In a new milestone for the Saudi innovation ecosystem, Qualcomm and Aramco announced the graduation of the first cohort of the “Designed in Saudi with AI” (DISAI) program. The program, supported by the Aramco Accelerated Innovation Lab (SAIL), aims to empower startups to develop advanced “deep” technologies to serve industrial and healthcare sectors.
Article Contents:
- Introduction
- Program Goals and Innovation Support
- Graduating Startups Showcase
- Technical Support and Patents
- Partner Statements
- The Future of Innovation in the Kingdom
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction
The program focuses on nurturing early-stage startups working in deep tech fields such as industrial IoT, robotics, and 5G. By providing access to Qualcomm technologies and Aramco expertise, the program aims to transform research ideas into scalable commercial products.
Graduating Startups Showcase
The cohort included a distinguished group of innovative companies, including: “Agile Loop” for AI tools, “Manyface” for predictive maintenance of oil wells, “Thikah Med” for disease diagnosis, and “Mobisense” for audio summarization, among others. These companies delivered solutions addressing real challenges in the Saudi market.
Technical Support and Patents
Support was not limited to business mentoring; it also included access to advanced Qualcomm platforms and intellectual property protection. Companies were trained on patent strategies to ensure the protection of their innovations, enhancing their market value.
Partner Statements
Ahmad Al-Khowaiter of Aramco praised the graduates, emphasizing the role of collaboration in driving progress. Wassim Chourbaji of Qualcomm also expressed pride in empowering the next generation of Saudi innovators, noting the vibrancy of the Kingdom’s innovation landscape.
Conclusion
The DISAI program serves as a model for successful partnerships between the private sector and research entities, and reaffirms the Kingdom’s commitment to building a robust knowledge-based economy driven by local innovation and advanced technologies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What is the DISAI program?
Answer: An accelerator to support startups in artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.
Question: Who are the main partners?
Answer: Qualcomm, Aramco, and the Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA).
