09/03/2026

LEAP 2026 Sees Announcement of Global Initiatives, Academies to Empower National Capabilities in the Intelligence Age

The fourth day of LEAP 2026 saw the launch of an integrated ecosystem of academies, centers of excellence, and specialized initiatives through partnerships between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Digital Academy, and a number of leading global technology companies. These initiatives aim to invest in national talent, develop skills in artificial intelligence, data, and content creation, and align human capabilities with labor market needs and promising sectors.
 The launches included the Gemini initiative, in partnership with Google, providing one million students at Saudi universities with access to advanced AI technologies to support their educational journey, develop their skills, and strengthen their readiness for the jobs of the future.
 An AI Academy was also launched in partnership with WeCloudData to train 500 teachers, 500 university faculty members, and 1,000 startup entrepreneurs, alongside providing online learning programs to 35,000 learners. The initiative aims to help bridge the gap between classroom learning, practical application, and labor market needs.
 The launches also included a digital innovation ecosystem, in partnership with a social media company, targeting 20,000 beneficiaries. It includes a center of excellence, an innovation center, and a digital sustainability initiative, with specialized programs in digital marketing, augmented reality, spatial computing, and digital safety.
 To build digital capabilities for future-focused sectors, an initiative was launched in partnership with Schneider Electric, combining digital learning with in-person training and targeting 10,000 participants by 2030.
 The Saudi AI Forward initiative was also announced in partnership with ServiceNow to empower 1.2 million beneficiaries with AI skills and provide them with professional certifications, opening up broader opportunities for national talent to grow and participate in the digital economy.
 The conference also saw the launch of the Artefact School of AI & Data in the Kingdom, targeting more than 20,000 graduates by 2034 with training in data and advanced analytics and connecting them with high-value opportunities that contribute to enhancing business efficiency.
 As part of efforts to move from AI awareness to practical application, the Alif Applied Generative AI initiative was launched in partnership with Scale AI under a four-year national partnership aimed at equipping 100,000 beneficiaries by 2030.
 The launches also included the AI for Sectors initiative, in partnership with Intel, to equip 100,000 beneficiaries with specialized AI skills through tracks aligned with the needs of promising sectors and designed to enhance the adoption of advanced technologies across these sectors.
 As part of efforts to develop talent and strengthen the AI knowledge ecosystem, an AI Academy was launched in partnership with Microsoft, targeting one million beneficiaries, with a goal of reaching three million by 2030, alongside the AI Arabia Center of Excellence, which will support specialized research, expertise, and knowledge content.
 These launches reflect the Kingdom’s commitment to building a broad national talent base capable of developing and applying AI solutions, enhancing the competitiveness of economic sectors, and reinforcing the Kingdom’s leadership in the Intelligence Age.