Saudi Arabia has announced more than SAR 5 billion in biotechnology agreements and initiatives as it expands investment in research, manufacturing, clinical trials and talent.

Saudi Arabia expands biotechnology infrastructure

More than 40 agreements, initiatives and announcements were made during the 2026 Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit, involving organisations from more than 57 countries.

The commitments covered investment, regulation, research and development, clinical trials, manufacturing and workforce development, reflecting the breadth of Saudi Arabia’s National Biotechnology Strategy.

Among the largest developments announced was progress on a human vaccine manufacturing facility being developed by Vaccine Industrial Company. The SAR 500 million facility covers 42,000 square metres and is reported to be 85% complete, with plans to localise up to 80% of the Kingdom’s essential vaccine requirements.

King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) and Thermo Fisher Scientific also announced a Center of Excellence for Genomics, Proteomics and Biobanking.

The University Hospitals Program at the Council of Universities’ Affairs signed an agreement with Novo Nordisk to develop clinical trial capabilities, including earlier phase studies.

Partnerships span genomics and drug development

Several research collaborations were announced during the summit, including KAIMRC agreements with Olink covering proteomics, Tiziana Life Sciences covering immunomodulation and neuroimmunology, and Chiyoda Corporation of Japan covering plant-based peptide production for cancer treatment.

King Saud University also signed an agreement with South Korea’s BioMe to establish a microbiome joint venture, while the University of Hafr Al Batin partnered with BGI Group and Najran University launched a genomic biobank initiative.

The summit also included investment activity. Sanabil Studio by Redesign Health signed an agreement with Telepath by Tahlili covering artificial intelligence and digital pathology, with a potential investment of $3 million.

The Life Sciences Innovation Forum received applications from more than 100 companies and nominated more than 25 for investment, with five investment funds reported to be willing to invest a combined value of more than $120 million.

The announcements form part of Saudi Arabia’s wider National Biotechnology Strategy, launched in January 2024. The strategy aims to develop the country’s biotechnology sector across areas including vaccines, biomanufacturing, genomics and personalised medicine.

Saudi Arabia targets biotechnology workforce

The summit also highlighted efforts to develop biotechnology skills within the Kingdom.

KAIMRC signed agreements with Rutgers University covering a summer school, master’s programmes and research in artificial intelligence, as well as an agreement with LeapUp covering training and capacity building.

Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University and Cellenkos launched a programme focused on developing Saudi female talent in cell and gene therapy and biomanufacturing.

SVAX and Batterjee Medical College also agreed to provide accredited biomanufacturing training, with up to 350 places per cycle.

The scale of the activity reflects an attempt to build a biotechnology ecosystem rather than focus solely on attracting individual companies or investments.

H.E Bandar Alknawy, CEO of the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, president of King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and chairman of KAIMRC and RGMBS, said: “RGMBS 2026 has shown the world what Saudi Arabia means when it says biotechnology is a national mission.”

He added: “Under the direction of our leadership and the National Biotechnology Strategy, the Kingdom is committed to leading this field for decades to come. We will measure that leadership by one standard above all: the difference it makes to the lives of patients and their families.”

The National Biotechnology Strategy targets a $34.6 billion contribution to Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP from biotechnology by 2040.