Alwaleed and RDIA Back Four Technology Startups
Saudi Arabia innovation partnership valued at SAR 10 million will support four Open RAN Technology Challenge startups.
Alwaleed Philanthropies and the Research, Development and Innovation Authority have signed a strategic partnership valued at SAR 10 million to advance innovation and technology solutions in Saudi Arabia. The agreement supports the Open RAN Technology Challenge and four winning startups. It also includes the formation of a joint working group to oversee implementation and participating startups. The organizations aim to build research and innovation capabilities through programs aligned with the Kingdom’s priorities in key technology fields.
Support for Four Startups
Four startups were selected as winners after presenting innovative and deployable technology solutions through the Open RAN Technology Challenge. The partnership will enable the winning startups to further develop their solutions, accelerate their transition to deployment, launch their products, and measure their impact.
Alwaleed Philanthropies will contribute to the ongoing oversight of the participating startup. RDIA will coordinate with relevant stakeholders across the RDI ecosystem, monitor the startups’ performance and periodic reports, share updates with Alwaleed Philanthropies, and assess the initiative’s outputs and impact.
Joint Programs and Oversight
The partnership includes the formation of a joint working group to oversee implementation, fulfill shared commitments, monitor the participating startups, and facilitate the launch of products developed through the initiative. The organizations will also explore and develop joint programs and initiatives in research and innovation.
The agreement builds on a previous joint initiative that enabled 96 women to pursue postgraduate studies in fields including artificial intelligence and renewable energy at universities ranked among the world’s top 30.
Building Research Capabilities
The partnership is intended to promote research, development and innovation in the local community, support national talent, and develop technology solutions. It will also support collaboration between the public and nonprofit sectors in Saudi Arabia and internationally, in line with applicable laws and regulations.
