Both the National Science and Technology Plan and the National Industry Strategy objectives aim to diversify the economy through the development of non-oil technology industries, with the objective of building knowledge based economy in Saudi Arabia.

As the Kingdom’s leading research institution for science and technology KACST has established a national technology innovation program under the name of BADIR. The BADIR program for technology incubation focuses on supporting technology based business opportunities and the development of technology entrepreneurship.

KACST launched the BADIR program in 2008 with the establishment of its first incubator, BADIR-ICT (information and communications technologies). This was followed in 2010 by the establishment of BADIR-BIO (bio-technologies) and BADIR-AMI (advanced manufacturing and materials technologies).

Two further BADIR incubators covering NANO-technology and energy sectors are in the feasibility and concept development stage.

In 2011, to ensure continued use of best practices, KACST introduced an incubator monitoring and evaluation system for the BADIR incubators.

BADIR is also provided feasibility studies and development support to 11 proposed incubators within universities and other institutions around the Kingdom through the leadership role in the Saudi Arabian incubation industry by initiating the establishment of a national network.