Riyadh hosted the launch of an integrated ecosystem of academies, centers of excellence, and specialized initiatives during the fourth day of LEAP 2026. These programs result from partnerships between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Digital Academy, and global technology companies.
According to SPA, the initiatives focus on investing in national talent and developing skills in data, content creation, and artificial intelligence to align capabilities with labor market needs.
The Gemini initiative, partnered with Google, provides one million Saudi university students with access to advanced AI technologies. Additionally, the Saudi AI Forward initiative with ServiceNow aims to empower 1.2 million beneficiaries with AI skills and professional certifications.
A partnership with WeCloudData established an AI Academy to train 1,000 startup entrepreneurs, 500 university faculty members, and 500 teachers, while offering online programs to 35,000 learners. Another partnership with a social media company targets 20,000 beneficiaries through a digital innovation ecosystem featuring an innovation center, a center of excellence, and a digital sustainability initiative covering spatial computing, augmented reality, digital safety, and digital marketing.
Furthermore, an initiative with Schneider Electric combines in-person training and digital learning, targeting 10,000 participants by 2030.