National Series Lecture 1 Introduction Saudi Arabia Bradford Disarmament Research Centre Division of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, UK Picture.

National SeriesLecture 1

IntroductionSaudi Arabia

Bradford Disarmament Research CentreDivision of Peace Studies, University of Bradford, UK

Picture Image Transparent Globe by digitalart - from: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Outline

1. Where we are in the early 21st century

2. Outline of the following lectures

a) What we should know (learning outcome)

b) What we can do (policy contribution)

Picture Image: Golden World In Hands by jscreationzs- from: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

What is “Life Science”?

• “Any field of science that is leading to or has the potential to lead to an enhanced understanding of living organisms, especially human life.”

• E.g. Biology, proteomics, genetic engineering, nanotechnology, aerosol technology, chemistry and mathematics

(National Research Council, 2006: 27)

• Applied in:Public health, Medicine, Agriculture, Energy, Environment and National security studies

Biotechnology: An integral part of national strategy in the 21st Century

Region Annual Worth Share

North America $204 Billion 51%

Europe $102 Billion 25%

Japan $47 Billion 12%

Asia, Africa, Australia $32 Billion 8%

Latin America $17 Billion 4%

A growing market in Biotechnology: the pharmaceutical market (National Research Council, 2006: 85)

• Similar results in number of researchers and the amount of private investment for R&D in the life sciences

• Rapid growth in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East

(Ernst&Young 2011, Frost&Sullivan 2010)

Saudi Arabia: Life science outlook

Item Ranking

2011 Ranking 572005 Ranking 56Ranking Change -1

2011 Regional Ranking 3 in W. Asia

2005 Regional Ranking 3 in W. Asia

Hits in PubMed 70PubMed Ranking 52

Hit in Espacenet N.A.Espacenet Ranking N.A.

Combined Ranking 52

Global publication ranking

Source: (BWPP 2011)

Saudi Arabia: Biomedical issues in the Kingdom

Strategic issue (King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology KACST, 2012)

• “Research into health biotechnology is vital due to the incidence of certain rare diseases in the Kingdom, particularly in the field of genetics, and in the field of diagnosing and treating communicable and non-communicable diseases...

• While Saudi Arabia has a young population at the moment, the older generation are living longer, and there are diseases that are on the increase, such as Diabetes, that threaten the future wellbeing of the nation’s population

• These concerns have placed health at the centre of economic development discourse in the Kingdom, and high on the priority list for research and development.

Council of Ministers:Setting out a National Priority

Strategic plan (KACST, 2008)

“The National Policy for Science and Technology was approved by the Council of Ministers on 1423 H (2002 G). This national policy defined 11 programs for the development and transfer of strategic technologies that are essential for the Kingdom’s future development.

The strategic objectives that the biotechnology program hopes to achieve are:• Transfer and develop the cutting edge biotechnologies.• Provide an environment that encourages creativity and investment in the field of

biotechnology.• Direct the applications of biotechnology to achieve health and food safety.• Use biotechnology to achieve food and health security.• Protect the environmental resources of KSA through the development of appropriate

biotechnology applications and products.• Strengthen the relationship between the biotechnology program and society”

Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority:Setting out a National Priority

Strategic plan

“Saudi Arabia is determined to become a regional leader in life science industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices and agrochemicals..

Building a life sciences industry in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the government’s top economic priorities. In addition to transforming the economy and its infrastructure to support knowledge-based industries, the government is supporting the sector’s development through a variety of direct and complementary investments.

To encourage R&D activities, KSA offers significant development finance and research grants through institutions such as the King Abdulaziz Center for Science and Technology (KACST) and the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST).”

Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), former

Saudi Arabian National Center for Science and Technology

• “King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is an independent scientific organization administratively reporting to the Prime Minister.

• KACST is both the Saudi Arabian national science agency and its national laboratories.

• The science agency function involves science and technology policy making, data collection, funding of external research, and services such as the patent office. KACST has currently over 2500 employees”

(KACST, 2012)

Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), former

Saudi Arabian National Center for Science and Technology

Strategic investment (MENAFN Arab News, 2012)

“The Kingdom has spent SR 350 million on research projects in the field of biotechnology through the national plan for science, technology and innovation during the past three years, the chief of research at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has said.

“Prince Turki said the amount spent on research was 25 percent of the total strategic technology projects adopted by the national plan for research projects.”

The projects will focus on “drug delivery technologies for pharmaceuticals and nanotechnology tools for biomedicine, chemical system engineering and nanobiotechnology, and new materials.”

Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), former

Saudi Arabian National Center for Science and Technology

Promoting innovations in biotechnology industry

“In 2008 King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), the National Research Institute of Saudi Arabia, has created the BADIR innovation and technology program to help fulfil the objectives of the National Technology and Science Plan.

KACST is an independent scientific organization administratively reporting to the Prime Minister. KACST is both the Saudi Arabian national science agency and its national laboratories. The science agency function involves science and technology policy making, data collection, funding of external research, and services such as the patent office. KACST has currently over 2500 employees.”

