Latest news with #GlobalIntellectualPropertyIndex
Arab News
23-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia ranks 1st in region, 6th in G20 for geospatial infrastructure
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has climbed to ninth place in the 2025 Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure Readiness Index, up from 32nd in 2022, reflecting steady progress in its spatial sciences sector. Represented by the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information, the Kingdom ranked first in the Middle East and the Arab world, and sixth among G20 nations, in the index, according to a statement. Created by the Geospatial World and backed by the UN Statistics Division, the GKI Readiness Index serves as a strategic tool to assess how prepared countries are to adopt geospatial knowledge, highlighting its role in driving economic growth, sustainable development, and digital transformation. The index is based on several axes. The newly released rankings align with Saudi Arabia's ongoing progress in global indices, including a 17.5 percent score increase in the 2025 Global Intellectual Property Index. This places the Kingdom among the fastest-improving economies out of the 55 countries evaluated. They also align well with Saudi Arabia's strategic objectives for expanding its commercial space operations and advancing innovative satellite solutions locally and globally. In the newly released statement, GEOSA said: 'The Kingdom ranked sixth globally in the Policy Axis, thanks to its pioneering experience in governing the national geospatial data system and developing its policies, standards, and specifications in accordance with international best practices.' 'It ranked seventh globally in the Infrastructure Axis, due to its pivotal role in unifying national efforts related to geospatial information, including the development of the National Geospatial Platform, which represents a window into the national geospatial infrastructure available to the public and private sectors, as well as the academic and non-profit sectors and individuals. It ranked eighth globally in the Geospatial Industry Axis, demonstrating its constructive role in establishing strategic partnerships with various sectors,' it added. The statement further indicated that the Kingdom's advancement in the index highlights the continuous support provided by its leadership and the minister of defense, who also chairs the GEOSA Board of Directors for the survey and geospatial information sector. This support has propelled Saudi Arabia to a prominent position both regionally and internationally, placing it at the forefront of developed nations in the geospatial sector, the statement explained. This advancement also resulted in Riyadh being selected as the home of the UN Global Geospatial Ecosystem Center of Excellence, thereby reinforcing the Kingdom's status as a global frontrunner in cutting-edge geospatial information management. In March, Neo Space Group, a satellite and space firm under Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, partnered with Beijing-based SuperMap Software to enhance technological capabilities and support the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals.
Arab News
20-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia advances in 2025 Global Intellectual Property Index
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has made notable progress in the 2025 Global Intellectual Property Index, with its score rising by 17.5 percent, placing it among the fastest-improving economies out of the 55 countries evaluated. According to the 13th edition of the index, published by the US Chamber of Commerce, the Kingdom now ranks 40th globally—a reflection of the substantial reforms driven by its Vision 2030 strategy. These reforms aim to enhance intellectual property protection, foster innovation, and support the growth of a knowledge-based economy. Since 2019, Saudi Arabia's overall score has increased from 36.6 percent to 53.7 percent in 2025, marking a cumulative improvement of over 40 percent in just six years. This progress stems from a comprehensive transformation of the nation's IP ecosystem, including the strengthening of legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms. Key milestones noted in the report include the extension of design protection from 10 to 15 years, the establishment of a specialized prosecution office for IP-related cases, and the launch of advanced online enforcement tools for copyrights and trademarks. These developments highlight Saudi Arabia's growing institutional capacity and ongoing regulatory modernization, led by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property. The report also highlighted significant advancements in public awareness initiatives, inter-agency collaboration, and Saudi Arabia's accession to key international intellectual property treaties. These developments have helped align the Kingdom's IP framework more closely with global standards. Notably, Saudi Arabia achieved higher scores in enforcement, international treaty participation, and the efficiency of its copyright enforcement system. These improvements reinforce the Kingdom's ambition to become a regional and global center for innovation and creativity. By fostering a more transparent and dependable intellectual property environment, Saudi Arabia is attracting increased foreign investment while also empowering local entrepreneurs to develop innovative ideas, products, and technologies. The US Chamber of Commerce commended the Kingdom's efforts to institutionalize intellectual property rights as a core component of its economic diversification strategy, positioning Saudi Arabia as a model among emerging markets. Meanwhile, the UAE also performed strongly in the 2025 index, ranking 26th globally with an overall score of 60.66 percent. The UAE was praised for its robust patent and trademark protections, consistent judicial enforcement, and strong commitment to digital transformation.
