Impact of innovation on economy highlighted
accelerate the knowledge economy, the development and localization of technology in the Kingdom, through collaboration with major institutions, scientific and international universities to support technological entrepreneurship, and ensure the application of the latest and most effective methods used in the field.
Both the National Science and Technology Plan and the National Industry Strategy objectives look to diversify the economy through the development of non-oil technology industries, with the aim to build a knowledge economy in Saudi Arabia.
KACST is the nation’s national research institute. It has been providing leadership for the creation of a National Innovation Ecosystem. BADIR is an initiative that provides a practical strategy within Saudi Arabia’s national innovation eco-system infrastructure.
BADIR is focused on supporting technological business opportunities and the development of technological entrepreneurship. KACST launched the BADIR program and established its first national technology incubator, BADIR-ICT, in 2008.
BADIR- ICT has already assisted in the creation and growth of a number of ICT businesses. Four further BADIR technology incubators, covering bio- technology, advanced manufacturing, nano- technology and energy sectors are at various stages of establishment.
KACST will support at least 11 other BADIR affiliate technology incubators in the next few years. These will be managed within universities and other institutions. BADIR and its affiliate technology incubators will be part of a national network, Saudi Business Incubator Network (SBIN). SBIN was also an initiative of KACST, which is supported by BADIR as its secretariat.
KACST have further supported technology incubation through organizing the first National Technology Incubation Forum in March 2009, which will be an annual event. At that forum it was announced that KACST was in the process of developing a National Technology Incubator Policy Framework.
That policy framework, entitled Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National Technology Business Incubation Policy Framework, envisages the Kingdom having 80 technology incubators by 2025. BADIR will play a national role to implement the policy and support the development of the national technology incubation industry.