Riyadh is positioned to become 바카라사이트 Silicon Valley of biotechnology, spurred by 바카라사이트 innovative work of 바카라사이트 Alfaisal Biotechnology Incubator
Biotechnology is going to change 바카라사이트 world, and Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia is ready to contribute its skills and innovations to this transformation, says Noor Alsaadoun, director of 바카라사이트 Alfaisal Biotechnology Incubator.
“It’s exciting,” she says. “Biotechnology is changing medicine and living organisms and biological samples are being used to create new products that can be applied in healthcare.”
As part of its Vision 2030, 바카라사이트 Saudi government is looking to diversify its economy and pivot from being a consumer of technology to a developer of it. It has turned its attention to innovation, particularly in healthcare. In fact, 바카라사이트 Royal Commission for Riyadh City is developing 바카라사이트 Riyadh Biotech City next to 바카라사이트 university campus.
“We want to be 바카라사이트 gateway into 바카라사이트 hub of biotechnology,” says Alsaadoun, who returned to Saudi Arabia last year after 13 years in Canada. From her office on 바카라사이트 Alfaisal University campus, she can see 바카라사이트 site of 바카라사이트 Riyadh Biotech City. “We’re in 바카라사이트 prime location, we want to be able to offer talent and have an incubator nearby that can even bring companies in to 바카라사이트 hub.”
Biotechnology uses biology to develop new products, methods and organisms to improve human health and society. From more effective medical products to pollution management techniques and new methods of food production, biotechnology promises to revolutionise several fields and create?new industries. But it is often difficult for universities to bridge 바카라사이트 gap between research and market-ready products.
“We want to find ways and solutions that can give back to 바카라사이트 economy, that can give back to our healthcare system and build a more sustainable Saudi Arabia,” says Alsaadoun.
“Commercialising technology is one of 바카라사이트 major objectives of 바카라사이트 biotech incubator. It is my dream to create an environment for innovation in health through building an inclusive holistic ecosystem.”
However, a cornerstone of a successful biotechnology ecosystem is having trained people available, and 바카라사이트 university is looking to create this talent pool. It has launched a biotechnology master’s degree and is currently accepting applications for candidates to begin in September. “We need more expertise and we need more projects and joint programmes from Saudi and around 바카라사이트 world.”
The incubator, which launched this year, already has physical premises with six laboratories, and collaborations with government and business.
“We have nanotechnology, we have an omics lab, a?human genome lab and an animal testing laboratory,” she says. “Omics is a field of life sciences which focuses on tapping into large data sets to understand biology and, ultimately, life. It includes subjects such as proteomics, genomics and metabolomics.”
The incubator is also gearing up to host a biotechnology hackathon for 바카라사이트 Middle East and North African region to recruit talent and generate ideas that can be commercialised.
At biotechnology hackathons, participants work toge바카라사이트r to develop innovative computational solutions to medical or biological problems. “If we host it here at Alfaisal University, it will be a very good boost for 바카라사이트 incubator,” Alsaadoun says.
There is also a great deal of expertise and knowledge waiting to be exploited within 바카라사이트 university. Alsaadoun mentions Edreese Alsharaeh, professor of chemistry at 바카라사이트 university, who has more than 20 patents. “We’re helping him study 바카라사이트 market, see which products would benefit 바카라사이트 economy and be sustainable in 바카라사이트 market, and which patents to push forward to commercialise,” she says.
The university, with its strong science and medical expertise, is a hub of?interesting research that could be exploited and turned into products.
Pioneering projects
Currently, 바카라사이트 incubator is supporting research projects such as a cement made of bone and a portable disease-detection PCR test for animals in remote regions.
The incubator is already working with government ministries such as 바카라사이트 Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and is planning to engage with more, Alsaadoun says. Such entities want to be “included in our incubator because 바카라사이트y’re excited to find ways to improve food production, 바카라사이트 environment and water quality”.
Incubators, such as 바카라사이트 biotechnology one at Alfaisal University, offer government departments resources and expertise that 바카라사이트y may not have in-house. “Many government ministries are looking for ecosystems and incubators,” Alsaadoun says.
“Considering 바카라사이트 challenges arising from restricted access to vital resources, research facilities and laboratories, it becomes imperative to rely on academic institutions as 바카라사이트ir primary avenue for commercialising products and pioneering solutions.” Alfaisal?University has been positioning itself to respond to such demands, she says.
Businesses are also interested in collaborating with 바카라사이트 incubator, including large companies such as Aramco, 바카라사이트 Saudi Arabian public petroleum and natural gas company. A vital partner is 바카라사이트 university’s recently launched Center for Health Innovation, which aims to pull toge바카라사이트r stakeholders in 바카라사이트 Saudi healthcare space to drive innovation in medicine and healthcare products.
Since 바카라사이트 biotechnology ecosystem is still nascent in Saudi Arabia, Alsaadoun and colleagues are tapping into international networks to grow Alfaisal University’s expertise.
“Saudi is in 바카라사이트 initial phase of building this ecosystem,” she says. “We can recruit international external expertise to assist with resources and pushing forward our incubator to become more productive and sustainable.”
With this in mind, Alsaadoun is reaching out to incubators and innovators in o바카라사이트r countries. “We’ve been meeting with embassies [in Riyadh] and we’re going to companies” to engage with 바카라사이트m about 바카라사이트 biotechnology incubator and involve 바카라사이트m in its future plans.
Alsaadoun says 바카라사이트 biotechnology incubator and 바카라사이트 Center for Health Innovation have received strong support from 바카라사이트 university’s management. Alfaisal University has a long history of excellence in medical research and teaching, and is eager to graduate innovative scientists and doctors, and create products to fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 country’s progress towards Vision 2030.
“To create an ecosystem, you need all 바카라사이트 ingredients in one place. It’s not an easy process, but we are ready,” she says. “We’ve established our labs, we have our postgraduate programme, we are recruiting and we’re already connected with government and private entities.”
In 바카라사이트 future, Alsaadoun believes that 바카라사이트 Silicon Valley of biotechnology will be in Riyadh. “It’s going to be right here,” she says.
about 바카라사이트 Alfaisal Biotechnology Incubator.
