SABIC and its affiliates bet on future with over 10,000 patent applications

SABIC’s sales revenues increased by 50 percent (Getty)
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Updated 27 April 2022
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SABIC and its affiliates bet on future with over 10,000 patent applications

RIYADH: The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation and its affiliates have more than 10,000 patent applications as it pushes for more innovation to compete in the global petrochemical market.

The Riyadh-based chemical giant and its linked firms also have over 200 distinct trademarks protected by over 3200 trademark filings and registrations, it said in a statement to Arab News. 

Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer of SABIC Bob Maughon told Arab News the company is keen “to highlight the importance of filing intellectual property, and trademarks of protecting innovation, of protecting and enabling growth, and also ensuring that you do it in a way that's strategic and brings value for the long term.”

In SABIC’s 2021 annual report, it reported 10,090 patents and pending applications, as well as 20 technology and innovation centers.

The report also stated that SABIC’s sales increased by 50 percent, reaching $46.64 billion, compared to $31.19 billion in 2020. 

The rise came despite a 3 percent drop in sales volume. The increase in revenue was driven primarily by the increase in average selling prices.




Bob Maughon

SABIC Corporate Technology & Innovation expanded its global operations in 2021, employing 1,660 full-time employees in 20 centers.

The company employs more than 31,000 people in more than 50 countries.

Further, the report stated that T&I continued to improve current asset efficiencies and deploy multiple projects that led to an improvement of 2-3 percent in performance and strengthened reliability across global operations to avoid unplanned losses during the year.

 


Two Saudi cybersecurity firms plan Tadawul listings within two years 

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Two Saudi cybersecurity firms plan Tadawul listings within two years 

RIYADH: Two Saudi cybersecurity companies, Cyber and Infratech, plan to list a portion of their shares on the Saudi Stock Exchange, or Tadawul, between 2026 and 2027, according to the companies’ chairmen, who spoke to Al-Eqtisadiah. 

Abdulrahman Al-Kenani, founder and CEO of Cyber, said: “The company is currently planning to acquire certain entities, which will be disclosed in the coming period, in addition to preparing for a public offering through the Tumooh program on the stock market within the next two years at the latest.” 

Al-Kenani explained that the financial, healthcare and services sectors are witnessing continuous cyberattacks as Saudi Arabia expands its digital transformation, accompanied by a rise in the frequency of such incidents. He added that this phenomenon is not limited to the Kingdom but is a global issue. 

The CEO added: “The company is working with several Saudi airports and vital sectors, in addition to collaborating with major international companies to provide cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions.” 

Infratech plans 4 R&D centers abroad 

Ayman Al-Suhaim, CEO of Infratech, stated: “The size of the information technology and cybersecurity market in Saudi Arabia has reached approximately SR87 billion ($23.2 billion), of which SR15.7 billion are allocated to the cybersecurity sector. This includes consulting, managed services, governance, risk management, and cybersecurity within the industrial sector.” 

He said the company has a strategic plan covering the period from 2026 to 2028, which includes establishing a firm in the first quarter of next year to finance cybersecurity and artificial intelligence products, as well as launching four research and development centers in the US, Russia, China and Eastern Europe. 

The plan also includes investment in cloud storage, overseas ventures, and the expansion of operations and investments in data centers. 

Al-Suhaim said the company intends to go public in 2027, noting that it operates across multiple cybersecurity domains serving sectors including energy, defense, aviation and government services. 

The Tumooh program for small and medium-sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia is one of the support initiatives offered by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, or Monsha’at. It aims to drive SME growth by strengthening capabilities, improving performance and accelerating expansion. 

The initiative seeks to help fast-growing SMEs prepare for initial public offerings in the financial markets. To date, the program has facilitated the listing of 24 companies on the Nomu Parallel Market out of more than 2,500 firms registered under the scheme.