From Science to Startups in Saudi Arabia
Anastasia Natrova, MD
BioTech, HealthTech, Longevity, Mental Health | Largest Life Sci VC Database | Venture Capital | WEF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARKS (STPs)
Entrepreneurship and innovation are complex concepts with many factors involved. Innovation is often tied to scientific and technological research. Stanford Industrial Park, the earliest STP, was developed in the 1950s. Today, there are over 300 members of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP). However, other sources suggest there may be up to 700 STPs worldwide. According to UNESCO, there were an estimated 534 STPs globally by 2017.
Different countries use various terms, such as research park, STP, business innovation center, innovation park, techno-city, technopole, technopolis, and innovation and technology center. Due to their evolution over time, there is a high degree of diversity in their nature and functions. The World Bank and UNCTAD classify STPs under the broad term - Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Science and Technology Parks facilitate links between companies and higher education institutions to promote regional development. They help transfer knowledge and innovation through partnerships between knowledge institutions and SMEs. STPs also serve as incubators for companies with advanced technology. They provide a structure for the development and transfer of technology and for conducting academic research with industrial applications. They represent academic entrepreneurship, being spaces that foster effective integration between science, industry, and technology. Such parks provide an environment and ecosystem conducive to innovation, knowledge-based work, and R&D activities, with proximity to research institutes and universities.
There are 10 STPs in Saudi Arabia:
Website: https://kacst.gov.sa/?
President: H.E Dr. Munir M. Eldesouki
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Main technology sectors: Air Conditioning, Energy Storage Technologies, Power Sector, Vaccine and Biomanufacturing, Health and Biotechnologies, Nanotechnologies, AI and Data Science, Robotics and Automated systems, Space and Satellites, IoT
Riyadh Techno Valley
Website: https://rtv.ksu.edu.sa/ar?
Owner: King Saud University (KSU)
CEO: othman alshehri
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Main technology sectors: Chemicals Technologies and Materials; Biological, Agricultural, and Environmental technologies; Information and Communications Technologies.
Website: https://www.dtvc.com.sa/
CEO DTVHC: Ammar Al Nahwi ?
Deputy CEO: Halim Redhwi ?
Location: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Main technology sectors: Atmospheric and Earth Sciences, Chemistry and Chemicals, Electrical Power Science and Technology, Manufacturing and Automation Technologies, Materials
The ecosystem includes around 30 partners like King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals - KFUPM , Saudi aramco , Wa'ed Ventures , 霍尼韦尔 , 施耐德电气 , AVEVA , SIPCHEM , ROSEN , 艾默生 , 沙特基础工业公司 , technology partners, and small to medium size enterprises.
Website: https://www.aramco.com/
Owner: aramco
Founder & Director: Mohammed Abusharifah
Location: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Main technology sectors: Energy and Sustainability, Advanced manufacturing, and Digital transformation
KAUST Research and Technology Park (KRTP)
Vice President for Innovation: Kevin Cullen
Location: Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Main technology sectors: Biotechnology, Chemistry and Chemicals, Energy, Environment
The ecosystem includes 22 corporate partners and service providers like Saudi Aramco, SABIC, DOW, Boeing, ThermoFisher Scientific, Beckman Coulter, SVax, Fugro, Bruker, SWCC, Acwa Power, Scientific Saudi, Naizak, and 27 startups like UnitX, Sadeem, Wayakit, Natufia, Edama, ImmunoRx, HavenSci, and others
Prince Turki Bin Mohammad Bin Fahd Center for Creativity and Entrepreneurship
Website: https://ptcce.pmu.edu.sa?
Owner: Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU)
President PMU: Issa Al Ansari
Location: Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Main technology sectors: IT, Renewable Energy, Transportation logistics, Healthcare, AI, Food & Agriculture, Waste Management, Industrial engineering
Website: https://rpdinnovations.com/?
Owner: The Saudi Technology Development and Investment Company ( TAQNIA - ????? ), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF)
CEO: Dr. Mishal Al-Harbi
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Main technology sectors: Energy, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering
The founding strategic partners: Saudi aramco , King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) , KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) , TAQNIA - ????? and King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals - KFUPM .?
Makkah Techno Valley
Website: https://wadimakkah.sa/?lang=en?
