Who’s Who: Ali Alhasan, CEO and founder of NanoPalm

NanoPalm founder and CEO Ali Alhasan. (Supplied)
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Updated 03 May 2024
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Who’s Who: Ali Alhasan, CEO and founder of NanoPalm

  • Alhasan co-developed deep tech to leverage large language models for biotech discovery
  • He was granted the Outstanding Researcher Award from the International Institute for Nanotechnology in 2012

Ali Alhasan is CEO and founder of the company NanoPalm. He holds a Ph.D. in nanomedicine, with expertise in nano-drug delivery and gene therapy and five years of experience in executive management.

In his role as CEO, Alhasan formulates the strategic and business plans for accelerating therapy translation globally and trains talents in deep tech, nanotech, and gene editing tech.

Alhasan co-developed deep tech to leverage large language models for biotech discovery. He also co-invented Nanopalm’s biorobots for the delivery of gene editing primers and helped discover four nanomedicines for four different genetic diseases.

He is also an associate professor at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and an adjunct professor at Alfaisal University, establishing collaboration agreements between the two.

As associate professor, he is the principal researcher for development and innovation in nanomedicine and the fourth industrial revolution.

In his role as adjunct professor, Alhasan teaches nanomedicine and mentors postgraduate and undergraduate students. He also co-established the Cancer Nanoscience Program.

Previously, Alhasan served in executive leadership roles at KACST as deputy at the Joint Centers of Excellence Program (2021), deputy of the Life Science and Environment Research Institute (2020), director of the Center of Excellence for Biomedicine (2020), and director of Strategic Initiatives (2016). 

Alhasan was a post-doctoral scholar at the University of California in 2015 and received his Ph.D. in the Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program from Northwestern University in 2013. 

In 2008, he received a master’s degree in biotechnology also from Northwestern University, while in 2001, he received his bachelor’s degree in medical technology from King Abdulaziz University. 

Alhasan was granted the Leader of the Year award from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in 2024. In 2018, he received the Outstanding Investigator Award from KACST.

He was granted the Outstanding Researcher Award from the International Institute for Nanotechnology in 2012. 


Saudi entertainment expo returns to Riyadh for eighth year

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Saudi entertainment expo returns to Riyadh for eighth year

  • 500 exhibitors, 23,000 professionals attending May 19-21
  • Focus is on the Kingdom’s fast-growing cultural economy

RIYADH: The Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo returns for its eighth year from May 19 to 21, bringing together top brands and underscoring the rapid transformation of the Kingdom’s cultural economy under Vision 2030.

The SEA Expo, Saudi Light and Sound Expo, and the newly launched Middle East Museums and Heritage Expo, will take place together at Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center.

A total of 500 exhibitors and 23,000 industry professionals will participate, according to organizers dmg events.

Sarkis Kahwajian, associate vice president – entertainment portfolio at dmg events, said that bringing all the main exhibitors back “reflects the scale and maturity of the sectors being built in Saudi Arabia today.”

“From entertainment destinations and live events to museums and heritage projects, the Kingdom is increasingly recognized as a global meeting point for these industries,” Kahwajian added.

He said the gathering reflects the scale of opportunity as ongoing developments, heritage developments and live event programming drive demand across the Kingdom.

The cultural sector is targeted to contribute 3 percent to the country’s gross domestic product by 2030 and create 346,000 jobs, Kahwajian added.

Visits to entertainment events in Saudi Arabia reached 76.9 million in 2024, representing 6.8 percent annual growth.

The number of businesses operating in the Kingdom’s cultural and entertainment ecosystem surpassed 51,000 in 2023, a 23.6 percent increase since 2021.

Continued strategic partnerships with the General Entertainment Authority and the Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia have strengthened the expo’s role as an industry platform supporting investment, the organizers stated.

Responding to market demand, the light and sound expo will introduce The Event Production Show, reflecting the industry’s shift toward fully integrated ecosystems supporting concerts, festivals and touring productions.

The Kingdom's event management sector is forecast to grow from $2.6 billion in 2025 to $4.2 billion by 2030, representing a 9.7 percent compound annual growth rate.

The Middle East Museums and Heritage Expo will launch as Saudi Arabia’s first dedicated platform serving the sector.