Dr. Tareef bin Youssef Alaama, President of King Abdulaziz University, inaugurated
the university’s new Food Innovation Lab on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at the King
Fahd Public Library. The initiative bridges the gap between research and
commercialization and aims to foster stronger collaboration between academia and
the Kingdom’s growing food industry.

The launch event was attended by Sheikh Saeed Binzagr, Chairman of Binzagr
Company, the lab’s official sponsor, alongside Dr. Sara Haddad, Lead Researcher at
the Finnish firm “Foodiq,” as well as senior executives from major companies and
leading experts in the nutrition sector.

The ceremony featured a multimedia presentation outlining the lab’s goals and
anticipated impact, followed by a panel discussion with key partners, a guided tour of
the facility, and a tasting session showcasing innovative food products developed in
collaboration with students and researchers.

The lab is the product of a joint effort between the College of Human Sciences and
Design, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, and the Mobdioon Center for
Studies, Consulting, and Training. Its mission is to accelerate the innovation cycle,
from initial research concepts to market-ready food products, empowering students
and researchers to develop novel food solutions that address Saudi market demands
while cultivating national talent to drive entrepreneurship in the food industry.

Dr. Esam H. Kawther, CEO of the Mobdioon Center, emphasized the lab’s role in
empowering students and researchers to create competitive, market-relevant
solutions and in equipping national talent to lead within this vital sector. He
underscored the importance of building an integrated innovation ecosystem that
supports the knowledge economy and prepares Saudi professionals to compete both
locally and globally.