Project Launch: Kuwait Digital Startup Campus (KDSC) Program
Developing Kuwait’s Innovation Ecosystem for Future Entrepreneurs & Innovators.
We are excited to announce the launch of the Kuwait Digital Startup Campus (KDSC), an initiative that marks a significant step toward the Kuwait 2035 vision to become a leading financial and trade hub. This project, developed in partnership with Boeing’s Aerospace Xelerated and the Youth Public Authority (YPA), aims to nurture an economy driven by the private sector, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Kuwait’s Vision 2035 is centred on transforming the nation into a regional and international financial and trade hub. This vision promotes a competitive, private-sector-led economy that enhances production efficiency while preserving national values and social identity. One of the focal points of this vision is the development of a vibrant startup ecosystem to support private sector growth.
YPA plays a crucial role in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation within the country. In July 2022, YPA announced a strategic partnership with Boeing to develop the KDSC. This project is designed to create a sustainable, knowledge-based ecosystem for the youth, emphasizing innovation and technology.
The first stage of the KDSC project involved conducting a comprehensive research report to understand and map the entrepreneurial landscape in Kuwait. This effort engaged more than 130 Kuwaiti stakeholders and organisations from across finance, the public and private sectors, academia, and more. The insights gained from this research provided a foundation of the current state of innovation in Kuwait and identified areas for growth and development.
The first public KDSC events were held on June 2nd, 2024, at AlShaya Tower in Kuwait City, and on June 3rd and 4th, 2024, at the Kuwait University College of Engineering and Petroleum. These events marked the beginning of Stage 2 of the project.
Stakeholders from across Kuwait’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem were encouraged to gather to discuss innovation opportunities and challenges, form strategic partnerships, and explore their roles in achieving the KDSC’s project goals. We were joined by Her Excellency the Minister of Social Affairs and Family, the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and representatives from The Boeing Company.
Stage 1’s Ecosystem Canvassing report highlighted the many Kuwaiti innovation stakeholders already delivering support to the ecosystem. We welcome the opportunity to work together, as will look to strengthen our relationships across the ecosystem as we move into Stage 2 of the KDSC project. If you’d like to contact us and discuss how we could work together, our contact details are at the end of this post! We hope this collaborative approach will ensure that all participants will be able to contribute their unique insights and expertise to drive shared progress.
The next stage of the project will unfold over the upcoming months and will include a variety of public activities before the end of 2024. These activities will be designed with stakeholders to support young entrepreneurs and SMEs — and will include networking events, hackathons, and workshops.
If you’d like to stay up-to-date with the KDSC project, and our plans for 2024 and beyond, the Youth Public Authority has a platform where you can subscribe for news. You can sign up by scanning the QR code below.
Aerospace Xelerated is excited to be a key partner in the KDSC project, leveraging our expertise in innovation and supporting startups to positively contribute to Kuwait’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
To get involved, please get in touch with Matt Briggs, AX KDSC Project Manager: mb@xelerated.aero
About Aerospace Xelerated
Aerospace Xelerated is a global aerospace accelerator and innovation programme delivered in partnership with diverse industry stakeholders, such as Boeing, Tawazun Council, Etihad Airways, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, and the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator. Aerospace Xelerated provides investment, mentorship, and support for startups and SMEs developing scalable and sustainable tech solutions for the aerospace industry and beyond.
For the last four years, Aerospace Xelerated has provided mentorship, investment, and support for 42 startups from 14 countries across 4 continents around the globe. Our current portfolio boasts 25% women-led startups, with our most recent cohort featuring an impressive 50% women-led ventures. To date, AX-supported companies have raised over £250M in additional funding — beyond our initial equity investment into each- and created nearly 1000 highly skilled jobs worldwide.
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