Jan 09, 2025
Kneron Expands into Riyadh in Strategic Partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s National Semiconductor Hub and National Technology Development Program
The Pioneer in the Edge AI Semiconductor Market Establishes Subsidiary in Saudi Arabia
Kneron Expands into Riyadh in Strategic Partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s National Semiconductor Hub and National Technology Development Program
The Pioneer in the Edge AI Semiconductor Market Establishes Subsidiary in Saudi Arabia
Guided by a profound insight into global AI market trends and the burgeoning opportunities within the Middle East (and especially in Saudi Arabia), Kneron has strategically chosen to launch a subsidiary in Riyadh in partnership with the National Semiconductor Hub (NSH). The NSH has been tasked with building a fabless semiconductor ecosystem in KSA.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a pivotal force driving innovation and economic advancement on a global scale. As a pioneer in the Edge AI System-on-Chip (SoC), Kneron has swiftly extended its international presence, bolstered by robust customer and partner networks. The company's state-of-the-art technology and visionary strategy have catalyzed digital transformation across multiple sectors.
In 2024 Saudi Arabia established the NSH, a venture-backed initiative with initial funds exceeding
266 million USD, to lure semiconductor companies to the country. The initiative seeks to attract at least 50 semiconductor design firms to the Kingdom by 2030. Furthermore, the Saudi government plans to invest 100 billion USD in the creation of a technology hub—dubbed "Transcendence"—and to cultivate 20,000 AI specialists, thus nurturing an environment conducive to the growth of local and international enterprises.
Kneron's establishment of an office in Saudi Arabia exemplifies the company's dedication to the market and its alignment with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which prioritizes the development of AI, smart cities, and the digital economy.
Albert Liu, Founder and CEO of Kneron, remarked, "We are excited to harness our AI expertise alongside Saudi Arabia's rich resources and talent pool to deepen our collaboration with local businesses, research institutions, and universities. Together, we aim to pioneer advanced technologies and expedite their implementation."
Dr. Naveed Sherwani, CEO of NSH stated, "We are pleased to welcome Kneron as they establish their presence in Saudi Arabia. Kneron will leverage the region's wealth of talent, resources, and robust fabless semiconductor ecosystem to design and develop AI chips. We also look forward to Kneron introducing cutting-edge and proven AI applications to the Saudi market. We anticipate that this partnership will yield significant success and we are excited about the collaborative opportunities ahead."
Ibrahim Neyaz, CEO of the National Technology Development Program (NTDP), added, “Kneron’s decision to expand into Saudi Arabia reflects the Kingdom’s growing prominence as a global technology hub. At NTDP, we are committed to fostering an ecosystem where companies like Kneron can thrive, innovate, and contribute to realizing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This partnership underscores our dedication to enabling transformative technologies that drive sustainable economic growth and position the Kingdom at the forefront of AI and semiconductor advancements.”
This strategic expansion is intended to more closely align with customer requirements, providing Edge AI solutions that facilitate the integration of AI technology in essential areas such as education, healthcare, and transportation. It positions Saudi Arabia as a burgeoning regional and potentially global tech epicenter.
Kneron is committed to actively engaging in the cultivation of Saudi Arabia's tech ecosystem, supporting partners in the development of competitive AI applications and services. The company will also emphasize local talent development and technology transfer, contributing to the scientific and technological progress in the region.
The inauguration of the new office in Riyadh represents a significant milestone in Kneron's business growth and heralds a new era of co-creation with Saudi stakeholders towards a smarter future.
Kneron envisions that through close cooperation with the Saudi government and partners, it can effectively consolidate resources, unlock innovation potential, and construct a smarter, more sustainable future. As AI technology proliferates and digitalization intensifies, Kneron anticipates writing numerous success stories in this emerging tech landscape, injecting fresh vitality into the global tech sector.
Kneron has raised $195 million to date from global investors such as the Sequoia China, Qualcomm, Horizon Ventures, Foxconn, SparkLabs and many other key industry leaders.
The Pioneer in the Edge AI Semiconductor Market Establishes Subsidiary in Saudi Arabia
Guided by a profound insight into global AI market trends and the burgeoning opportunities within the Middle East (and especially in Saudi Arabia), Kneron has strategically chosen to launch a subsidiary in Riyadh in partnership with the National Semiconductor Hub (NSH). The NSH has been tasked with building a fabless semiconductor ecosystem in KSA.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a pivotal force driving innovation and economic advancement on a global scale. As a pioneer in the Edge AI System-on-Chip (SoC), Kneron has swiftly extended its international presence, bolstered by robust customer and partner networks. The company's state-of-the-art technology and visionary strategy have catalyzed digital transformation across multiple sectors.
In 2024 Saudi Arabia established the NSH, a venture-backed initiative with initial funds exceeding
266 million USD, to lure semiconductor companies to the country. The initiative seeks to attract at least 50 semiconductor design firms to the Kingdom by 2030. Furthermore, the Saudi government plans to invest 100 billion USD in the creation of a technology hub—dubbed "Transcendence"—and to cultivate 20,000 AI specialists, thus nurturing an environment conducive to the growth of local and international enterprises.
Kneron's establishment of an office in Saudi Arabia exemplifies the company's dedication to the market and its alignment with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which prioritizes the development of AI, smart cities, and the digital economy.
Albert Liu, Founder and CEO of Kneron, remarked, "We are excited to harness our AI expertise alongside Saudi Arabia's rich resources and talent pool to deepen our collaboration with local businesses, research institutions, and universities. Together, we aim to pioneer advanced technologies and expedite their implementation."
Dr. Naveed Sherwani, CEO of NSH stated, "We are pleased to welcome Kneron as they establish their presence in Saudi Arabia. Kneron will leverage the region's wealth of talent, resources, and robust fabless semiconductor ecosystem to design and develop AI chips. We also look forward to Kneron introducing cutting-edge and proven AI applications to the Saudi market. We anticipate that this partnership will yield significant success and we are excited about the collaborative opportunities ahead."
Ibrahim Neyaz, CEO of the National Technology Development Program (NTDP), added, “Kneron’s decision to expand into Saudi Arabia reflects the Kingdom’s growing prominence as a global technology hub. At NTDP, we are committed to fostering an ecosystem where companies like Kneron can thrive, innovate, and contribute to realizing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This partnership underscores our dedication to enabling transformative technologies that drive sustainable economic growth and position the Kingdom at the forefront of AI and semiconductor advancements.”
This strategic expansion is intended to more closely align with customer requirements, providing Edge AI solutions that facilitate the integration of AI technology in essential areas such as education, healthcare, and transportation. It positions Saudi Arabia as a burgeoning regional and potentially global tech epicenter.
Kneron is committed to actively engaging in the cultivation of Saudi Arabia's tech ecosystem, supporting partners in the development of competitive AI applications and services. The company will also emphasize local talent development and technology transfer, contributing to the scientific and technological progress in the region.
The inauguration of the new office in Riyadh represents a significant milestone in Kneron's business growth and heralds a new era of co-creation with Saudi stakeholders towards a smarter future.
Kneron envisions that through close cooperation with the Saudi government and partners, it can effectively consolidate resources, unlock innovation potential, and construct a smarter, more sustainable future. As AI technology proliferates and digitalization intensifies, Kneron anticipates writing numerous success stories in this emerging tech landscape, injecting fresh vitality into the global tech sector.
Kneron has raised $195 million to date from global investors such as the Sequoia China, Qualcomm, Horizon Ventures, Foxconn, SparkLabs and many other key industry leaders.
