Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: The Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA) has launched the Saudi Innovation Grants Program (SIGP) in collaboration with the National Technology Development Program (NTDP).

The program aims to support startups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs in transforming research into innovative solutions to address national challenges, focusing on Health and Wellness, Sustainable Environment, Energy, and Future Economies, according to RDIA’s announcement.

The SIGP provides funding to enhance SMEs' roles in achieving Saudi Arabia's innovation goals, encouraging collaboration with research centers and universities. Grants are offered without requiring ownership rights or IP concessions, and the program supports the commercialization of research and patents.

The program targets three groups: startups with Research and Development (R&D) capabilities, SMEs collaborating with academic institutions, and academic entrepreneurs. It addresses key areas such as healthcare, sustainable development, energy, and digital technologies. The program is divided into two phases: Proof of Concept and Proof of Value. The Proof of Concept phase develops technical ideas to demonstrate feasibility and readiness for implementation, while the Proof of Value phase focuses on building functional prototypes to test commercial viability and market impact.

Startups, SMEs, and researchers can submit proposals through the Saudi Innovation Grants Program portal.