Dr Munir Eldesouki

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.