Publication

Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences

“Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences is an English language, peer-reviewed scholarly publication in the area of biological sciences, covering:

• Biology, Ecology and Ecosystems, Environmental and Biodiversity• Conservation• Microbiology• Physiology• Genetics and Epidemiology

Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences is the official publication of the Saudi Society for Biological Sciences and is published by King Saud University in collaboration with Elsevier”

PubMed search with “Saudi Arabia”

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

200400600800

100012001400160018002000

Key word hits in Publication data base

Numbers

Nanotechnology in Saudi Arabia

Center of Nanotechnology (CNT) of the King Abdulaziz University

• CNT s a national center of excellence in the field of Nanotechnology established in 2006. Amongst other things it aims to:

      1) Attract faculty members, researchers, technicians and postgraduate           students at King Abdulaziz university to join in nanotechnology           research and to be involved in nanotechnology teaching.      2) Providing scientific environments/atmospheres to encourage the           Nanotechnology innovation and novelty at KAU.      3) Providing nanotechnology infrastructure to facilitate research work          and development including, appropriate space, clean room           environment, equipments and laboratory instruments.      4) Pursuing research activities in latest and advanced areas of           Nanotechnology, particularly those with local implementation          potential. 

Why do we care? Should this be an issue for us?

The dual-use nature of science and technology:

– “Every major technology — metallurgy, explosives, internal combustion, aviation, electronics, nuclear energy — has been intensively exploited, not only for peaceful purposes but also for hostile ones.”

– “…Must this also happen with biotechnology, certain to be a dominant technology of the twenty-first century?”

Matthew Meselson: Professor of Molecular Biology at Harvard University

(Meselson, 2000: 16)

Hostile

Peacefu

l

Meselson’s Forecast in 2000

Ability• “Our ability to modify fundamental life processes

continues its rapid advance”

• “We will be able not only to devise additional ways to destroy life but will also become able to manipulate it”

Dilemma• “…[This has a] Vast potential for beneficial application

and could have inimical consequences for the course of civilization.”

Meselson’s Forecast in 2000

“At present, we appear to be approaching a crossroads —a time that will test whether biotechnology…”

• Will come to be intensively exploited for hostile purposes, or• Our species will find the collective wisdom to take a different course.

Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC)

1972

Article I • “Each State Party to this Convention undertakes never in any

circumstances to develop, produce, stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain:

• 1. Microbial or other biological agents or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes.”

• This applies not only to states but also to non-state actors

Science and Security: Dual-Use

The need for a broader conceptualisation of dual-use• Biological agents and toxins can be used for hostile purposes without

weaponization and technology is typically diffused globally for peaceful purposes

• Hostile use can take the form of criminal acts or terrorist acts (non-state level) in parallel to military application (state level),

• The BTWC prohibits the misuse of the life sciences by both states and non-state actors

Dual-use: broader concept Peaceful Non-peaceful

Dual-use: traditional conceptMilitary Civilian

Saudi Arabia and international regimes

WMD• Saudi Arabia has not expressed an interest in acquiring chemical or biological

weapons, and has joined international agreements to ban such armaments. • Saudi Arabia signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1988 and

signed a comprehensive safeguards agreement in 2005.

BTWC• Signature (12 April 1972); Ratification (24 May 1972)

CWC• Signature (20 January 1993); Ratification (9 August 1996)

• A 2005 law bans the production, possession, and storage of both chemical and biological weapons within Saudi Arabia, and declares that any individuals found to be in noncompliance will face a fine of one million Riyals and prison for up to 20 years.

(Nuclear Threat Initiative 2012)

National Series: Lecture Outline

2. Biosecurity Threats 3. The Web of Prevention

4. National Measures5. Responsibility of Scientists

Picture Image: Transparent Globe by digitalart - from: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

• ‘No single focal point’ of threats– Potential actors, material and information, which can be related to dual-

use issues, exist at international, regional, national, local and individual levels.

Unpredictable future of the life sciences

Reviewing threats (Lecture 2)

Manmade threats: warfare, crime and terrorism

Safety/accidental risks at laboratories

Natural outbreaks of infectious disease

To address natural outbreaks of infectious disease• Public health preparedness and response planning

To address safety/accidental risks• Laboratory regulations to safely manage dangerous pathogens and toxins, to

prevent an accidental release into the environment and unauthorized access

To address manmade threats• Strong international arms control agreements with effective national

implementation • Internationally coordinated export controls • Intelligence• Biodefense

To address the unpredictable future of the life sciences• Oversight: Review of security-sensitive science and technology developments• Responsible conduct in research through education

The Web of Prevention (WoP) (Lecture 3)

Web of prevention

Public health measures

Laboratory measures

International prohibition

regime

Export control

Intelligence

Biodefense

Oversight and review of Sci-Tech

Responsible conduct

Natural threats

Safety risks

Governance of science

Manmade threats

National implementation (Lecture 4)

To National Context

National implementation (Lecture 4)

1• International agreements

2• Signature and ratification by states

3

• National measures in states• Legislation, regulation, order or other forms

of governance

Worldwide engagement of life scientists with the WoP will:

• Effectively strengthen biosecurity measures by requiring the engagement of practicing scientists

• Prevent unnecessary restriction of scientific freedoms

• Education of, and capacity building among, scientists on biosecurity issues is necessary for successful security

• Uninformed scientists = no effective science policy inputs to the WoP

Engagement of informed life scientists about biosecurity issues is key to successful security

The need for responsible conduct in research(Lecture 5)

Biosecurity: Definition issues

The term “biosecurity” has been conceptualised differently across various scientific and professional disciplines

• Areas: The term has been used in ecology, agriculture, food supply, arms control and public health contexts, with different meanings and conceptualisations

• Policy processes: these overlap with interdisciplinary areas such as biosafety, counter-terrorism, agricultural biosecurity and biodiversity

• Linguistic: In addition to these conceptual complications, “biosecurity” has also experienced linguistic complications

(Fidler and Gostin 2007, Sunshine Project 2003, Barletta 2002)

National Series:WoP = Biosecurity Education = Biosecurity Competency

References

• The references cited in this lecture are viewable in the Notes section of this presentation.