Beijing: The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has been awarded the 2025 International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) Inspiring Solutions award for the KACST Venture Program (KVP), which embodies a pioneering institutional model known as the Hexa Innovation Framework for advancing innovation.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the award was announced during IASP's World Conference held in Beijing, China, where KACST's initiative was selected among the top 10 innovation solutions worldwide following a global vote conducted by IASP's international innovation community. This community represents over 350 members from 77 countries, tasked with identifying the most impactful initiatives in science parks and innovation ecosystems.
This achievement reinforces Saudi Arabia's growing global standing in research, development, and innovation. It highlights the Kingdom's success in developing institutional models that accelerate the transformation of applied research outputs into market-ready products and services, while strengthening the integration of the national innovation ecosystem.
KACST's Hexa Innovation Framework is designed to bridge the gap between scientific research and market needs, bringing together six key stakeholders: the research community, the public sector, the private sector, entrepreneurs, investors, and non-profit organizations. This model builds on and expands the well-known Triple Helix concept and is now regarded as one of the world's leading models for enabling sustainable institutional innovation.
Inspiring Solutions is one of IASP's flagship initiatives, spotlighting innovative practices in managing science parks and areas of innovation worldwide. It honors programs that have demonstrated a tangible and sustainable institutional and economic impact.
KACST's recognition reflects its continued commitment to driving Saudi Arabia's research, development, and innovation ecosystem forward by delivering practical solutions that strengthen the Kingdom's global competitiveness in technology and the knowledge-based economy.