The Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) signed Monday a strategic cooperation agreement. The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in data and information governance and the facilitation of knowledge exchange, as well as sharing of industry knowledge and insights, and consultation across areas in which both parties are active. The President of KACST, Dr. Munir Eldesouki, and the CEO of DGDA Jerry Inzerillo signed the agreement. As part of the agreement, DGDA and KACST will explore joint research projects, as well as cooperate on aerial photography, three-dimensional (3D) imaging, and radar scanning efforts to improve understanding of the buried and subterranean areas within DGDA's supervisory area, focusing specifically on artifacts of the early Saudi states. The agreement will also see collaboration in advanced material technologies and automated building systems supporting DGDA in managing its supervisory area. According to Inzerillo, this agreement opens the doors on a new world that has potentially remained buried for centuries, and could help expand and improve our understanding of different aspects of the area. This is especially important given DGDA's mandate and focus on not only improving the quality of life for citizens, residents and visitors today and in the future, but also preserving the history, heritage and culture of Diriyah. For his part, Eldesouki stressed that KACST actively builds partnerships with the public, private and non-profit sectors to ensure the application of scientific and technical outputs and achieve the leadership's aspirations in the transformation of an innovation-based economy. It also builds partnerships to serve the development projects and work that the Diriyah Gate Development Authority is undertaking, in a way that contributes to preserving the historical and cultural heritage of Diriyah and applying higher sustainability standards in light of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. — SPA
