Design In Saudi Arabia With AI Opens Applications For 2026 Accelerator Cycle
The initiative, which was first announced at LEAP 2025, is a collaborative effort between Qualcomm, Aramco, and Saudi Arabia's Research, Development and Innovation Authority.
Design in Saudi Arabia with AI (DISAI) has officially opened applications for its inaugural 2026 incubation program.
The initiative, which was first announced at LEAP 2025, is a collaborative effort between Qualcomm (through its subsidiary Qualcomm Technologies International, Inc.), Aramco (through its subsidiary Aramco Overseas Company, B.V.), and Saudi Arabia's Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA).
The DISAI program targets registered startups in Saudi Arabia developing solutions for industrial applications across various sectors, with an emphasis on innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), and wireless technologies. Early-stage startups working on deeptech solutions with innovative approaches to design and implementation are encouraged to apply.
DISAI will provide selected startups with comprehensive technical and business support, intellectual property (IP) training, and valuable industry connections. By leveraging Qualcomm's advanced platforms and expertise, the program aims to drive innovation while helping founders protect their intellectual property.
Up to 10 startups will be selected for the 2026 incubation cycle through a competitive jury selection process, which will assess innovation, technical feasibility, market potential, and team strength, and will culminate in the shortlist announcement in April 2026.
Throughout the incubation period, which will run from April to November 2025, the startups will receive a series of development kits, specialized workshops, and personalized mentorship. To ensure startups remain on track and address challenges early, a mid-term review will be conducted approximately three months into the incubation period.
On the technical front, startups will gain access to cutting-edge hardware development platforms based on Qualcomm Systems on a Chip (SoCs), specifically customized to match their unique use cases. The available platforms span a wide range of advanced technologies, including edge-AI-enabled IoT platforms such as Arduino and industrial AI gateway platforms powered by Qualcomm Dragonwing processors, AI-PCs utilizing Qualcomm Snapdragon X-Elite processors, On-Prem AI Appliances, and cloud AI inference solutions.
Participants will also receive specialized technology training through masterclasses led by engineers, covering critical topics such as AI hub implementations, IoT architectures, extended reality (XR) applications, compute solutions for AI-PCs, 5G technology integration, and intellectual property law.
The program will culminate in a virtual finale scheduled for November or December 2026, where the shortlisted startups showcase their achievements. During this capstone event, participants will demonstrate their working prototypes to a distinguished audience comprising executives from Qualcomm and Aramco, potential investors, government officials, and industry representatives.
Those who successfully complete the program will receive a participation stipend of SAR40,000 (US$10,600). Additionally, eligible startups can access patent filing incentives offering reimbursement of up to SAR20,000 ($5,300) for filing one full utility patent application with the Saudi Authority of Intellectual Property, United States Patent and Trademark Office, or Patent Cooperation Treaty.
DISAI is accepting applications until February 15, 2026. Interested startups are invited to submit their applications here.
