- What
- Innovation grants of up to SAR 4 million per project (Saudi Innovation Grants Program).
- Who
- Saudi SMEs, and university researchers commercialising IP together with SMEs.
- From abroad
- A company in Saudi Arabia is required — Saudi small and medium enterprises, or university researchers in the Kingdom working with SMEs All programmes open to founders from abroad →
- Latest
- Last cycle Oct 2025 — Joint AI innovation programme with Saudi Aramco concludedNewest dated item on its own site · checked Oct 2026
Checked · October 2026 · rdia.gov.sa · How we check ↗
In detail
RDIA — Saudi Innovation Grants is a government grants in Saudi Arabia. Research, Development and Innovation Authority — national RDI funding across four priorities: health and wellness, sustainable environment, energy and industrial leadership, and economies of the future. Grant programmes route through the Saudiminds portal. The Saudi Innovation Grants Program (SIGP) funds SMEs and academic entrepreneurs in two stages: proof of concept (6–12 months) and proof of value (18–24 months).
- Amount
- Up to SAR 4 million per project (Saudi Innovation Grants Program)
- Terms
- No equity — grants without giving up ownership or intellectual property rights
- Eligibility
- Saudi SMEs with their own R&D, SMEs collaborating with academic institutions, and university researchers commercialising intellectual property together with SMEs
- Sectors
- Health and Wellness
- Sustainability and Essential Needs
- Energy and Industrial
- Economies of the Future (smart cities, space technologies, advanced digital technologies)
- Status
- Closed — the last Saudi Innovation Grants call took pre-proposals until 1 May 2025; all 17 challenges on Saudiminds carry that deadline and no new call is posted (checked September 2026)
Is this for you?
Where is your company?
Are you open to giving equity?
We match them against what RDIA — Saudi Innovation Grants publishes.
A guide to the published criteria, not a decision — the programme selects.
What the source says
“All Rights Reserved for Research Development and Innovation Authority © 2026”
“Four priority cards: 'Health and Wellness' — 'Address prevalent health and therapeutic challenges in the Kingdom'; 'Sustainable Environment and Supply of Essential Needs'; 'Energy and Industrial Leadership'; 'Economies of the Future'”
“'Saudi Innovation Grants Program' links to https://saudiminds.rdia.gov.sa/account/sigp-about; 'researchers grants' links to https://saudiminds.rdia.gov.sa/account/national-priorities”
“Financial Support: Funding up to 4 million Saudi Riyals to support research and development commercialization.”
“Financial Grant: Obtain grants without giving up ownership or intellectual property rights.”
“Independent Small and Medium Enterprises: Companies with strong internal research and development capabilities.”
Closing soon on the map
No published deadline in the next 30 days · All published deadlines →
Compare grants & prizes in Saudi Arabia
| Cost | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RDIA — Saudi Innovation GrantsInnovation grants of up to SAR 4 million per project (Saudi Innovation Grants Program). | up to SAR 4 million | No equity | Closed |
| Cultural Development Fund (CDF)Financial incentives of up to SAR 500,000 per project for AI in culture. | up to SAR 500,000 | No equity | Closed |
| Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) — Monsha'at × GENShare of USD 1M in equity-free cash prizes; finals in Riyadh, November 2027. | USD 1M | No equity | Open |
| KFUPM × DTV Postdoctoral Startup Fellowship ProgramKFUPM × DTV fellowship: USD 48,000 salary plus USD 32,000 milestone funding for a startup. | USD 48,000 | Milestone-based startup equity funding | Active |
| Misk FoundationChallenge for Change: SAR 1M grant to one winner per track (three tracks); latest round closed 4 April 2026. | SAR 1M | No equity | Closed |
| NTDP — National Technology Development ProgramMVPLab grants up to SAR 150,000; Tamkeen incentives for tech staff. | up to SAR 150,000 | No equity | Open |
| ASICS Innovation Pitch (Saudi Sports for All Federation)Pitch competition with cash prizes of SAR 20,000, 10,000 and 5,000 (2025 edition). | SAR 20,000 | No equity | Closed |
| Jameel Deeptech Initiative (StartSmart Saudi)Deep-tech venture builder with SAR 2.25M in cash prizes for its top three teams. | SAR 2.25M | Grant prize money | Closed |
| Qassim University Innovation Incubator (Innovation and Intellectual Property Center)University grants for start-ups and prizes worth SAR 50,000. | SAR 50,000 | Not published | Active |
| Venture-Z Startup Competition (ICSDI, Prince Sultan University)Prize money of SAR 30,000, 20,000 and 10,000 for the top three startups. | SAR 30,000 | No equity | Closed |
No programmes match these filters.
Highest amount in each programme’s own “What” line. Other currencies converted for sorting only (Gulf pegs; KWD, EUR, GBP approximate).
More programmes that take no equity →
Questions founders ask
What does RDIA — Saudi Innovation Grants offer?
Innovation grants of up to SAR 4 million per project (Saudi Innovation Grants Program).
Does RDIA — Saudi Innovation Grants take equity?
No equity — ownership retained.
Can founders from abroad apply?
A company in Saudi Arabia is required — Saudi small and medium enterprises, or university researchers in the Kingdom working with SMEs.
Is it open now?
No — it is currently closed. The status on this page follows the programme’s own site.
How do I apply?
Through its own application form — the Apply button on this page goes straight there.
Sources
Primary source · rdia.gov.sa · Checked October 2026