SDG 1: NO POVERTY

1.4.1 Does your university as a body provide assistance in the local community assisting the start-up of sustainable businesses through relevant education or resources (e.g. mentorship programmes, training workshops, access to university facilities)?

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Camp concludes

the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Camp for students at Al-Maarifa University concluded its activities, which were held in the university building for four days, and which were organized by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The camp included many lectures and workshops to enhance the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among the university’s male and female students in order to train them on the basics and concepts of innovation and entrepreneurship and learn about... Its most important sources are through theoretical and practical training workshops. This camp aims to support the future orientations of the senior management at Al-Maarifa University and its vision for the coming years. The innovation camp at the university was keen, over the course of its four days, to attract male and female trainers with national and international skills and experience [1].

Yesterday, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Camp for students at Al-Maarifa University concluded its activities, which were held in the university building for four days, and which were organized by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The camp included many lectures and workshops to enhance the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among the university’s male and female students in order to train them on the basics and concepts of innovation and entrepreneurship and learn about... Its most important sources are through theoretical and practical training workshops. This camp aims to support the future orientations of the senior management at Al-Maarifa University and its vision for the coming years. The innovation camp at the university was keen, over the course of its four days, to attract male and female trainers with national and international skills and experience.

As stated by the supervisor of the center, A. Dr.. Hamdan bin Ibrahim Al-Muhammad: Establishing this camp and other events at the university reflects our commitment to encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship and providing high-level programs in order to graduate cognitively and scientifically qualified competencies capable of employing their skills and abilities to enhance scientific excellence and develop innovative projects that support the aspirations and ambitions of the University of Knowledge and to unleash the energies of students. Their creativity and intellectual abilities and translate them into innovative projects. The center will continue to provide distinguished lectures, seminars and educational workshops to encourage innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. He added that the main driver of this movement and what was achieved after Fadlallah was due to the great support and special care of His Excellency the President of the University, Professor Dr. Walid bin Hussein Abu Al-Faraj. Then the great passion and enthusiasm flowing among these students.

Knowledge University achieves a research and innovation milestone... with logistical and technical support from the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center

Knowledge University has achieved a significant leap in scientific research and innovation, marking an unprecedented accomplishment that reflects its rising standing among leading universities both locally and internationally. Official statistics released on May 20, 2025, demonstrated outstanding research performance, with university researchers publishing 2,119 papers in the Web of Science database and 2,027 papers in Scopus, a clear indicator of intensive scientific activity and high-quality research output [2].

Alongside this research excellence, Al-Maarefa University has demonstrated a clear role in supporting innovation and developing new solutions, registering more than 23 new inventions recently. These inventions range from prototypes to practical applications, and several have received international patents from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). These innovations include advanced solutions in various medical and technological fields, such as smart medical devices to minimize surgical intervention, AI-based systems for monitoring vital signs, and targeted drug delivery systems for treating cancerous tumors, reflecting the university's commitment to harnessing technology for the benefit of humanity.

Believing in the importance of investing in young minds, Al Maarefa University, through its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, continues to provide logistical and technical support to researchers and students to transform their research ideas into realistic, applicable, and marketable projects, thus contributing to building a sustainable knowledge economy that aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The university also revealed in its report issued at the beginning of May the great impact of specialized training programs, most notably the “Scientific Research Camp 2024”, which contributed to raising the quality of publication and increasing the number of active researchers within the university system.

With these achievements, Al-Maarefa University is writing a new chapter in its academic journey, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation, thus strengthening its role as an academic institution that actively contributes to the advancement of the scientific and economic community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Collaboration and salud to emprendimientos with impact

Al-Maarefa University, in collaboration with the King Salman Center for Disability Research, is proud to organize a series of nine workshops and a hackathon focused on how to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the lives of people with disabilities. These events, coinciding with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2024, will bring together global leaders and experts to discuss innovative solutions for supporting and treating people with special needs [3].

• Be part of the change: Contribute to building a more inclusive future where everyone can achieve their full potential.
• Learn and discover: Take the opportunity to develop your technical skills and gain new knowledge by collaborating with experts in the field.
• Network building: Get to know people who share your passion, and build strong networks with them.
• Unleash your creativity: Use your skills to create innovative solutions to real challenges faced by people with disabilities

Research and Innovation Camp - student projects with external partners

AlMaarefa University runs an annual Research & Innovation Camp offering open-registration online training, mentoring, team project coaching and final presentations. The Camp is designed to develop entrepreneurial skills, applied research capacity and project management competencies among students and community participants.

The Research and Innovation Camp of 2024 has concluded its research project presentations, showcasing an impressive array of studies that reflect the creativity and innovation of the participating students [4].

Qimam Fellowship

AlMaarefa University students and alumni have been listed among Qimam Fellowship participants. Qimam connects students with mentorship, leadership development and entrepreneurial networks that enhance start-up readiness [5].

WIPO TISC directory

AlMaarefa University is listed in WIPO’s TISC directory, indicating institutional entry points for intellectual property advisory and innovation support — an asset for nascent sustainable enterprises seeking IP guidance [6].

Official YouTube channel (TEDx, Research events)

Our official YouTube channel publishes recordings of TEDx, research forums and student events providing public outreach, knowledge-sharing and inspiration which are critical steps in community capacity building for entrepreneurship. Link: https://www.youtube.com/@Al-maarefa/

References