Saudi and international experts, including King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) President Jean-Lou Chameau, gathered at the Global Competitiveness Forum (GCF) held in Riyadh on January 18-20, 2014. Focusing on the theme of "Building Competitive Partnerships," the forum convened Saudi government ministers, international business leaders, and academics from other top institutions to discuss global and regional trends in business competitiveness and the development of a world class infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

Participating on a panel focused on fostering entrepreneurship and catalyzing innovation, President Chameau shared his thoughts on enabling the scale-up of successful ideas and leveraging technology for entrepreneurship. "I believe an integral part of a successful innovation ecosystem includes the role of science and technology universities. These universities not only educate a highly qualified workforce to support industry, but also lead innovation and create new industries themselves," he said.

"Research universities promote and leverage the co-existence of curiosity-driven research and more focused goal-driven research, which turn scientific discoveries into products, technologies, and processes," President Chameau continued. "The university climate for innovation serves as a catalyst for a parallel supportive environment in the local ecosystem. At KAUST, we strive to engage in the larger, more influential and impactful innovation network."

Established in 2009, KAUST is a global research university dedicated to education, research, and innovation. As part of its economic development focus, it seeks to move ideas from the lab to the marketplace in order to create an international and sustainable innovation ecosystem within the Kingdom.

Although only in its fifth year, KAUST has already developed significant contributions through its global research partnerships and technology transfer programs. To date, KAUST's pathway for the commercialization of emerging technologies has resulted in over 300 patents filed and the launch of six startups. Current projects include novel solutions relating to solar energy, crowd management, air purification, and clean water.

"KAUST is one of the region's first research universities to build an integrated economic development and technology commercialization program designed around the principles of open innovation. This commitment to the development of entrepreneurial and innovative activities that promote industry collaboration goes hand-in-hand with the vision of GCF," stated President Chameau.

For the first time since its inception, GCF also included a platform to highlight investment opportunities in the Kingdom. The "Invest in Saudi" exhibition showcased an information-sharing marketplace for potential investors in Saudi Arabia, furthering the development of successful international trade partnerships

Founded in 2006 by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), GCF is a platform to promote dialogue about the positive impact organizational and national competitiveness can have on local, regional, and global economic and social development. It has grown into one of the largest and important annual gatherings in the region for generating real solutions to contemporary global challenges.

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