billion in research and development at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. The Al Amal Project being undertaken by the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology in Thuwal is another evidence of this initiative. Stemming from its responsibility as a non-governmental and non-profit organization towards the community and future generations, and with the support and blessing of King Abdullah, the Al Aghar Group worked with the Islamic Development Bank to conduct a comprehensive study on transforming the Kingdom into a knowledge society. The study looked into other nations’ success stories in achieving economic and technological developments in recent years , with a focus on Malaysia, South Korea, Ireland, and Finland. The group sent a delegation to the latter two countries for a first-hand look and, as expected, found that knowledge was the major driver for scientific and technological development. Our transformation to a knowledge society faces several challenges, such as the failure to effectively utilize human and natural resources, the global shift towards alternative energy, and the emergence of new economic superpowers. If our countries continue to follow the traditional economic and social playbooks, our roles will be marginalized in the new international order. This is where you, as thinkers, intellectuals, and officials, can help pull us out of financial crisis, develop the knowledge economy, and propel the international Islamic community into the First World on the wings of science and education. We have the ability to be in the scientific, cultural, technological, and educational vanguard of developed countries. Last but not least, I want to emphasize that the two main pillars of a knowledge society are intellectual awareness and teamwork. Knowledge societies arise based on a mix of elements, such as information availability and the technology that stems from it; the proper utilization of information to serve the society’s economic, political, and cultura l needs; as well as adequate ICT, which have enabled the development of a knowledge economy and triggered deep structural changes in all aspects of our lives. As an independent thinktank that is concerned with social, economic, and cultural issues, Al Aghar Group looks forward to entering into fruitful collaborations with local and international organizations. Thanks to its experience, the Al Aghar Group can effectively boost ties among countries to enhance knowledge capabilities and open up new ways of tap ping into the world’s greatest developments in science, technology, and culture. After presenting my paper at the Noor forum, I was invited to chat with Anwar Ibrahim, a key figure behind Malaysia’s remarkable transformation. Malaysia is a country that w e, as Muslims, are incredibly proud of. The cultural, technological, and scientific transformation achieved there is truly remarkable and, for Muslims, inspires hope for a better future. During our conversation, Ibrahim shook his head and remarked: “Allah knows best what’s in people’s hearts. But what is of concern now is what I sense and feel here in these halls, in this holy land and on this occasion. Let me be honest when I say that everything Malaysia has built and achieved will not be enough to advance the Muslim nation. Our uplift as a whole will not be achievable without the efforts being undertaken here. The deci sion to build a city for knowledge in Madinah is the perfect message for our community’s advancement. This is the birthplace of the message of Islam and Saudi Arabia was prescient to have acted upon it. Trust me, upon a call made by you from this holy place, you will see the best and brightest of the Islamic world minds compete to come here to work under your banner in service of Islam and Muslims. You can also initiate the shift that we desperately need to regain our position in today’s world.”
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