Owner: Wadi Makkah | ???? ??? ??????? Company
CEO: Ali Al-Shaery
Location: Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Main technology sectors: Hajj and Umrah techniques
(?) Prince Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Science Park (PASP)
Location: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Main technology sectors: Petroleum, ICT
领英推荐
Jeddah BioCity Science Park?
Projects included biogenetics, pre-clinical and clinical research facilities, the manufacture of insulin & blood products, and others. Then, the viable subsidiaries of which were acquired by ReAya Holding.
Website: https://www.reaya.sa/
Owner: ReAya Holding
Group CEO ReAya Holding: Majed Al-Thanon
Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Main technology sectors: Biotechnology, Healthcare, Life Science, Pharma
(?on hold?) Sinnovate smart technology hub, KAEC
Location: Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia
Owner: SAUDI AIRLINES
INNOVATION DISTRICTS (IDs)
An Innovation District is a dense area of supportive economic activity that focuses on building thriving innovation solutions. It is typically located near one or more universities and offers access to co-working spaces and sometimes shared research infrastructure. Unlike STPs that only serve as workplaces, Innovation Districts are highly accessible, physically compact, and provide a variety of activities, including housing and neighborhood amenities.
Innovation Districts create places where people can live, work, and relax 24/7 even not changing the parking spot. They include a wide range of businesses across the ecosystem, from start-ups to large corporates, and are more physically compact. Collaboration between players in different sectors is crucial for innovation, especially in fields like, for example, healthcare and life sciences, where advances in materials science, advanced manufacturing, robotics and AI, electronics, biophysics, biotech, nutrition, and other fields, which are driving applied health innovation.
IDs in Saudi Arabia:
Website: https://thegarage.sa/?
Founders: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) , ????? ????????? ?????? ??????????Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones ( ??????? ??????? ????? ????????? ???????? ???????? | SAFCSP )
CEO: Omar Al-Shabaan
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Main technology sectors: DeepTech, Emerging and Disruptive technologies, Solutions Related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and Digital Technologies of the Future
The ecosystem includes partners like Google for Startups , Abdul Latif Jameel , KAUST Destination DeepTech, Ministry of Investment , National Technology Development Program (NTDP), and startups like Nitx , Logexa , Moltazim Regulatory , Mkhzon , Mezwalah I ????? , QVALON , Shttle , Money Loop Fintech , OptimalPV, Nitros | ??????? , Wakkl | ??? , MisMar | ????? , FACEKI , SHIFTAT | ????? , and allows activities and open access to KACST’s labs, rapid prototyping facilities and specialized capabilities that will provide additional support and technical services to entrepreneurs, especially in “deep-tech” startups.
Oxagon
Founder: NEOM
CEO: Vishal Wanchoo
Location: NEOM, Saudi Arabia
Main technology sectors: Big Data Analytics and AI, Advanced Sensing and IoT, Material Science, Nano Technology and Robotics, and Automated Guided Vehicles and Drones,?Advanced and Clean industries
SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES (SZEs)
And since STPs were defined by the World Bank and UNCTAD under the wide umbrella term of Special Economic Zones, let's take a look at the SEZs currently present in KSA.?
In the mid of April, the Saudi government announced the establishment of 4 new SEZs across various regions of the country. The first wave of SEZs, for now, includes 5 different zones, each designed to accelerate the growth of specified key sectors depending on their strategic location.
The current SEZs in the region are:
King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) SEZ
The master developer of KAEC is Emaar, The Economic City (EEC).
CEO Emaar: Cyril Piaia ?
Location: Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia
Focused Sectors: Automobile supply chain and assembly, Consumer goods, ICT (Electronic light manufacturing), Pharmaceutical, MedTech, Logistics
Jazan SEZ
Location: Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia
Focused Sectors: Food Processing, Metal conversion, Logistics
Ras Al Khair SEZ
Location: Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
Focused Sectors: Shipbuilding and Maintenance, Repair and Operations/Overhaul (MRO), Rig platforms and MRO
Cloud Computing SEZ
Location: Innovation Tower, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Focused Sectors: Cloud Computing Services
Integrated Logistics Bonded Zone (“ILBZ”)
Location: Riyadh
Focused Sectors: Consumer products, Computer parts, Pharmaceuticals, Nutritional and Medical supplies, Aerospace spare parts, Luxury goods, Jewelry and Precious metals
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