KACST
KACST is a Saudi government research organisation in Riyadh, set up in 1977, that runs national research centres and programmes and operates the Garage startup incubator. Dr Munir Eldesouki is its president.
Industry: National science and technology research organisation | Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Founded: 1977
About KACST
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) is a Saudi Arabian government research organisation based in Riyadh. Wikipedia describes it as responsible for promoting science and technology in the Kingdom, and says it was established in 1977 as the Saudi Arabian National Center for Science and Technology and received its present name in 1985.
Dr Munir Eldesouki is president of KACST. A Saudi Press Agency report carried by Al Riyadh in July 2026 also described him as acting governor of the Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA). His biography on the Global Research Council site lists earlier posts as assistant minister of information and communications technology and deputy minister of planning and development at that ministry.
According to Wikipedia, KACST's structure includes research institutes covering areas such as atomic energy, computers and electronics, petroleum and petrochemicals, energy, astronomy and geophysics and space, along with about 25 centres, among them national centres for nanotechnology, robotics and intelligent systems, water research and biotechnology. The same page notes that it is flagged as needing updates.
Arab News reported in October 2024 that KACST runs The Garage, a Riyadh incubator and accelerator for deep-technology startups, and that its incubator supports more than 200 startups from over 50 countries. The report also said KACST launched programmes in Web3, electronic games and augmented reality for young scientists and researchers. The July 2026 Saudi Press Agency report said KACST organises the Generation Research and Innovation Enrichment Program with the Mawhiba foundation each year, and runs the Certified Research Professional Program through Academy 32 with RDIA.
TechScoop reported on 31 August 2026 that Pasqal and KACST had signed a multi-year research collaboration on quantum-safe cryptography, anchored at KACST's National Center for Quantum Technologies. Pasqal contributes neutral-atom systems and cloud services, and the stated goal is commercial quantum-safe offerings for the Saudi market.