In a move underscoring Saudi Arabia’s focus on developing regional innovation hubs, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, visited the Code Digital Entrepreneurship Center at Qassim University.” The visit signals growing support for tech ecosystems outside the Kingdom’s major metropolitan centers, aiming to cultivate local talent and drive the national digital economy forward.
Quick Facts
- Minister Alswaha visited the “Code” Center.
- Reviewed startups from the “Ibtikar” incubator.
- Met with over 50 local entrepreneurs and enablers.
Connecting Government with Qassim’s Grassroots Tech
During the visit, Minister Alswaha was greeted by the university’s president, Dr. Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Sharekh. The agenda centered on bridging the gap between national strategy and local execution.
The minister held a meeting with more than 50 entrepreneurs and ecosystem enablers from the Qassim region at the Code Lab theater. The discussion focused on practical enablers for digital startup growth and the role of the wider ecosystem in fostering technical innovation and developing new digital solutions.
Spotlight on University-Led Innovation
A key part of the visit was a review of the projects emerging from the “Ibtikar” incubator’s fourth and fifth cohorts. Minister Alswaha assessed several entrepreneurial and innovative projects within the co-working space dedicated to student-led startups at the university.
This direct engagement with student founders highlights a strategic push to integrate academic institutions into the Kingdom’s economic fabric, transforming them into active contributors to the startup pipeline.
Fueling a Vision 2030 Mandate
The visit is part of a broader government effort to create stronger ties between the academic sector and the technology industry. By empowering local talent and reinforcing the support structure for startups, the initiative directly serves Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of building a diversified, knowledge-based economy driven by innovation.
About Code Digital Entrepreneurship Center
The Code Digital Entrepreneurship Center is an initiative by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology located at Qassim University. It functions as a hub to support and accelerate digital innovation and entrepreneurship within the Qassim region, providing resources, incubation, and a collaborative environment for student-led startups and local entrepreneurs.
Source: SwiftNewz
