The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia has unveiled the six “Knowledge Partners” who will lead cross-industry taskforces at the second edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII). The taskforces are interactive workshops on trending topics that offer participants a deep dive into the subject area. They also offer insights into how the trends can be leveraged to create investment opportunities.
The second edition of FII is taking place in Riyadh from Oct. 23-25 and will explore how investment can be used to drive growth opportunities, fuel innovation and shape future economies.
The six Knowledge Partners for FII 2018 are: Deloitte, EY, McKinsey & Company, Oliver Wyman, PwC / Strategy& and The Boston Consulting Group. Each company will bring together senior leaders from business, government and civil society for an in-depth discussion and learning session. The taskforce topics include:
• Cities — Demographic shifts, megacities, industrial shifts, education, design, and partnerships to build a more sustainable future
• Connect — AI-driven autonomous vehicles, corporate investments, and large-scale infrastructure re-imagining the way the world moves
• Culture — The ideas, trends, institutions, and economics driving the future of the global arts and culture industry
• Energy — Large-scale innovations and infrastructure remaking the global power and energy landscape over the next 10 years
• Ethics — How the world’s most successful companies are advocating for social good among institutions and consumers
• Explore — New formulas for developing world-class tourism destinations while preserving national heritage and identity
• Intelligence — Machine learning and cognitive computing that positions smart machines at the center of business and investment decisions
• Life — Breakthrough health-tech innovations and their impact on the future of health care investments
• Media — News, journalism, content, revenue models and the ways that access to information is changing the world
• Money — Transformational technologies and platforms reinventing commerce for the 21st century
• Play — Immersive experiences, business models, and visionaries changing the way the world is entertained
• Talent — Designing the future of work to be flexible, innovative, productive, creative and balanced
David Sproul, senior partner and chief executive, Deloitte North West Europe, said: “The Public Investment Fund, through innovative platforms such as the FII and its programs of strategic investment, is establishing itself as one of the most impactful and thoughtful organizations of its kind. Deloitte shares this ambition and commitment and is delighted to be selected as a Knowledge Partner for the FII 2018.”
Abdul Aziz Al-Sowailim, MENA Chairman and CEO, EY, added: “The Public Investment Fund has built an incredibly powerful platform through the FII for global thinkers to discuss trends that can transform the future. Building on the immense success of the FII last year, EY is very proud to take part in this year’s discourse as a Knowledge Partner. Through our sessions on smart cities and the future of entertainment we hope to drive the conversation around global investment in these key areas of growth.”
PIF announces 6 ‘Knowledge Partners’ for FII 2018
PIF announces 6 ‘Knowledge Partners’ for FII 2018
25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum
The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.
Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts.
The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies.
The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment.
The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.
The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored.
It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track.
In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.
As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs.
This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.
The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts.
The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.
