Official government website of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
His Excellency Professor Dr. Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Dawood, President of the University, inaugurated the University's Innovation Center Lab on Thursday morning, corresponding to Safar 9, 1443 AH. He also opened the Permanent Innovation Exhibition and launched "Plus Incubator." His Excellency toured the halls of the Permanent Innovation Exhibition and the Center's Lab.
Following the opening, the university president honored the winners of the innovation incubator, as well as a number of student projects that won in the innovation incubator, with a total prize money of 24,000 riyals for male and female students.
His Excellency the President of the University expressed his thanks and appreciation for what he saw at the center, emphasizing that the university is proud of such a center and its outputs, and of the creative and distinguished ideas it offers that can be developed into products beneficial to our lives. He also praised the distinguished projects he saw at the permanent exhibition for male and female students, and extended his thanks to the partners of success and the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, asking God for success and guidance for all.
The opening was attended by His Excellency the Vice President of the University, Dr. Mohammed Al-Saawi, His Excellency the Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Turki, His Excellency the Vice President for Planning, Development, and Quality, Dr. Khalid Al-Harbi, His Excellency the Vice President for Educational Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Al-Sharakh, Director of the Innovation and Intellectual Property Center, Dr. Abdullah Al-Muhaymid, Dean of the Institute of Studies and Consulting Services, Dr. Fahad Al-Ayiri, and a number of deans, in addition to some guests from the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, and the Social Development Bank. A visual film was presented, providing an introduction to the center, followed by another film on the center's work and achievements.
On his part, the Director of the Innovation Center, Dr. Abdullah Al-Muhaymid, spoke during his speech about the efforts made and the great support to enhance cooperation with relevant parties, and about the achievements made during the past period, noting the importance of the center and its role in transforming pioneering ideas into promising projects that serve the knowledge economy through: embracing new ideas, supporting innovative ideas and transforming them into real projects, promoting innovation and linking ideas with leading companies, and increasing the rate of patents and their protection.
Qassim University has given great attention and support to all its affiliates in the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property. This has been demonstrated through the establishment of an Innovation Support Center at the university. The center's name was changed from the Center for Inventions and Research Ideas to the Center for Innovation and Intellectual Property, in alignment and coordination with the programs of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Additionally, a permanent specialized committee in the field of innovation and intellectual property was formed, encompassing over 30 topics discussed in several sessions. Intellectual property policies have been approved by the University Council, a patent initiative for university affiliates has been launched, and programs and events of the Innovation Center have been supported.
In the past period, the center organized several programs and over 18 events, with approximately 3,200 participants. Additionally, the establishment and launch of "Plus Incubator" was approved. This incubator serves as a core nucleus and seed for supporting the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. It aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, provide an innovative entrepreneurial environment for university staff, and offer co-working spaces, as well as scientific, technical, and vocational consultations.
The "Plus Incubator Project Innovation Center" initiative branches out into several tracks: the Innovation Incubator track for graduation projects, the Innovation Incubator track for postgraduate studies, and the Innovation Incubator track for entrepreneurs. The incubator's outputs have exceeded 90 projects, with the participation of over 270 male and female participants, in various fields including technology and IT, engineering and its applications, medical and health sciences, and agricultural sciences and their applications.
The center also provided many services to faculty members in the field of research and development (supercomputer), and the permanent exhibition of innovation at Qassim University, in collaboration with the exhibition sponsor, the Institute of Consulting Studies and Services, and success partners: the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at), the Social Development Bank, and Qassim Business Front.
