The National Transformation Institute (NTI)

From research to impact, building the Kingdom’s
future through innovation and partnerships

About the NTI

The National Transformation Institute (NTI) is KAUST’s catalyst for innovation and economic growth in Saudi Arabia. With a focus on bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and practical applications, we facilitate collaborations between government, industry, and academia, turning research into real-world solutions for climate change, sustainability, and economic diversification. By fostering strategic partnerships, funding opportunities, and support for startups and SMEs, we are creating a thriving innovation ecosystem to position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in knowledge and technology.

National Projects

At the NTI, we collaborate with government, industry, and academia on large-scale projects across Saudi Arabia. These projects create jobs and support long-term growth and sustainability.

KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative

Cryogenic Carbon Capture

Algal Biotechnology and Aquaculture Center

Saudi Vaccine Bio Center

Future Mobility Sandbox

Partnerships

We believe in the power of partnerships to overcome barriers to innovation. By understanding our partners’ needs, we steer KAUST’s world-class research to tackle the most pressing problems.

What we offer Partners

KAUST Industry Collaboration Program

Commercialization and Consultancy

We create tailored go-to-market strategies to successfully bring KAUST’s research from the lab to the marketplace, driving innovation, delivering impactful solutions, and fostering the growth of intellectual property.

Technology Transfer

KAUST Beacon Development

Faculty-Led Consultancy

Innovation Ecosystem

We cultivate a dynamic innovation ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs and their transformative ideas, offering world-class facilities, development programs, and diverse funding opportunities.

Funding

Programs

Facilities

Portfolio of Startups

Innovation Hubs

We provide purpose-built Hubs that support innovators and entrepreneurs in bringing their ideas to market and unlocking the commercial potential of their startups.

KAUST Research and Technology Park

Innovation Hub At Shenzhen

Learn about the National Transformation Institute and meet Dr. Ian Campbell, Vice President, NTI.

NTI's mission is to create a significant impact beyond KAUST's campus by driving job creation and collaborating closely with the Kingdom's giga projects and Ministries to advance Saudi Vision 2030.

KAUST Pillars

Aligning With Vision 2030’s RDI Pillars

To accelerate our positive impact for the betterment of the nation and the world, we will maintain the world-class research destination KAUST is known for and evolve our research model to explicitly re-focus and align with the Kingdom’s new RDI priorities.