DHAHRAN: Saudi Arabia, represented by Dhahran Techno Valley at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, has won its bid to host the 2027 World Conference of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation.
The decision was announced during the IASP General Assembly Beijing, with the Kingdom beating off competition from science parks in Norrkoping in Sweden and Chiang Mai in Thailand.
The conference will underline Saudi Arabia’s position as a leader on the global innovation map and reflects its growing capabilities in the areas of energy, sustainability and future technologies.
It also highlights the Kingdom’s attractive and supportive environment for innovation and investment, with the event expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees including academics, investors and entrepreneurs.
Dhahran Techno Valley secured 87 votes out of 118 participating members, surpassing the 59 votes required to win in the final round.
The 2026 IASP World Conference will be held in Sophia Antipolis, France, before the spotlight turns to Dhahran.
