Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health (MoH) has officially launched its first national biotech accelerator, in partnership with BioLabs, a global biotech incubator network.
The announcement was made by Vice Minister of Health for Planning and Development Eng. Abdulaziz Hamad AlRamaih at the BIO International Convention in Boston.
The launch event drew high-level industry stakeholders, including Dr. Hisham Aljadhey, CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Dr. Majid Al Fayyadh, CEO of King Faisal Specialist Hospital, and Jordi Naval, Head of Biotech at NEOM.
Eight Biotech Startups Selected to Tackle Key Health Challenges
The first cohort features eight Saudi startups, each addressing critical health and research issues:
- Plansulin – Developing plant-based insulin alternatives
- cellNUA – Creating bee-derived nanotherapies
- SAGEbio – Building next-gen vaccines for emerging diseases
- Novo Genomics – Advancing precision diagnostics
- MammoStem – Exploring regenerative medicine
- NanoPalm – Targeting genetic disorders
- KaRama Bio – Specializing in early-stage disease detection
- PhageTech – Fighting antibiotic resistance through phage technology
The seven-month accelerator will provide these startups with customized training, access to advanced laboratories, and mentorship from global leaders.
Boosting Local Innovation Under Vision 2030
The accelerator is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and National Biotechnology Strategy, which aim to turn the Kingdom into a regional hub for biotech and life sciences.
By backing early-stage innovation, the initiative promotes global collaboration, strengthens healthcare outcomes, and contributes to economic diversification through science-driven entrepreneurship.
Saudi Arabia’s first accelerator in this field, marks a pivotal shift toward life sciences leadership. With government backing and international partnerships, the program supports local innovation aligned with long-term national goals.
