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A high-level delegation from the Community Jameel Saudi Foundation conducted a visit to Shenzhen InnoX Academy in China, on 9–10 February 2026, as part of the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to study leading global models in innovation, entrepreneurship, and the development of technical talent. The visit focused on understanding the comprehensive model adopted by the Academy for stimulating innovation and building human capacities, with a goal of benefiting from this distinguished experience in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

During the visit, the delegation reviewed the strategic instruments of InnoX Academy, which integrates academic education, intensive training bootcamps, business incubators, and connections with investors and manufacturers, creating a complete environment for transforming research ideas into successful commercial products. Both sides discussed ways to adapt these elements in alignment with the investment and educational environment in the region, with the aim of strengthening the role of business incubators as a fundamental pillar in the knowledge economy.

On this occasion, Dr. May Taibah, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Community Jameel Saudi Foundation, stated: “One of the key lessons from what we observed at Shenzhen InnoX Academy is the power of a holistic empowerment model, which addresses all the needs of an entrepreneur within the ecosystem. The Academy not only provides training and qualifications, but also offers everything an entrepreneur needs in one place, starting from recruitment services, investment opportunities, access to service providers, manufacturers, supply chains, data sources, and more. This comprehensive strategy is closely aligned with our plans at the Community Jameel Saudi Foundation, which aim to contribute to achieving the targets of Saudi Vision 2030, by building integrated support and empowerment ecosystems.”

Mr. Mohammed Abdulghaffar, Senior General Manager of Initiatives at the Community Jameel Saudi Foundation, commented: “The Chinese experience at Shenzhen InnoX Academy provides practical evidence of the strength of connecting players across the entrepreneurship ecosystem. At StartSmart Saudi, we aspire to draw inspiration from InnoX and further develop this model, which will represent a leap in how talent is nurtured and innovation is integrated into our market, making the Saudi entrepreneurship ecosystem a true driver of innovation and economic growth.”

The visit also included an overview of the Academy’s main programs, including seasonal training bootcamps, startup bootcamps, business incubators, university collaboration initiatives, and long-term talent development pathways. Discussions covered global academic cooperation and an in-depth study of the Academy’s partnerships with universities worldwide, including the ShinTech Training Program and the (TIE) Joint Master’s Program, as well as curriculum integration.
Additionally, the itinerary included visits to startups graduating from the InnoX ecosystem to learn about post-training paths, supply chain integration, rapid development, and localization capabilities. The Community Jameel Saudi delegation also attended the graduation ceremony of an intensive technical training program, observed project presentations, and reviewed evaluation criteria and post-graduation pathways.

This visit reflects the Community Jameel Saudi Foundation’s commitment to establishing international channels that contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in innovation, science, and technology, and to developing the entrepreneurship ecosystem by building strategic partnerships with the world’s most advanced centers and localizing technical knowledge and expertise.