Dhahran – September 25, 2025
Saudi Arabia achieved a new milestone on the global stage by winning the bid to host the World Conference of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) for 2027, through Dhahran Techno Valley, affiliated with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. The win came after strong competition against science parks in Norrköping, Sweden, and Chiang Mai, Thailand, during the association's general assembly meeting held in Beijing, China.

Saudi Arabia earned the members' trust by securing 87 votes out of 118, surpassing the number required to win in the first round (59 votes), securing the hosting rights on merit.

At a Glance

  • Strategic milestone: holding the conference in Dhahran is an important step in cementing the Kingdom's standing as a leading destination in innovation, energy, sustainability and future technologies, and reflects the appeal of the Kingdom's environment for investment and entrepreneurship.
  • Expected turnout: the conference is expected to attract more than 1,000 global participants, including academics, entrepreneurs and investors, making it a platform for exchanging expertise and showcasing the latest practices in technology, research and development, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
  • About IASP: founded in 1984, the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation today has more than 350 members from 80 countries, representing more than 115,000 technology, research and entrepreneurial companies. Since its founding it has organized 40 world conferences and 181 regional events, making it the world's largest network supporting the development of innovation environments.

The next World Conference is scheduled to be held in 2026 in Sophia Antipolis, France, before the world's attention turns to Dhahran in 2027, where the Kingdom is preparing to deliver an exceptional edition of this global event.