Transforming Resource Security Through Ecosystem Governance

This nomination is submitted on behalf of the Deputyship for Research & Innovation (R&I) within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA). The R&I Deputyship leads MEWA's research and innovation agenda to deliver impactful solutions for environmental sustainability, water security and food security in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

Context

Prior to July 2023, innovation decision-making across Saudi Arabia's environment, water and agriculture (EWA) sectors was constrained by fragmented data, siloed research outputs and limited visibility of emerging technologies. Policymakers, investors and innovators lacked a shared evidence base to coordinate effectively or assess innovation options with confidence, increasing adoption risk and slowing progress toward Vision 2030's sustainability objectives.

The Solution

To address this challenge, the Ministry (MEWA) launched the National Platform for Research & Innovation Analytics for Sustainability (NPRAS)-the Kingdom's first integrated, AI-enabled innovation governance platform.

NPRAS aggregates over 100 million data points daily from more than 10,000 local and international sources, including scientific publications, patents, market intelligence, sector reports and policy developments. Artificial intelligence and scenario modelling are applied to transform this data into actionable insights delivered through decision-ready briefings aligned to national policy priorities.

Stevie merit

• Information Technology: NPRAS is a national digital platform that applies advanced analytics, AI and scenario modelling to deliver real-time, decision-ready intelligence across multiple government entities. It replaces fragmented data systems with a unified digital backbone for innovation acceleration and governance
• Product Design & Development: The platform utilizes advanced analytical tools to analyse complex research, market and global trends to support prioritized sustainability goals and key government decision-making processes
• Research & Development: NPRAS integrates scientific literature, patent analytics, market intelligence and policy trends into a continuous national research foresight capability. This allows government stakeholders to identify emerging technologies, and global best practices to inform research priorities

Operating Model

NPRAS institutionalises innovation governance through structured evaluations involving several government entities and private-sector partners who contribute domain expertise, technology insight and market perspective. This coordinated model replaces ad-hoc decision-making with systematic, evidence-based prioritisation.

Tangible Benefits

• NPRAS has assessed over 60 candidate technologies across the water value chain and identified 10+ priority technology areas for accelerated piloting and deployment, reducing adoption risk and implementation costs prior to capital commitment
• Estidamah, a national agriculture research centre, uses NPRAS benchmarking and expert insight to target and prioritise research investment
• The Saudi Irrigation Organization uses NPRAS to identify solutions and potential partners to address critical operational challenges
• Delivered by two team members, NPRAS performs the work of at least five full-time staff, generating an estimated 6,000 man-hours in annual savings

Systemic Impact

By embedding research foresight, advanced analytics and transparent governance into a single national platform, NPRAS has enabled MEWA to more effectively guide innovation, policies and investments across the environment, water and agriculture ecosystems, advancing national sustainability priorities. The model is replicable across sectors and the wider MENA region, positioning Saudi Arabia as a regional leader in data-driven innovation governance supporting environmental, water and agricultural resilience.