Dr. Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al-Akeel is founder and chairman of the Saudi Scientific Research and Innovation Association based in Riyadh since May 2021.
He is also a scientific researcher at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology since 1998.
Al-Akeel established the Saudi Innovation Forum in 2016, which promotes research, development, innovation and creativity to contribute to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
He served as project manager for the Biotechnology Incubator in Riyadh in 2009, where he worked on the infrastructure and design of the incubator, as well as the lab and network setup.
He was also project manager for the technology transfer between KACST and the UK between 2011-2012 and for that between KACST and South Africa in 2002.
Al-Akeel also served as director of the engineering and biomedical engineering departments at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital from 1993-1997.
In 2003, he worked as associate director of research and development, supervising research projects at KACST and supporting its growth.
Because his area of interest is innovation commercialization, Al-Akeel believes that research and development are vital for economic progress.
Al-Akeel holds a Ph.D. in entrepreneurship and innovation and a postgraduate diploma in research management from the University of Edinburgh Business School.
Before these, he earned a postgraduate diploma in electronics engineering from the University of Wales and a bachelor’s degree in the same field from the Wentworth Institute of Technology.
