The Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit 2026 opened on Monday with participants from more than 70 countries, over 100 speakers and more than 10,000 registered attendees. The summit features 36 scientific sessions and the unveiling of more than 40 agreements, initiatives and declarations, reflecting the range of cooperation and partnership on offer and the expansion of the biotechnology ecosystem into health, investment, industry, research, data and artificial intelligence. Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs Dr. Bandar Al Knawy said support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's research, innovation and biotechnology sectors was vital, and that the summit comes at a time of rapid and far-reaching discoveries in biotechnology and the development of unprecedented technologies. Al Knawy said the summit is a platform for advancing the objectives of the National Biotechnology Strategy, launched by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in January 2024. First-day sessions examined opportunities for cooperation among universities, research centers and global companies in biotechnology, and the role of such partnerships in supporting innovation and developing biotechnology applications. They also addressed the role of artificial intelligence in advancing medical biotechnology, from computational biology to drug development and clinical trials, and its potential to support scientific research and accelerate innovation, with experts from Saudi Arabia, the United States and China taking part. The summit also widens the link between research and investment through the Life Sciences Innovation Forum (LSIF 2026), a three-day event that brings together specialized biotechnology investment funds and connects investors with promising companies through five competitive investment rounds.
