International Telecommunication Union Assigns the Kingdom to Manage the Arab Network of Technology Incubators, with Representatives from More Than 75 Countries in Attendance

The International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations specialized agency for information and communications technology, has assigned the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the "Badir" Program for Technology Incubators and Accelerators, one of the programs of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, to manage the Arab Network of Technology Incubators. This came on the sidelines of the ITU Council session currently being held in Geneva, with representatives from more than 75 countries in attendance.

Under this assignment, the Badir Program will implement a number of projects in the fields of innovation and enabling digital entrepreneurship in Arab countries, and strengthening efforts to serve project owners, innovators, and startups in these countries. This will include the Badir Program chairing the Arab Network of ICT Incubators and Technology Parks in the Arab Region "ArabTeqniet," a network that includes 22 business incubators and 19 technology business parks in the Arab world, aimed at exchanging ideas and views on ways to advance the Arab business incubation industry.

The project document for managing the Arab Network of Technology Incubators was signed by Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau at the International Telecommunication Union, and Nawaf Al-Sahhaf, Executive Director of the Badir Program for Technology Incubators and Accelerators, in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz bin Salem Al-Ruwais, Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission and head of the Kingdom's delegation participating in the ITU Council, who made a statement on this occasion expressing his pride in this partnership, noting that it is a continuation of the many partnerships that have arisen from the Kingdom's membership in the Union and its diligent efforts to support the international community. Nawaf Al-Sahhaf, Executive Director of the Badir Program, affirmed after signing the project document that the ITU's selection of the Kingdom confirms its prominent role in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in the Arab world, and its presence in this field, as King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, represented by the Badir Program, has the largest network of technology business incubators in the Middle East. The program has, since its establishment to date, launched eight business incubators in seven cities across the Kingdom.

It is worth noting that the ITU's selection of the Kingdom to manage the digital business incubators network is the first of its kind in the Union's history, indicating the leading role the Kingdom plays in this United Nations organization, which is further reinforced by the request of a number of heads of national delegations to benefit from the Kingdom's experience in supporting innovation and promoting the concept of digital entrepreneurship.