Forty-six deep-tech startups recently graduated from the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology’s (KACST) Venture Program in a ceremony held in Riyadh. The startups represent a wide range of sectors, including energy, healthcare, renewable resources, and emerging technologies.
Among the notable participants were Glass Earth KSA, which specializes in geospatial technology solutions for environmental monitoring, PainTech Solutions, focused on developing innovative approaches to pain management and medical treatments, and EA Systems, which works on advanced engineering solutions for industrial automation and efficiency.
The KACST Venture Program is designed to support deep-tech startups by offering resources, mentorship, and strategic partnerships to transform research into viable market products and services. The program is backed by the National Technology Development Program (NTDP), which has also granted technology licenses to several private sector firms.
The graduation ceremony took place at KACST’s The Garage startup incubator, attended by key stakeholders, including government officials, researchers, and private investors. Munir El-Desouki, president of KACST, praised the initiative’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation.
Khalid Al-Dakkan, senior vice president of innovation at KACST, emphasized the program’s role in connecting emerging companies with government, private sectors, and investors to develop and commercialize innovations. He also highlighted the inclusion of strategic partners in the next phase of the program, which will involve four Saudi universities to foster a vibrant entrepreneurial culture. The new iteration will target fields such as clean energy, AI, and health technologies.
Ibrahim Neyaz, CEO of NTDP, underlined the program’s importance in supporting emerging sectors, encouraging national companies to invest in innovative technologies, and increasing their market share in the local economy.
