Government Insights Series Center for Innovative Government: A New Saudi Think Tank March 17, 2015 Saudi Arabia shares the global challenges of updating public management for the demands of the 21st century. Within this context, the Center for Innovative Government has been developed as a new Saudi think tank, ready to provide powerful solutions to improve government performance. The Center is the Kingdom’s first specialized, research-‐oriented entity to focus on governance and public sector innovation, filling a vital gap in knowledge generation and analysis. Rapid societal changes around the world have sparked a renewed interest in governance systems and institutions, putting increased pressure on governments to review and improve their capacities, and streamline their operations. Globally, governments are needed to adopt a new role—one that serves society in a more citizen-‐oriented, efficient, effective, and accountable manner. To progress in this regard, governments are engaging the business, academic and civil sectors as partners to energize progress. With a considerable public sector and a robust economy, the impetus is on the Saudi government to leverage its resources in new ways to achieve sustainable development and prosperity. Under such circumstances, the public sector in Saudi Arabia requires continuous new ideas and expertise to realize greater results. In order to help navigate the challenges of effective governance in a 21st century context, there is a need in Saudi Arabia for dedicated private think tanks to work with government to offer independent research and strategic focus, boost innovation and adoption of best practices, and to act as a bridge and convener between sectors. With this specific mission in mind, the Center has been developed to work with government partners to provide them with research, advice and training. As a research oriented institution, the Center is committed to producing and publishing original research that is rigorous, evidence-‐based and unbiased. For a transformational development of government to take place, the nation needs to develop a data infrastructure to drive rigorous analysis, government coordination and benchmarking. The Center is acts as a knowledge incubator, working in partnership with the government, the private sector and others to The Center for Innovative Government is a new private Saudi think tank that provides powerful solutions to improve government management. Find out more about us at www.innovativegov.org An initiative of Prince Sultan University Center for Innovative G overnment: A N ew S audi T hink T ank generate new sources of data and to inspire innovative solutions to improve the effectiveness of government. Our research is multidisciplinary, linking best practices and thinking in performance management, policy formulation, and economic strategy including: • • • • • An first of its kind interactive map of Saudi Government from 1925-‐Present Detailed profiles of 200+ government entities Performance management research for government 15 discussion papers on government issues and opportunities A series of 20 case studies of effective or innovative Saudi agencies/programs The Center lays significant emphasis on attending and hosting forums for global thought leaders, academics, government officials and the public, to come together and generate new ideas and collaborative partnerships. The Center was established by HH Prince Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf Al Muqrin, the Chairman of the Board Trustees of Prince Sultan University, and His Excellency Engineer Abdullatif AlShaikh, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs. Not yet two years old, the Center has a team of 22 outstanding researchers, advisors, and practitioners with a track record of over 50 publications, and many years of experience working with government in Saudi Arabia and worldwide. Center for Innovative Government | 2