The following words and phrases - wherever they appear in these arrangements - shall have the meanings specified next to each, unless the context requires otherwise:
The Authority: Research Development and Innovation Authority.
The Arrangements: The organizational arrangements of the Authority.
The Supreme Committee: The Supreme Committee for Research, Development, and Innovation.
The Council: The Board of Directors of the Authority.
The President: The President of the Council.
The Governor: The Governor of the Authority.
The Sector: The sector of research, development, and innovation.
Research Entities: Any entity designated - wholly or partially - to engage in any activity related to research, development, and innovation and the marketing of its outputs, whether from the public or private sector, or from the non-profit sector.
Research Infrastructure: All that is used directly or indirectly in research, development, and innovation, including: laboratories, innovation facilities, technology parks, and similar entities, as well as resources, devices, equipment, tools, information systems, software, networks, databases, and the like.

The authority enjoys public legal personality, financial and administrative independence, and is organizationally linked to the President of the Council of Ministers, with its main headquarters located in the city of Riyadh.

The Authority aims to support and encourage the sector, supervise and regulate it, and works to achieve harmony, coherence, and coordination among the roles of research entities, enabling and motivating them. It also seeks to enhance the localization of technology in research, development, and innovation activities and to transfer it to become part of the development of local content, contributing to the growth of the knowledge-based and innovative national economy, and increasing its production and global competitiveness.

• 1- The Authority shall have a Board of Directors, which shall have a President appointed by a decree from the President of the Council of Ministers, and the membership shall be as follows:

  • A- The Governor.

  • B- A representative from the Ministry of Education.

  • C- A representative from the Saudi Data and AI Authority.

  • D- A representative from the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority.

  • E- A representative from the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority.

  • F- A representative from the National Industrial Development Center.

  • G- Three from the private sector.

  • H- Two from the scientific research sector and academic institutions.

• 2- The members referred to in paragraphs (G) and (H) shall be appointed by a decree from the President of the Council of Ministers based on a nomination from the President, and their term of membership in the Council shall be (three) years, renewable for a similar term and once only.

• 3- The rank of representatives of government entities in the Council shall not be less than the (excellent) rank or its equivalent, and the head of the entity is exempt from this condition.

The Council is the supreme authority of the Authority, responsible for overseeing it and managing its affairs. It has the power to exercise all authorities and take all necessary actions to achieve its purposes within the framework of the provisions of the arrangements. In particular, it has the following responsibilities:
1- Overseeing the implementation of the tasks assigned to the Authority.
2- Approving the priorities and general policies for the sector and submitting them to the Supreme Committee.
3- Supervising the preparation of the draft national strategy for research, development, and innovation in accordance with the priorities and general policies related to the sector, and proposing updates to it, in preparation for submission to the Supreme Committee.
4- Approving draft laws related to the sector and proposing amendments to those in effect, in preparation for submission according to legal procedures.
5- Approving the policies governing the commercialization and transfer of technology and innovations resulting from research, development, and innovation activities, in preparation for submission of what requires the completion of legal procedures regarding it.
6- Approving the strategies, plans, and programs related to the sector in the economic sectors, in preparation for submitting them to the Supreme Committee.
7- Approving the funding requirements necessary for the development of the sector and ensuring its sustainability, adequacy, and diversification of its sources, in preparation for submitting what requires the completion of procedures regarding it.
8- Approving the executive plans and programs for the development of the sector and achieving the priorities and general policies related to it, including the executive plans and programs for the national strategy for research, development, and innovation, updating them, and overseeing their implementation.
9- Approving the professional and ethical standards and quality standards related to the sector.
10- Approving the regulations and rules governing the research infrastructure to optimally benefit from it, facilitate access to it, and direct it in areas of national priority for the sector.
11- Approving the allocations for funding and institutional financial appropriations for national laboratories and research, development, and innovation programs and initiatives.
12- Approving the organizational structure and organizational guide of the Authority.
13- Approving the financial regulations and provisions with financial implications in the administrative regulations, in agreement with the Ministry of Finance.
14- Approving the administrative regulations, in agreement with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
15- Approving the internal regulations necessary for the operation of the Authority.
16- Approving the indicators and periodic reports related to the sector.
17- Reviewing the periodic reports submitted regarding the progress of work in the Authority and its financial position, and making the necessary decisions regarding them.
18- Approving the conclusion of agreements, protocols, and contracts, according to legal procedures.
19- Approving the establishment of scientific endowments and the establishment of branches, offices, units, and funds for the Authority within the Kingdom.
20- Approving the draft budget of the Authority and its final account, the auditor's report, and the annual report; in preparation for submission according to legal procedures.
21- Approving the investment of the Authority's funds and its fixed and movable assets in a manner that achieves its purposes, in accordance with legal procedures.
22- Approving the policy for the Authority's provision of financial grants and technical support services.
23- Determining the financial counterpart for the services and works provided by the Authority in its area of expertise, according to legal procedures and related mechanisms.
24- Approving the mechanisms and controls for the Authority's acceptance of gifts, donations, aids, grants, bequests, and endowments in accordance with the governing provisions.
25- Seeking the assistance of experts and consultants as deemed necessary to work on a full-time or part-time basis to accomplish certain tasks and services, provide advice, and conduct research and studies.
26- Approving the licensing regulations issued by the Authority and their financial counterpart.
27- Appointing an external auditor and an internal financial controller.
The Council may delegate some of its powers to the President or to any of its members or the Governor or to the staff of the Authority.
The Council may form permanent or temporary committees from among its members or others, and delegate them some of its powers or assign them tasks it deems appropriate, specifying in the decision to form each committee its chair, members, secretary, and its powers, and it may seek the assistance of whoever it deems necessary to perform the entrusted tasks and delegated powers.

