Community Jameel Saudi Foundation and NTDP Sign Strategic Partnership at LEAP 2026

During LEAP 2026, the Middle East’s flagship technology event, the Community Jameel Saudi Foundation signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the National Technology Development Program (NTDP).

The partnership aims to bolster Saudi Arabia's technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship ecosystem by accelerating the growth of local tech startups and expanding their access to essential development programs, financial instruments, and support services.

Under the agreement, both parties will collaborate to exchange mentorship expertise, host joint initiatives, and increase ecosystem awareness regarding available growth pathways. A key focus will be promoting NTDP initiatives—such as the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Development Support product, which provides financial grants and targeted services to eligible entrepreneurs.

The collaboration spans all entrepreneurship programs supported by Community Jameel Saudi, including the Start Smart Saudi Competition, the Jameel Deep Tech Initiative, and the Start Smart Universities Challenge.

Dr. May Taibah, Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors at Community Jameel Saudi, stated: "This partnership reinforces Community Jameel Saudi’s commitment to empowering innovators and driving the expansion of technology startups. By combining our strengths with NTDP, we are fostering greater integration across the tech ecosystem and ensuring high-potential ventures receive the structured support and expertise required to scale."

Mohammed Abdulgaffar, Director of Initiatives at Community Jameel Saudi, added: "Synergy between the public and non-profit sectors is essential to cultivating a resilient innovation landscape. This collaboration aligns our resources to offer tech entrepreneurs actionable enablers—from early-stage validation to expansion. Ultimately, this joint effort directly advances Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of building an innovation-driven, knowledge-based economy led by national talent."

By uniting public sector infrastructure with third-sector enterprise support, the agreement provides local tech entrepreneurs with a streamlined pathway toward commercial readiness, long-term competitiveness, and sustainable growth within the Kingdom's digital economy.