Khalid Aldakkan elected new President of IASP WANA Division

IASP is pleased to announce that Khalid Aldakkan (KACST, Saudi Arabia) has been elected as the new President of the IASP West Asia North Africa (WANA) Division. 

He takes over from Hussain Al Mahmoudi, Director General at Sharjah Science and Technology Park, UAE, who we thank for his dedication and contributions to the division. 

Dr Khalid Aldakkan is a distinguished national leader who has actively contributed to Saudi Arabia transformation journey. As an Advisor to the Minister of Economy and Planning, he has been recognized for his expertise in designing and executing large-scale initiatives that foster cross-sector collaboration, drive sustainable growth, and enhance the country's global competitiveness, resilience, and future readiness. 
His commitment to advancing research and innovation continued through the Science, Technology and Innovation reform of 2022, where he served as one of the senior architects of the National Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Strategy, a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia long-term innovation agenda. 

As a key innovation leader, Khalid was instrumental in positioning the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) as a national hub for innovation and economic development. He helped establish Badir in 2008, the first incubation program, focusing on ICT, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology. He also managed five Technology Innovation Centers across major universities to embed innovation within academia. His strategic vision and ability to build impactful partnerships have strengthened alignment with global RDI ecosystems, multinational corporations, NGOs, science parks, and innovation districts.   

Khalid Aldakkan commented: "As WANA President, I will be a strong voice for our members, encouraging active engagement and collaboration. I am committed to championing greater knowledge sharing, partnership-building, and collective growth to unlock the region’s full potential as a global innovation powerhouse, while continuing to enrich the IASP global community" .

Please join us in welcoming Khalid to the IASP Board of Directors, and in thanking Hussain Al Mahmoudi for his efforts over his term!