As the U.S. and Europe transition into post-industrial knowledge-based economies, with Asia following closely behind, the Arab world is way behind by every measure of science and innovation. It lacks scientists and top-notch universities and devotes little money or attention to research and development. The best minds emigrate to greener pastures in the West.
The Arab world spent just 0.2% of its gross domestic product on research and development in 2007, the same level as in 2002 and half the rate in Africa, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) 2010 Science Report. By comparison, Europe spent 1.6% of GDP on R&D in 2007 and China 1.4%.
Most governments in the Arab world have no national policy for science or technology, but in the Gulf, oil billions are being used to jump start world-class research institutes and lure elite universities and scientists from the U.S. and Europe.
The most ambitious plans are being pursued by Saudi Arabia. The government has stepped up science and technology spending in the last two years, with annual allocations set to grow to more than $1.6 billion annual over the next few years from $530 million in 2008 and $160 million a year on average in the two decades before that. The King Abdullah University for Science and Technology opened in September 2009 with a $10 billion endowment and English as the language of instruction.
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