Research Impact

Impact and innovation

From lab to launch, We’re innovators by nature.

KAUST is here to transform the planet, not the academy. We understand that laboratory research is only one part of the equation—the other is ending disease, hunger, climate change, and more in the real world. That’s why promoting new discoveries beyond our gates, and improving the lives of people everywhere, is integrated into everything we do.

KAUST Bioengineering achieves this in several ways. One is TAQADAM, our unique startup incubator where students can leverage funding, training, and mentorships to build startups that soar. Another is our partnership with industry. From Saudi Aramco to the sustainability stars of the future, we have the contacts to get your work recognized.

Whatever your idea, don’t keep it to yourself. Come to KAUST and get the platform it deserves—then commercialize it to shape a better tomorrow.

KAUST aims to revolutionize life across six broad pillars: food, water, energy, health, the environment, and the digital world. Here are some examples of what that means in practice.

Entrepreneurship at KAUST

Empowering a deep tech entrepreneurial ecosystem by inspiring, training and developing the next generation of remarkable innovators and founders.

Entrepreneurship for all course

Helping KAUST students develop key innovation and entrepreneurial skills, design new products and create new ventures. Students gain deep insights into why entrepreneurship is important and build the fundamentals of an entrepreneurial mindset.

New Ventures and Product Innovation course

Enabling KAUST students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, strengthen their leadership abilities and learn how to commercialize technology.

Taqadam

Powered by the combined expertise, networks and support of KAUST and SABB, we back founders with big ideas, bold thinking and creativity as they build the next generation of Saudi startups.

KAUST Technology Consultancy Services

Providing a platform for companies and government to engage with KAUST’s expertise, technologies and resources.

Technology Transfer Office

Identifying, guiding and optimizing opportunities to transform deep tech research into market-ready products and services.

KAUST Innovation Ventures

Funding and expertly supporting KAUST’s deep-tech startups to make remarkable impact.

2019.09 TAQADAM Showcase 3 Hero -Shahzad Ghauri - Talon Dust Control

Welcome to TAQADAM

Progress by nature.

Our planet spins on a single word: progress. It’s also the word that animates TAQADAM, our bespoke startup accelerator. Meaning “progress” in Arabic, TAQADAM gives ambitious KAUST Bioengineering students everything they need to advance their ideas. That begins with financial support. Accepted teams receive the equivalent of $40,000 of zero-equity funding for their startups (overall, we’ve awarded over $4M since 2016). This is followed by robust training and mentorship opportunities. That means one-on-one sessions with industry champions. It means training from experts in your field. And it means dedicated support for product development, pitching, and marketing. It also means an address book full of possibilities.

With TAQADAM, you’ll have instant access to a network of innovators—and a stage for getting your ideas seen. Our startup showcases have been attended by 8,500+ industry insiders who have backed over 400 KAUST entrepreneurs and created more than 300 jobs across disciplines. TAQADAM is the place to build, launch, and scale your world-changing idea. Start shaping tomorrow, today.

Big business. It’s our business.

Saudi Aramco. Dow Chemicals. Nalco Water. Imagine having the attention of these global titans—then stop imagining. At KAUST, leverage our extensive contacts across the world of business to make your pitch. Then make your mark, commercializing your project across Saudi Arabia and beyond.