King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is envisioned to be a new model for the research university in the 21st century. With its world-scale groundbreaking ceremony marked by the presence of leading scientific and research institutions from across the globe, KAUST had the perfect opportunity to convene a symposium that will formulate the opinion of the world’s scientific and research body about “The Role of the Research University in the 21st Century.” The symposium was held October 22, 2007 at the Jeddah Hilton under the patronage of His Excellency, Ali Al-Naimi, the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia. KAUST arranged for participation of distinguished speakers during the symposium and invited members from academia, research, industry, business, and opinion leaders from around the world to attend the symposium. There were two sessions; the morning session addressed the historical and social aspects of the research university, while the afternoon session focused on the scientific and economic aspects. The keynote speaker and other presenters delivered their presentations and time was allowed for interaction and discussion with the audience. The symposium events were recorded and are available, electronically, as proceedings of the symposium.