RDI unveils Wadi Jeddah Innovation Hub to support startups Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: The Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDI) officially launched the Wadi Jeddah Innovation Hub (WJIH), a new integrated district aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s innovation ecosystem and supporting startups, investors, and knowledge-driven businesses.Developed by Wadi Jeddah Company, the facility brings together office space, incubators, accelerators, and development plots within a single innovation-focused environment. The project includes 57 startup headquarters, seven office buildings, and more than 53,000 square meters of administrative and commercial space, alongside 28,500 square meters of planned development land.The Hub is designed to serve startups, established companies, and investors, offering shared workspaces, business services, and dedicated areas for events and collaboration. It adopts an integrated operating model that combines international expertise with local capabilities.As part of its global positioning, the project has entered a strategic partnership with Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) to operate the innovation hub and link it to an international network of more than 650,000 innovators worldwide.For his part, Sattam bin Saud Lingawi, CEO of Wadi Jeddah Company, said the hub aims to incubate 30 startups annually. The program, which began three months ago, has already supported 10 companies working across sectors including healthcare, smart cities, food tech, and IT.Wadi Jeddah Company, King Abdulaziz University’s investment arm, attracts both local and international companies, from inside and outside the university, with the goal of turning innovative ideas, research, and patents into economic projects. The hub’s programs last nine months, divided into three stages, offering tailored support based on each startup’s activity, resources, and target product.
