📍 Jeddah — Rabi' II 30, 1447 AH (October 22, 2025)

Under the patronage of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz, adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Emir of Makkah Region, King Abdulaziz University concluded the two-day First Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship 2025, held at the King Faisal Conference Hall under the theme "Idea, Invention and Impact." The conference drew exceptional attendance of more than 7,136 participants from government, academic and private entities, with more than 105 speakers and experts, making it one of the leading scientific and entrepreneurial events at Saudi universities this year.

The conference included 21 panel discussions and 16 workshops that examined the latest trends in innovation and entrepreneurship and reviewed successful national experiences in supporting the knowledge economy, alongside an accompanying exhibition featuring 40 scientific posters and 25 research abstracts showcasing the talents of young Saudi researchers.

The conference also hosted the "National Hackathon," which brought together a select group of university students to develop innovative solutions for a more sustainable future, and the "Entrepreneurship Hall" event, which featured 38 startups and eight companies specialized in entrepreneurial services, alongside eight entities from King Abdulaziz University's innovation ecosystem, such as the SEZ incubator and the Entrepreneurship Club, making the event an ideal platform for exchanging ideas and building entrepreneurial partnerships.

In the "Athar" (Impact) competition held as part of the conference, 30 university teams competed across three main tracks: sustainability, health innovation, and entrepreneurship, with winning teams presenting innovative projects that reflected the advanced level of national talent in technology and innovation.

The conference also saw the signing of several strategic agreements between universities and government and private entities, aimed at strengthening research partnerships, exchanging expertise, and supporting technology transfer and the development of a sustainable entrepreneurial environment that contributes to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The event featured the participation of 22 Saudi universities and a number of leading national entities, including Monsha'at, the Research, Development and Innovation Authority, the Social Development Bank, the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, and Cud Company affiliated with the Ministry of Communications, giving the event broad national significance.

At the conclusion of the conference, King Abdulaziz University reaffirmed its commitment to continuing its support for the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem through quality initiatives and partnerships that strengthen the shift toward a knowledge economy, calling for the establishment of a national university investment fund for innovative projects, and the development of educational programs and applied research centers to help turn research ideas into products and solutions with sustainable economic impact.

The conference marks a strategic step toward cementing the Kingdom's leadership in innovation and empowering national talent to contribute to building a thriving knowledge-based future in line with the aspirations of Saudi Vision 2030.