King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) will further position Saudi Arabia as a gateway for collaboration across the continent when it hosts the Asian Science Park Association (ASPA) Conference 2026 in November next year. The announcement was made this week at the ASPA Conference 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. 

“The ASPA Conference 2026 will be an important moment for KAUST and for Saudi Arabia,” said Dr. Ian Campbell, senior vice president for the National Transformation Institute (NTI) at KAUST. “It reflects the Kingdom’s growing role in global innovation and highlights how KAUST connects research excellence with entrepreneurship to accelerate progress in the Middle East and Asia.” 

Aligned with the Saudi Vision 2030 goal of nurturing and supporting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, the event will highlight how science parks and innovation districts diversify economies and create new industries. It also offers an opportunity for KAUST to showcase how academic excellence, cutting-edge research, and collaboration with industry advance solutions at pace and scale to meet national priorities. 

The KAUST Research and Technology Park (KRTP) will serve as the venue for the ASPA Conference 2026. The event serves as a dynamic platform to advance the development of scientific and industrial technologies and promote economic growth across Asia. KRTP is key to KAUST’s commitment to advancing the Kingdom’s entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable solutions ecosystem, making it an ideal location for such a prestigious gathering. 

The NTI serves as a catalyst for translating research and innovation into impact for Saudi Arabia, aligning KAUST’s expertise with national priorities. It brings together the University’s innovation ecosystem, major technology projects, and multidisciplinary initiatives, supported by its in-house consulting arm.