our steady upwards trajectory in recent years is the result of targeted investment in our people, collaborations and common purpose," said AUS president Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi. "We will continue to grow as a research-intensive institution that's fully committed to delivering education, competes at an international level and prepares students to lead with insight, intelligence and integrity in a complex world.' Regional improvement Across the Arab region, about 42 per cent of institutions improved their position, 32 per cent maintained their place from last year and 26 per cent dropped, QS said. Eleven universities feature for the first time, with Jordan accounting for six new institutions and Iraq five. Lebanon and Oman have three universities rank for the first time this year; Saudi Arabia has two universities debut and Palestine one. Three Saudi Arabian institutions are in the global top 500, meaning the region is now home to 19 top 500 universities, QS said. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals rises into the top 100 for the first time and is once again the region's highest-ranked university at 67. Looking at the overall picture, the US's Massachusetts Institute of Technology again comes out on top, while nearly 500 universities have improved their performance since last year, QS said. The UK's Imperial College London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and UCL all maintained their places in the global top 10. Harvard comes in at 5. The biggest climber was Sunway University in Malaysia, which has risen over 120 places. The QS World University Rankings are an independent assessment that examines universities against several key indicators, from academic reputation to employment outcomes. The boost for the UAE, meanwhile, follows news that UAE universities also had risen up the rankings in another global higher education league table. Abu Dhabi's Khalifa University again led the way for the country, jumping up 30 places to 846th out of 21,462 higher education institutions assessed in the 2025 Centre for World University Rankings. Khalifa University placed in the top four per cent of universities worldwide and was the 10th best in the Middle East in the annual list measured on quality of education, employability, quality of faculty and research.
