المملكة: Scientific and technical leaps that strengthen Saudi Arabia’s global position in research and innovation
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology achieved… "Cast" During the year 2025, qualitative achievements were made in the research, development and innovation system, after implementing a package of national initiatives and strategic projects related to national aspirations and priorities for research, development and innovation, which contributed to raising the Kingdom’s scientific and technical readiness and enhancing its global competitiveness, in a way that supports achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The year witnessed a historic national achievement represented by the appointment of His Excellency the President of "Cactus" Scientist Professor Omar Yaghi, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the year 2025, as the first Saudi to win this international award, which reflects the rapid development in the Kingdom’s scientific and research capabilities, and the pivotal role it contributes to. "Cactus" In supporting advanced scientific research.
And strengthened "Cactus" Its international presence was re-elected as a regional representative member on the Board of Governors of the World Research Council, confirming its leadership position in supporting the scientific research system regionally and internationally, in addition to winning the presidency of the West Asia and North Africa region in the International Organization for Science Parks and Innovation Parks (IASP). "Cactus" Its efforts to meet the Kingdom’s priorities, and employ them in vital fields, as it presented (20) initiatives in the areas of developing national capabilities, transfer and localization Technology, and supporting innovation in the fields of water, energy, oil and gas, logistics services, health, and information technology, in addition to establishing innovation centers to stimulate innovative products and enhance manufacturing capabilities within the National Industries Development and Logistics Services Programme.
The efforts bore fruit. "Cactus" Research on the launch of the Innovation Center for Electric Vehicles, the first of its kind in the Middle East, in partnership with Lucid Group for Electric Vehicles, and the Advanced Knowledge Laboratory for Mineral Resources, in partnership with… "Minerals" To support the mining sector in the Kingdom, in addition to launching the joint Food Security Excellence Center with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and the Dutch Wageningen University to be a strategic center for innovation and developing solutions to the challenges facing the food system.
It also established "Cactus"in partnership with "Aramco" Quantum Valley to operate the first quantum computer in the Kingdom, and established an investment fund with Tadamun Investment Company to support and enable emerging companies in deep technologies, and launched a program to accelerate innovation from research to market to enable researchers and innovators to transform their innovations into marketable products, in addition to inaugurating a virtual center for innovation in water desalination technology with the Saudi Water Authority and King Abdulaziz University, to enhance environmental sustainability, and employ advanced materials and renewable energy.
The Saudi Internet Exchange with Kacast recorded a new achievement. By joining the Terabyte Club, it will be the first exchange in the Middle East and North Africa in which data movement exceeds the barrier of 1 terabyte per second, which contributes to improving the speed of communication and data exchange, in addition to launching smart digital platforms that rely on artificial intelligence and remote sensing technologies to manage crowds in the holy sites, and a platform for high-resolution images to highlight the beauty of geographic and tourist attractions in the Kingdom.
In addition to a platform to raise the readiness of small and medium enterprises towards adopting the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it also launched the Quantum Network Alliance to enhance the Kingdom’s leadership in secure communications and technologies. Advanced, as well as academic roaming service to enable researchers to securely connect to research networks globally.
Strategic research projects
and implemented "Cactus" More than (40) strategic research projects, including developing the fifth generation communications network using Open Ran technologies, building the first genome for the endangered Arabian leopard, developing techniques for growing saffron and producing its flowers within 10 days, manufacturing 30 electronic chips specialized in deep technologies, in addition to implementing comprehensive surveys of vegetation that resulted in the registration of 8 new plant species in the Kingdom, inventing a multi-part smart capsule to improve therapeutic adherence, and developing a strategy for smart fisheries. Environmentally friendly to reduce the spread of mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever.
And she continued "Cactus" In 2025, it will consolidate its pioneering role as a national laboratory and oasis of innovation, by providing (2,045) technical services and consultations to governmental, private and non-profit agencies, distributed in the fields of health, environmental sustainability, basic needs, energy and industry, and future economics, in addition to making its research facilities available to researchers and innovators to benefit from the capabilities of national and central laboratories and advanced research laboratories in a way that enhances scientific and technical gains in the Kingdom.
