KFUPM Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

At KFUPM, we support entrepreneurial thinking by offering a structured ecosystem that helps transform product or business concepts into tangible outcomes.

Our network of programs, centers, and expert-led initiatives is designed to guide students, researchers, and faculty through every stage of the entrepreneurial process regardless of where they start.

Educational Pathways

Entrepreneurship education at KFUPM pursues both academic quality and practical applications. Students can enroll in elective courses through KFUPM’s Business School, attend workshops and lectures, and participate in hands-on events throughout the academic year. These practical learning experiences are supported by original research and case studies that uncover the underlying factors behind successful ventures.

Entrepreneurs also benefit from tailored mentorship that helps delineate the course of action most appropriate for their ideas. Whether you are refining a startup idea or exploring how to enter a new market, this support can help identify blind spots and avoid pitfalls that often challenge early-stage founders.

Facilities to Prototype, Test, and Launch

These are the key elements of our Entrepreneurial Ecosystem:

Innovation & Technology Transfer (ITT) Center

Your intellectual property stays yours. At the ITT Center, students and researchers receive support for copyright, trademark registration, licensing, and patent filing. This foundation ensures your innovation is protected from the earliest stages, helping to avoid common stumbling blocks in commercialization.

Dream Realization Lab (DRL)

The DRL is designed to bring product ideas to life through access to prototyping tools, fabrication facilities, and technical support. You can work alongside specialists, participate in skill-building workshops, and refine your business concept as you prepare for real-world testing.

Our students regularly go on to present their ideas at global competitions such as the Startup World Cup and the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions. Internally, the annual KFUPM Student Projects Expo offers the chance to connect with industry representatives and showcase progress, offering a potential bridge to either a business incubator and accelerator or patent registration.

Dhahran Techno Valley (DTV)

DTV is home to over 30 leading global partners, including Saudi Aramco, Schlumberger, and Halliburton. With more than 100 patents produced annually and over 100 technologies in the pipeline, it’s an active base for research and development. As a fully owned subsidiary of KFUPM, Dhahran Techno Valley Company (DTVC) also provides critical business services, from finance and HR to legal and IP support.

The DTV Ventures and Startup Acceleration Program works closely with deep-tech founders, offering co-development opportunities, access to emerging technologies, and early-stage funding. This initiative is designed to support ambitious founders and bring even the most far-fetched ideas into the realm of success.

Technology Advancement and Prototyping Center (TAPC)

The TAPC combines engineering and manufacturing resources to facilitate the prototyping process. With tools like 3D printing and PCB fabrication, founders can develop and test their concepts with less friction and lower costs. The speed and accessibility of these tools are key advantages in today’s fast-paced innovation landscape.

Dhahran Techno Valley (DTV)

Discover our initiatives, state-of-the-art facilities, and opportunities to be part of Saudi Arabia’s thriving innovation ecosystem.

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Access Support

Our entrepreneurship ecosystem offers students and faculty direct access to industry partners and venture capital firms. Here, you can benefit from real exposure to entrepreneurship practices, skills and knowledge, along with options for seed funding, co-funding, and guidance from experienced mentors. Learn what entrepreneurship really looks like at KFUPM.