Princess Nourah University's Next Generation Forum: A platform for innovation and Vision 2030

Under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Education, Professor Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Bunyan, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, represented by its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, launched the “Next Generation” Forum on Sunday. The two-day forum, held at the university’s Conference and Seminar Center, is themed “Innovation Without Limits.” The event was attended by the Acting President of the University, Dr. Fawzia bint Mohammed Al-Omro, and featured broad participation from government and private entities, entrepreneurs, investors, and researchers.

An ambitious national context: Innovation at the heart of Vision 2030

This forum is being held at a crucial time, as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia undergoes an unprecedented economic and social transformation, spearheaded by Vision 2030. The Vision aims to build a diversified and sustainable economy based on knowledge and innovation, rather than oil. Within this framework, universities and educational institutions play a pivotal role in developing human capital, equipping young people with the skills necessary to lead the future, and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship that transforms creative ideas into successful economic projects contributing to the GDP and creating quality job opportunities.

The importance of the forum and its role in empowering the next generation

In her opening remarks, Dr. Fawzia Al-Omro emphasized that the “Next Generation” Forum represents a strategic national platform that brings together innovators, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers. She added that the forum aims to translate the ambitions of national development and investment plans into tangible reality by empowering the next generation to engineer change and transform research outputs into sustainable projects that enhance the Kingdom’s presence on the global stage. The forum serves as a vital link between academia and the industrial and investment sectors, accelerating technology transfer, commercializing innovations, and protecting the intellectual property rights of innovators.

An agenda full of knowledge and opportunities

The intensive forum program includes a range of events designed to inspire and empower participants, most notably:

• 5 panel discussions: Featuring a select group of leaders and experts to discuss vital topics such as: “From Idea to Impact: How Entrepreneurship, Research and Technology Integrate to Create an Innovation Economy”, “From Data to Value: How Artificial Intelligence Drives the Innovation Economy”, and “Challenges of Transforming Research into Commercial Projects”.
• 12 specialized workshops: covering essential practical skills, including a workshop entitled “How to Discover Digital Opportunities Using Artificial Intelligence Before Building Solutions”, a workshop on “Protecting Digital Innovations and Software”, and a workshop on “Inspiration and Creativity Through Technology”.
• An accompanying innovation exhibition showcases the latest innovations across four main tracks: health, environment, technology, and culture. The exhibition also features an "adoption platform" that allows innovators to present their projects directly to industry and investment entities.

Strategic initiatives and partnerships

As part of the forum's activities, the "Idea Card" platform will be launched, an online portal designed to receive innovative ideas from within and outside the university. The forum will also witness the signing of a strategic agreement between the university's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center and the Saudi Innovation Club, aimed at empowering participants to transform their creative ideas into innovative projects with a sustainable impact. At the forum's conclusion, the winners of the "Noura Hackathon" and outstanding projects in the Innovation Exhibition will be recognized, reaffirming the university's support and encouragement of young talent.