Dr. Munir M. Eldesouki is Assistant Minister at Ministry of Communications and
Information Technology (MCIT), Acting President of King Abdulaziz City for
Science and Technology (KACST), and Chairman Advisor of the Research
Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA). He is also heading the team
commissioned to establishing RDIA and kick-starting its operations, and he is a
board member of Saudi Space Commission (SPC).
His 20+ years of experience spans the spheres of R&D, Innovation, ICT and
Digitization, where he played influential roles at different levels as seasoned
researcher, inventor and leader setting national strategies, driving execution and
shaping R&D, innovation and ICT & Digital ecosystem of Saudi Arabia. He holds
over 20 patents, has published 85+ scientific papers, and the winner of many
innovation-related awards.
Besides his C-level positions in the Saudi government including Deputy of
Planning and Development at MCIT and the Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff at
the executive office of H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb supporting in establishing new
government military entities and vision 2030 programs, Dr. Eldesouki led several
research institutes and programs with international collaborators from the US,
UK, Switzerland, Canada, China, South Africa, Belarus, Egypt and others from
both private and public sectors. He also headed a nanotechnology center of
excellence in collaboration with IBM Zurich, Yorktown and Almaden in the fields of
renewable energy. Additionally he held multiple academic and fellowship
positions at several universities in USA and Canada including UCSB, University of
Toronto and McMaster University.
He also headed many national-level committees such as Digital Collaboration
Organization Executive Committee, Co-chairing of the Digital Economy Task
Force under the Saudi G20 2020 Presidency. In addition to his membership in
other national boards and committees including boards of Saudi Business Center,
National Companies Promotion Program, National Competitiveness Center and
Board of Trustees of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Award to honor
inventors and talented individuals.
In recognition of his scientific excellence, he received several scholarships and
awards from international institutions and companies such as Natural Science
and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Xerox Center for Engineering
Entrepreneurship, and the Canadian Microelectronics Corporation.
Dr. Eldesouki holds a bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering from KFUPM in
Saudi Arabia and a master degree in Engineering Entrepreneurship and
Innovation from McMaster University in Canada, where he also attained his PhD
degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering.