Arab Open University
وحدة البحث والتطوير والابتكار
Research, Development & Innovation Unit
We connect scholarship with real-world impact: supporting faculty research, growing student ideas into projects, and building partnerships with the national innovation ecosystem.
Where research meets innovation
The Research, Development and Innovation Unit (RDIU) bridges academic learning and the needs of the labour market and the wider innovation ecosystem, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 priorities for innovation and enterprise.
Supporting rigorous, applied research with practical, economic and knowledge impact.
Turning ideas and outputs into skills, prototypes and lasting capabilities.
Building a culture of experimentation, entrepreneurship and emerging technology.
يسعدني أن أرحب بكم في وحدة البحث والتطوير والابتكار بالجامعة العربية المفتوحة. نؤمن في الوحدة بأن البحث العلمي والابتكار هما الطريق إلى بناء المعرفة وصناعة المستقبل، ولذلك نعمل على دعم أعضاء هيئة التدريس في مشروعاتهم البحثية، وتمكين طلبتنا من تحويل أفكارهم إلى مشروعات ونماذج قابلة للتطبيق، وبناء شراكات فاعلة مع منظومة الابتكار وريادة الأعمال في المملكة، انسجامًا مع مستهدفات رؤية المملكة 2030.
وأدعو جميع منسوبي الجامعة من أعضاء هيئة التدريس والطلبة إلى الاستفادة من برامج الوحدة ومبادراتها، والتواصل معنا بأفكارهم ومقترحاتهم؛ فالابتكار مسؤولية مشتركة نصنعها معًا.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Research, Development and Innovation Unit at the Arab Open University. We believe that research and innovation are the path to building knowledge and shaping the future. That is why we support faculty members in their research, help our students turn their ideas into projects and working prototypes, and build strong partnerships with the Kingdom’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
I invite all faculty members and students to make the most of the Unit’s programmes and initiatives, and to share their ideas and proposals with us. Innovation is a shared responsibility, and we build it together.
Dr. Bandar AlRami
Vision and strategic role
Bridge learning and careers
Linking academic education with labour-market and innovation-ecosystem needs.
Enable entrepreneurs
Helping students grow from job seekers into creators of viable projects.
Advance applied research
Research with practical, economic and knowledge impact.
Build partnerships
Strategic links with national innovation and entrepreneurship organisations.
Open pathways
Clearer routes for incubation, mentoring, funding and investment.
Strengthen the University
An environment that supports innovation, research and enterprise, in line with Vision 2030.
Four connected areas of work
Research support, applied innovation, student development and partnerships are treated as one integrated model, not separate activities.
Research support
Proposal review, follow-up and referral of eligible projects to national research bodies.
Applied innovation
Initiatives such as Innovation Day and the Creativity Lab, focused on AI and digital transformation.
Student development
Entrepreneurship training, mentoring and pitching that turn student ideas into projects.
Partnerships
National collaboration across research, training and incubation.
Free AI tools
for every student
متاحة الآن في معمل CIAI
أدوات الذكاء الاصطناعي
مجانًا لجميع الطلبة
Creativity, Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Lab. Provided by the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Unit, shared by the FCS Activities Committee.
Opposite the Library (Male Section)
معمل CIAI – مقابل المكتبة (قسم البنين)
Working with the wider ecosystem
The Garage
Applied research, startup support and accelerator opportunities for student ventures.
Monsha’at
Entrepreneurship training for students, from idea to pitch.
INJAZ Saudi Arabia
A non-profit preparing young Saudis for work and enterprise through entrepreneurship, work readiness, financial literacy and STEM programmes.
1.3M+ young people reached, 100 cities, Junior Achievement networkResearch proposals approved by the Unit’s review committee are referred to the Saudi Research, Development and Innovation Authority (SRDIA).
Progress across three fronts
Entrepreneurship
A student ideathon and bootcamp pathway that moves ideas towards prototypes, mentoring and pitching.
Innovation
Innovation Day and the Creativity Lab bring AI and digital transformation into student projects.
Collaboration
Growing partnerships with national innovation organisations and a formal route for research proposals.
Tell us what you would like to work on
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rdi@arabou.edu.sa
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