Alfaisal University, through its Innovation Center, hosted Dr. Maria Luisa Fantappiè, Head of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Programme at the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), an independent Italian international affairs think tank, on August 23, 2026.
The visit brought together Dr. Khaled AlKattan, Vice President and Dean of the College of Medicine, and Ms. Noor Alsaadoun, Director of the Alfaisal Innovation Center, to discuss opportunities for research collaboration, policy dialogue, and international knowledge exchange.
Discussions covered potential cooperation in applied research, joint policy publications, and cross-sector partnerships, building on the Innovation Center’s research sandbox initiatives and its proposed Economic Intelligence and Strategic Foresight Initiative.
The proposed initiative seeks to integrate artificial intelligence, economic research, and strategic foresight to examine emerging technological and societal developments, assess their potential implications for Saudi Arabia’s economy, and inform evidence-based policy development and long-term economic planning.
The visit also provided an opportunity to explore areas of mutual research interest between Alfaisal University and IAI, whose MENA Programme focuses on regional political, economic, and security developments, migration governance, international cooperation, and regional relations.
About the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI)
Founded in 1965, The Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) is an independent, non-profit Italian think tank founded in 1965 and headquartered in Rome. It conducts research and policy analysis on international affairs, European integration, and multilateral cooperation. Its areas of focus include international security, global governance, international economics, and geopolitical developments. Through its research and international network, IAI contributes to policy dialogue and cooperation among governments, institutions, and research organizations.
