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Fikra Platform
Client: Monsha’at
Sector:
Duration: 24 Months
Industry:
Overview
Challenge
The support and development of innovative individuals and SMEs in the Kingdom through engagement, training, and investment to expand its business and tech sectors.
Outcome
A program spanning three years in partnership with Monsha'at, composed of 14 innovation challenges, seven bootcamps, and 10 innovation seminars.
Impact
The development of 80 innovative ideas due to the increased knowledge and training provided to the 3,598 participants. The success of the program led Monsha'at to signing a partnership agreement with TAM to launch the Open Innovation Center in 2021.
Context
When the Saudi Vision 2030 was announced in 2016, one of its priorities was to strengthen small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) within the Kingdom — allowing it to fulfill its economic diversification plan. SMEs made up 29% of the country's GDP in 2018, a growth of 45% since the Vision was declared.
One major move was the establishment of the Saudi Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority — Monsha'at — whose key objective is to support, develop, and nurture the SME sector, addressing challenges such as financial backing, lack of information and contacts, and unorganized business plans.
Open innovation — the process of sharing and receiving innovative ideas from inside and outside an organization — became a key vehicle for this transformation. Monsha'at's Fikra Platform (Arabic for "idea") was built as an open innovation and participatory thinking platform, with TAM as its implementation partner for three consecutive years.
TAM's Approach
The Fikra Platform launch event was held in Riyadh at the Saudi International Conference and Exhibition for Internet of Things in 2019, attended by the governor and deputy governor of Monsha'at and the Minister of Communications. TAM's preparation centered on three main elements:
1 — Brand & Identity
Developing the platform name and promotional identity used across all campaigns, drawing from expert interviews, research, and analysis.
2 — Platform & Challenges
Building the submission website and designing 14 innovation challenges in collaboration with 14 private and public sector entities — including Noon, Al Dawaa Pharmacy, and the General Commission for Audiovisual Media — spanning education, engagement, pharmaceuticals, and e-commerce.
3 — Marketing & Community Engagement
A multi-channel marketing strategy including regular social media posts on Monsha'at's Twitter and LinkedIn, local influencer partnerships, traditional media coverage in The Economist (الاقتصادية) and Saudi Gazette, and direct outreach via email and WhatsApp.
Throughout the program's three-year duration, 10 seminars and 7 training bootcamps were assembled to support participants in advancing their innovations — each challenge had its own judging committee.
What We Delivered
- 14 innovation challenges across industries in collaboration with 14 public and private sector partners.
- 7 training bootcamps to support innovators in developing and refining their ideas.
- 10 innovation seminars throughout the program duration.
- 42 official winners across all 14 challenge categories (three per category).
- 80 developed ideas emerging from the full program cycle.
- A comprehensive multi-channel marketing campaign reaching thousands across the Kingdom.
Impact at a Glance
3,598
innovations submitted by participants
80
innovative ideas developed through the program
42
official winners across all challenge categories
14
innovation challenges with public and private sector partners
7
training bootcamps delivered
10
innovation seminars held over three years
3
consecutive years of partnership with Monsha'at
1
Saudi Open Innovation Center launched in partnership
Lasting Value Created
The success of the Fikra Platform program led Monsha'at to sign a partnership agreement with TAM in June 2021 to launch the Saudi Open Innovation Center — located within Monsha'at's headquarters in Riyadh.
"The Riyadh center specializes in the Internet of Things (IoT) and cybersecurity, and the Khobar center focuses on artificial intelligence and data analytics. We have a track for traditional businesses to adopt new technology, and we have another track for innovative startups."
— Mohammed Almamar, Monsha'at Tech Innovation Specialist, Arab News