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Driven by the vital role of scientific research and innovation in advancing key sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Community Jameel Saudi Foundation announced today the launch of the Jameel Deep Tech Initiative. The initiative is organized by StartSmart Saudi Arabia in strategic partnership with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), aligning with their shared vision to support the national ecosystem of research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

The Jameel Deep Tech Initiative aims to contribute to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by increasing the contribution of SMEs and the research, development, and innovation (RDI) sectors to the Kingdom’s GDP. It also seeks to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, localize advanced technologies, and enhance local content in strategic industrial sectors. This will be achieved by empowering researchers and innovators, accelerating the commercialization of research outcomes and innovations, and transforming them into competitive business models capable of succeeding in global markets, while also addressing some of today’s most pressing societal and economic challenges.

In line with national RDI priorities, the initiative will focus on three promising deep tech fields: Health, Energy, and Environment & Climate. These sectors are vital to Saudi Arabia’s national and strategic security, and they play a critical role in economic diversification and the creation of high-quality jobs. Participants will benefit from a range of opportunities, including: Enrollment in an intensive training bootcamp specialized in deep technologies to fast-track commercialization and market entry, access to personalized mentorship from leading local and international experts, investor matchmaking, and financial awards totaling SAR 2,250,000 for top-performing participants.

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. May Taibah, Member of the Board of Trustees at Community Jameel Foundation, stated: “The Jameel Deep Tech Initiative is an ambitious step toward supporting national research efforts to deliver real-world solutions and launch startups that address critical challenges in health, energy, and the environment. It also aims to empower Saudi researchers and innovators to elevate the national RDI ecosystem and deliver impactful outcomes that strengthen the Kingdom’s leadership at the regional and global levels.”

Dr. Khalid Al-Dakkan, Senior Vice President of KACST for Innovation, added: “Our strategic participation in the Jameel Deep Tech Initiative reflects KACST’s commitment to empowering the non-profit sector to achieve national development. We aim to support all efforts that help transform the innovative ideas of Saudi researchers and innovators into globally competitive businesses, in line with the Kingdom’s ambitions to become a pioneer in research and economies of the future.”Registration for the initiative opened on May 14th and will continue until June 30th. Interested applicants in any of the focus areas can register through the official website: https://deeptech.startsmartsaudi.com/