Riyadh: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) president Dr. Munir Eldesouki affirmed that Saudi Arabia is actively building its technological future to align with global transformations in the semiconductor industry. The remarks came during his speech at the Future of Semiconductors Forum, attended by industry leaders, researchers, and experts, where he highlighted that KACST is driving a strategic transformation centered on innovation. According to Saudi Press Agency, Dr. Eldesouki noted that the effort includes initiatives in training, research, and development to establish a comprehensive national ecosystem that meets Saudi Arabia's needs and enhances its global competitiveness in semiconductors. He indicated that KACST is exploring the frontiers of artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technologies through strategic partnerships that yield impactful solutions - from chip design and manufacturing to advanced AI and biosensing technologies. KACST's "Ignition" accelerator program has su pported 10 Saudi startups and trained 455 engineers in chip design and manufacturing, in addition to preparing more than 1,200 Saudi engineers and students through the Saudi Semiconductor Program, he said. Dr. Eldesouki announced a new cooperation agreement with Tadamon Investment to establish a venture-capital fund aimed at supporting and empowering startups in deep technology fields that align with national research, development, and innovation priorities, including semiconductors. He emphasized that the fund will help build a robust tech ecosystem in the Kingdom, contributing to economic diversification by investing in startups that generate jobs, stimulate innovation-based growth, attract indirect investment, and boost intellectual-property development. The fund will also provide pre-seed financing and mentorship services to entrepreneurs, helping them reach the market, scale sustainably, and deliver attractive returns to investors, Dr. Eldesouki said. On the sidelines of the forum, KACST honored the wi nners of Saudi Arabia's first chip design hackathon, "Chipathon". The winners - Abdullah Al-Juhaiman from King Saud University, and Fouz Al-Otaibi and Reham Al-Mazrou from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University - were recognized for their innovative design of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) for internet-of-things (IoT) applications.