1- The meetings of the Council are held at the authority, and they may be held at another location within the Kingdom when necessary.
2- The Council meets - at the invitation of the President or a member designated by him from the representatives of government entities - at least once every (three) months, and whenever deemed necessary by the President, or at the request of at least (one-third) of its members.
3- The meeting of the Council is valid with the presence of at least the majority of its members, including the President or a member designated by him from the representatives of government entities in the Council. Decisions are made by a majority of the votes of those present at least, and in the event of a tie, the side that the President of the meeting voted for is favored.
4- The Council may, when necessary and as deemed appropriate by the President, hold meetings and vote on recommendations and decisions remotely using technological means. Recommendations and decisions can be made by passing them among the members, and they must be signed to indicate that all members have been informed of them. Recommendations and decisions made in this manner are not considered valid unless they are passed to all present members of the Council, who vote on them, and they receive at least a majority of their votes.
5- The deliberations, recommendations, and decisions of the Council are recorded in minutes signed by the President of the meeting and the present members, and the meetings of the Council, its deliberations, agenda, recommendations, decisions, and minutes are kept completely confidential.
6- A member may not abstain from voting, nor delegate another member to vote on their behalf in their absence.
A member who objects has the right to record their objection and the reasons for the objection in the minutes of the Council meeting.
7- The Council may invite anyone it sees fit from government or private entities or from specialists and consultants to attend the meetings, without them having the right to vote.
The Council shall have a Secretary from among the members or others chosen by the President, who will be responsible for the Council's secretariat, preparing for meetings, recording the minutes, deliberations, decisions, and recommendations, and notifying them.

The Authority shall have a Governor at the rank of (Minister), who is considered the primary responsible person for managing the affairs of the Authority. His responsibilities and powers are concentrated within the limits set by the arrangements and as decided or delegated by the Council. He shall, in particular, exercise the following powers:
1- Supervise the workflow in the Authority in accordance with the approved regulations, plans, and programs.
2- Oversee the preparation of draft laws and public policies for the sector, propose amendments to those in effect, and submit them to the Council.
3- Supervise the preparation of the national strategy for research, development, and innovation in line with the priorities and public policies related to the sector, and propose updates to it, submitting it to the Council.
4- Supervise the preparation of draft strategies, plans, and programs related to the sector in the economic sectors, and submit them to the Council.
5- Supervise the preparation of executive plans and programs for the development of the sector in accordance with the approved priorities and public policies related to it, including the executive plans and programs for the national strategy for research, development, and innovation to implement the approved policies, and submit them to the Council for approval and follow up on their implementation.
6- Supervise the preparation of regulations, controls, rules, standards, and guidelines related to the sector in coordination with the relevant authorities, and submit them to the Council for approval, and follow up on their implementation in accordance with the legal procedures.
7- Propose a draft regulation for the licenses issued by the Authority and the financial fees for them, and submit it to the Council for approval.
8- Propose allocations for funding and institutional financial appropriations for national laboratories and research, development, and innovation programs and initiatives, and submit them to the Council for approval, and follow up on their implementation.
9- Supervise the preparation of the organizational structure and organizational guide for the Authority, its financial and administrative regulations, and other necessary internal and technical regulations to manage its affairs; and submit what is necessary to the Council for approval.
10- Propose mechanisms and controls for the Authority's acceptance of donations, contributions, grants, bequests, and endowments in accordance with the governing provisions, and submit them to the Council for approval.
11- Disburse from the approved budget of the Authority and take all financial actions in accordance with the governing provisions and the powers delegated to him by the Council.
12- Supervise the preparation of the Authority's budget project, the annual report, and the final account project, and submit them to the Council.
13- Supervise the preparation of periodic reports submitted on the workflow in the Authority and the sector, and submit them to the Council.
14- Sign agreements, protocols, and contracts, and complete what is necessary regarding them in accordance with the legal procedures.
15- Follow up on the implementation of decisions issued by the Council or decisions related to the Authority's work.
16- Form committees and working groups (permanent or temporary) as required by the regulations approved by the Authority.
17- Contract with others and seek the assistance of specialized experts and consultants as required by the workflow in the Authority, in accordance with the relevant legal provisions and the powers delegated to him by the Council.
18- Appoint the Authority's personnel and supervise them, in accordance with the regulations governing that.
19- Supervise the organization of the Authority's participation in conferences, seminars, meetings, and exhibitions related to the Authority's fields of work locally, regionally, and internationally.
20- Represent the Authority before judicial, governmental, administrative, and other entities inside and outside the Kingdom, and he may delegate others in this regard.
21- Approve the necessary plans and programs for training, scholarship, and sending the Authority's personnel in all fields of its work and follow up on their implementation.
22- Any other task assigned to him by the Council.
The Governor may delegate any of his powers to other personnel of the Authority.

The governor shall have one or more deputies appointed by a decision of the Council, based on a nomination from the governor.

The members of the Authority, except for the Governor, are subject to the provisions of the Labor Law and the Social Insurance Law.