The Innovation & University Research Commercialization workshop was held by the Office of Research & Innovation at Alfaisal University on October 7, 2024. This workshop was moderated by Prof. Khaled Al-Kattan; Dean COM and Vice President of Administration and Finance and Dr. Viqar Hussain; Director of Technology and Commercialization, Office of Research and Innovation at Alfaisal University.
Prof. Khaled Al-Kattan has provided an in-depth overview of the services offered by the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI). This session has showcased the critical resources available to faculty and researchers and how our collective expertise would support the university’s research commercialization efforts. In view of that, the following points have been discussed:
1.Academic Support for Research Initiatives
- Internal Funding Support via Investigational Research
Grants and President’s Innovation Fund
- External Funding Support through RIDIA and Saudi NIH Research Grants
- Conference Attendance Fees Coverage
- Educational Development Fees Funding
- Publication Fees Support
- Scientific Counsel for Translational Research Activities
- Research Partnerships with King Faisal Specialty Hospital
- Accelerators and Incubators: Dimensions, AI & Gaming Studio
- Core Labs Development
- Ph.D. Students Available for Translational Research
- Riyadh Health City Project Collaboration
- Technology Transfer Office Support for Intellectual Property and Patents
- Establishing New Centers: AI Center and Health Economic Center
- Conferences and Workshops (Biostatistics and English Grammar Review)
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) Support for research
- Clinical trials support for medical technologies
To be able to implement such strategies, Dr. Vaqir has taken the wokshop to the next level by introducing innovation stages that lead to transforming a research idea into a business product by building stepping stones over the “Valley of Death” throughout the survival strategies. Those stones include funding, prototyping and feasibility testing, regulatory and legal hurdles, and finally monitor, streamline, integrate into existing process.
The workshop was addressed to Alfaisal faculties and researchers given the integral role played by them in delivering these services. This will not only reinforce the value Alfaisal brings to the research community but also help illustrate the depth of support provided to those looking to transform their ideas into impactful innovations. The offered support was thus made clear and faculties were encouraged to utilize the services being provided and get involved.
It is worth-mentioning that this is the first of six workshops that Alfaisal will be hosting throughout the semester. Below are the upcoming topics and the potential partners that will be co-hosted with.
-Ownership, Intellectual Property and Patents
-Sustainability in Innovation
-Regulatory/Legal, FDA/GMP
-Startup Funding and Investments
-Clinical Trials
Partners:
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
- The Research, Development, and Innovation Authority
- Hevolution Foundation
- Saudi National Institute of Health
- Saudi Food and Drug Administration
- Ministry of Investments
- Ministry of Health
