KAUST held its 14th KAUST Industry Advisory Board (KIAB) meeting in Riyadh on December 11, 2023. The annual event convenes the KAUST Industry Collaboration Program (KICP) members, an economic development action developed in 2009 that connects KAUST with government entities, businesses and industries to accelerate innovation through deep tech and entrepreneurship.

This year’s occasion included the formal signing of the Government of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) as a new member and marked the first time the meeting has taken place in Riyadh (all previous ones were at KAUST) — a milestone that reflects KAUST's increasing engagement with industry partners in the capital and its new strategy of accelerating impact in the Kingdom.

KICP helps its members to benefit from KAUST talent, intellectual property and infrastructure to further research and development and economic opportunities. The KCIP also facilitates engagement with Saudi policymakers. In turn, KICP members support KAUST R&D projects (approximately 234 to date) as well as hire University graduates and other skilled KAUST personnel to grow expertise. Currently, the program includes 22 domestic and international organizations, from which each is invited to elect an executive member to the board.

Maaz Khawaji, KICP Manager at KAUST, Ian Campbell, Interim Vice President of Innovation at KAUST, Mohammed Al-Abdulaali, Deputy Minister of Health, Suliman Almazroua, CEO of NDLIP

KAUST Interim Vice President of Innovation Ian Campbell said, “The collaborations in place as a result of KICP are producing outcomes of impact to every sector of society, from environmental restoration and carbon capture to agriculture and water conservation. In leveraging our shared strengths and assets, we make space for extraordinary achievements to happen.”

The annual meeting included talks about the future of KICP and four round-table sessions on advancing goals in alignment with the Research, Development and Innovation Authority to elevate the Kingdom's main pillars: Sustainable Environment and Supply of Essential Needs; Energy and Industrial Leadership; Economies of the Future; and Achieving Vision 2030.

With the Kingdom’s new strategy for KAUST providing a fresh framework for members to explore long-term opportunities and commitments anew, the event signaled a new era of alliances for launching ambitions and deepening impact in the Kingdom and beyond.