Riyadh Global Medical Biotech Summit draws participants from over 70 countries

Bander bin Abdulmohsen Al-Knawy, Chief Executive Officer for Health Affairs at the Ministry of National Guard, highlighted the significant support for research, innovation, and biotechnology in Saudi Arabia. He noted that the Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit 2026 is taking place at a time of rapid breakthroughs and unprecedented advancements in the field, serving as a platform to help achieve the goals of the National Biotechnology Strategy launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister, in January 2024.

The summit, which opened in Riyadh, brings together participants from more than 70 countries, over 100 speakers, and more than 10,000 registered attendees. The program features 36 scientific sessions and the announcement of over 40 agreements, initiatives, and declarations, reflecting the diversity of cooperation and partnerships across health, investment, industry, research, data, and artificial intelligence sectors.

On its first day, the summit explored opportunities for collaboration between universities, research centers, and global companies in biotechnology, and the role of these partnerships in supporting innovation and developing biotech applications. Sessions also examined the impact of artificial intelligence on medical biotechnology, from computational biology to drug development and clinical studies, and its potential to accelerate scientific research and innovation, with experts from Saudi Arabia, the United States, and China participating.

Discussions covered advances in genetic and proteomic data analysis tools, opening new avenues for understanding diseases and improving healthcare. Other topics included multi-omics, such as epigenetics in decoding cancer, population-level proteomics, and precision health.

One session reviewed the journey of King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) in localizing gene therapy, from vision to implementation, as well as pathways to develop gene therapies, enhance research capabilities, and explore collaboration with specialized international organizations. Another session, titled "Population Genetic Diversity as a National Asset," addressed the importance of studying genetic diversity to support scientific research and develop more precise and tailored health applications.

The summit expands interaction between research and investment through the Life Sciences Innovation Forum (LSIF 2026), a three-day event featuring specialized biotech investment funds and connecting investors with promising companies through five competitive investment rounds.

The event also hosts the Next Generation Biotech Forum, dedicated to early-career researchers and scientists, combining scientific learning with AI-supported research training and entrepreneurship. Executive sessions on biotechnology, attended by sector leaders and decision-makers, focus on industry policies, investment opportunities, ecosystem development, and growth strategies.

Several national partners are participating in the summit, including the Ministry of Investment, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Invest Saudi, and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), reflecting the sector's links to investment, industry, regulation, data, AI, and R&D.

An accompanying exhibition features organizations, companies, and brands from the biotechnology and healthcare sectors, showcasing innovations, solutions, and advanced technologies, and providing opportunities for participants to connect with investors and decision-makers and explore avenues for collaboration and partnership.