Dr. Fatima Al-Thallab, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kuwaiti Society for the Support of Inventors and Innovation, stated on Monday that Gulf women have become pioneers in the field of medical technology and contributors to shaping the future through their innovations that promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life globally.  

This came during the speech delivered by Al-Thallab, representing the Kuwaiti delegation and civil society, at the side event organized by Kuwait in its capacity as the current chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) during the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The event, titled "Women in Technology... Inspiring Stories," was chaired by the Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah.  

Al-Thallab noted that Kuwait has provided its women with extensive opportunities for learning and technological advancement, enabling them to achieve not only local but also global accomplishments. She emphasized that the country has been keen on encouraging technological development and the use of advanced technologies in the field of artificial intelligence, in line with the goals of the "New Kuwait 2035" vision, which focuses on investing in human capital, sustainable smart growth, and digital transformation.  

She mentioned that "Kuwait's journey in this field may be the oldest in the region," pointing to the establishment of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research in 1967, which now includes 580 researchers and scientists, with women researchers making up 47% of the workforce. She added, "In 1976, the Amiri Decree established the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, which is currently headed by Kuwaiti physicist Dr. Amina Farhan."  

Al-Thallab highlighted that female students top the list of graduates from scientific colleges, with an increase in the number of appointed female doctors over the past seven years, and the outperformance of female researchers at Kuwait University compared to their male counterparts.  

She also touched on several examples of the government's pioneering role in empowering women in scientific fields, including (education and training), (professional support and employment), (empowering women in scientific research), and (technological entrepreneurship).  

Al-Thallab shared her own journey as a physician, researcher, and global inventor, which has been marked by medical achievements, participation in international forums, and prestigious awards in the medical field, culminating in her founding of the Kuwaiti Society for the Support of Inventors and Innovation.  

She added that the Society is the first of its kind in the Gulf and operates under the umbrella of the Ministry of Social Affairs, which provides full support for its work. She expressed pride that the Society's first board of directors was entirely female, consisting of seven members who are inventors and scientists.  

Al-Thallab continued that the Society has focused on "supporting women through the Women Inventors Committee by offering specialized technical courses and involving female inventors in specialized exhibitions and conferences."  

She showcased some examples of Kuwaiti women in the field of medical technology whom the country celebrates "to serve as beacons for the future and a new generation of creative, innovative, and pioneering women in the field."  

On behalf of Kuwaiti researchers, scientists, and inventors, Al-Thallab expressed "our gratitude for what the State of Kuwait provides to support women in the fields of technology and sciences. As a result, we have not stopped at being mere observers or assistants in the technological future but have become its creators, side by side with our male counterparts."