National Technology Development Program

The National Technology Development Program is a Saudi programme under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology that funds and supports technology companies, started in 2020 with SAR 2.5 billion and extended to 2030.

Industry: Government technology development programme | Location: Saudi Arabia | Founded: 2020

About National Technology Development Program

The National Technology Development Program is a Saudi government programme that supports the growth of the Kingdom's technology sector. It was established by, and is governed through, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and is aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.

The programme began in 2020 with an initial budget of SAR 2.5 billion, according to Saudipedia and the Global Entrepreneurship Network. Its stated objectives are to strengthen the information technology sector, help national companies expand locally and export, encourage private-sector adoption of emerging technologies, attract innovation firms and research centres, and increase local content. Neither source nor the programme portal names the people who lead it.

Its initiatives include NEXT ERA, which offers financial incentives for technology products and research commercialisation, and Saudi Unicorns, run with the ministry and the Misk Foundation. MVPLAB supports creators of technology projects, and LendTech provides financing for technology companies that banks often exclude, backed by SAR 360 million in capital. The programme also provides guarantees of up to SAR 15 million on bank financing for micro, small and medium-sized information technology firms. In September 2021 it launched the Technology Research Challenge, with the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology as strategic partner, linking companies with university researchers.

In July 2025 the programme launched the Future of Living proptech accelerator, supporting ten startups, with the Real Estate General Authority and Startup Wise Guys as partners. It has also been the partner of Monsha'at in its first AI incubator, whose 33 graduates were reported in June 2026. Blossom Accelerator, a LEAP 2026 soft-landing partner, connects startups to its MVPLab and Transform+ programmes, which the accelerator says can offer grants and subsidies of up to SAR 800,000.

On 8 January 2026 Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers approved extending the programme until the end of 2030. The ministry reported that over five years companies it supported created more than 17,000 jobs and contributed over SAR 21 billion to GDP, and that the programme enabled eight Saudi unicorns, attracted more than 200 international technology companies and supported more than 3,550 entrepreneurs.

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