Saudi Applied Research and Technology (SART) Initiative

Great opportunities for partnership building, networking, and collaborations in and with Saudi Arabia!

On August 30th, 2023, the Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) was at KAUST to launch six calls (deadline October 31st, 2023) to accelerate research and impact in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the framework of Saudi Vision 2030. This is part of the new strategy to transform the country and make it a global research powerhouse.

The RDI Authority is responsible for supporting the RDI sector, coordinating the activities of the institutions and scientific research centers, proposing policies, legislation, and regulation, and providing funding across 4 national priorities:

1) health and well-being

2) sustainable environment and essential needs

3) energy and industrial leadership

4) economies of the future (e.g. NEOM, Red Sea Global)

There is a growing focus on innovation, translational research, and partnership at national and international levels. The 6 calls are articulated across 3 initiatives:

1) Saudi Initiative for Applied and Technical Research:

Base-load Applied Grant (BAG) to support researchers across the kingdom to turn proof of concept into prototypes TRL 4-5 - up to USD 426K over 4 years - 1 applicant from university, research center, ministry, corporation, company across KSA

Technical Development Grant (TDG) to support researchers from prototypes to development TRL 6- 7 - up to USD 2.6M over 5 years - from at least two institutions - applicants must be affiliated with a Saudi-based institution Technology

Breakthrough Grant (TBG) to support development stage to market testing TRL 6-7 development stage and above - up to USD 5.3M over 5 years - joint application from at least 2 institutions - applicants must be affiliated with a Saudi-based institutions

2) Saudi Initiative for Basic Science Grant

Basic Science Grant (BSG) to support basic and fundamental science research activities in Saudi Arabia - TRL 1-3 up to USD 426K - Applicant must be from a university, research center, ministry, corporation, or company across KSA

Young Scientists Scholarship (YSG) to support young KSA scholars

Research Consortium Grant (RCG) for multi-institutions to address national and global challenges up to USD 2.6M over 5 years, minimum 3 institutions, at least one from KSA and two across the world

3) Initiative to Reactivate and Rebuild Existing Research Laboratories