In the field of innovation, it obtained "Cactus" During this year, it obtained 18 patents, bringing the total to 757 patents. It also disclosed 130 new innovations in deep technologies, published 291 scientific papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and provided 3 technology licenses to the private sector and 8 to emerging companies. With the aim of maximizing the benefit of research and development outputs and transforming them into promising technical solutions that contribute to the diversification of the national economy.
In the field of supporting entrepreneurship, Empowerment "Cactus" Entrepreneurs are able to transform the outputs of applied research into innovative products that contribute to supporting the national economy and promoting sustainable development, as 46 startup companies working in the fields of nanomaterials, robotics, artificial intelligence, and energy technologies emerged through the KVP program, winning a number of awards in local and international forums, in addition to obtaining an industrial license to establish the first local factory to produce titanium powder, in a qualitative step that reflects the role of research systems in stimulating the national industry.
And expanded "Cactus" The scope of its strategic partnerships by concluding (17) cooperation agreements with local and international bodies in the fields of deep technologies, genomics, precision medicine, advanced materials, the manufacture of electric car batteries, electronic chips, e-gaming and sports, space data, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and smart supply chains, which contributes to raising production efficiency, enhancing local content and achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
And in the field of the emerging technologies adoption readiness index, it achieved "Cactus" An advanced level within the top 20 government agencies, in addition to obtaining a number of international accreditation certificates in the fields of advanced manufacturing, nanomedicine, and microbiology in exchange for its commitment to quality standards in implementing research and manufacturing processes.
International Awards
As a result of its research efforts, it won "Cactus" A number of local and international awards, including the King Abdulaziz Award for Quality in recognition of its institutional excellence and efforts in strengthening the research and innovation system, the Inspiring Solutions Award from the International Organization for Innovation Hubs (IASP), for its initiative, the CAXET Program for startups, and the King Salman International Academy for the Arabic Language Award for the Institutions category in the branch of computing the Arabic language and its service with advanced technologies, in addition to winning first place in the International Projects Award for its innovative project in fifth generation networks, and the Nadlib Award. To excel at the Innovation Center for Electric Vehicles.
In the field of human capital development and national capacity building, it was implemented "Cactus" Through Academy 32, more than 60 knowledge activities and training programs for researchers and specialists in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics technologies, advanced manufacturing of semiconductor technologies, and the Certified Researcher Programme, benefited more than 2,400 beneficiaries, in addition to implementing the Generation of Research and Innovation Enrichment Program 2025, in which 90 male and female students participated and resulted in them receiving 12 medals at the Science and Innovation Exhibition.
And it was organized during this This year, a number of scientific events were held that contributed to strengthening the Kingdom’s position in the international research, development and innovation system, most notably the organization of the thirteenth annual meeting of the World Research Council for the first time in the Middle East region with the participation of more than 200 representatives from 66 countries around the world, the Third Saudi Forum for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the nineteenth International Forum of the Lithosphere Program to review recent developments in techniques for exploring hydrocarbon and mineral resources in the Kingdom, and the Groundwater Sustainability Workshop… from recharge to restoration. To discuss the latest technologies and sustainable practices in recharging and restoring groundwater components, in addition to organizing an artificial intelligence hackathon for materials discovery, and the first "Chipathon" Saudi to develop talent in the field of electronic chip design.
And participated "Cactus" In a number of local and international scientific forums, including the sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention to Combat Desertification, the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum, the Round Table Meeting of the Senior Science Advisors of the Group of Twenty (G20) countries, the World Organization’s Annual Conference on Science Parks and Innovation Zones, the World Health Forum, and the Biban Forum, in addition to its participation in the Absher Conference, and the ceremony honoring the winners of the Almarai Award for Scientific Creativity.
And she will work. "Cactus" In 2026, it will harness its efforts and research capabilities to continue achieving achievements and localize strategic technologies, to provide innovative solutions with a sustainable economic impact, thus enhancing the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and achieving national priorities for research, development and innovation in accordance with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
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