Recently, Kneron, a global leader in edge AI computing solutions, announced that it has successfully been approved by "RELOCATE" deep-tech initiative under Saudi Arabia's National Technology Development Program (NTDP) and secured a non-equity grant from the Saudi government.

This strategic milestone underscores Kneron's leadership in the fast-growing AI semiconductor sector and marks a significant step in expanding its advanced AI chip development and commercialization efforts into the Middle East market.

Saudi Arabia aims to attract at least 50 semiconductor design companies by 2030 as part of a broader plan to invest USD 100 billion in building "Transcendence", a next-generation technology hub, while cultivating a talent pool of 20,000 AI professionals. The RELOCATE initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), is designed to attract high-potential deep-tech startups to establish a presence in Saudi Arabia, aligning with the nation's Vision 2030 objectives.

With its proven expertise in reconfigurable Neural Processing Units (NPUs) and strong commercialization potentianality, Kneron has been selected as a key participant in the RELOCATE initiative. The USD 2 million grant will further empower Kneron to leverage Saudi Arabia's growing tech infrastructure and semiconductor ecosystem to accelerate R&D and deployment of high-performance AI chips, contributing to the development of a globally integrated technology landscape.

Prior to this, Kneron had already established a strategic partnership with the National Semiconductor Hub (NSH) and plans to set up a local subsidiary in Riyadh. NSH is dedicated to building a fabless semiconductor ecosystem in the Kingdom. Kneron's entry brings cutting-edge AI chip innovation and reinforces Saudi Arabia's ambition to strengthen technological self-reliance. With Saudi Arabia serving as a digital economy hub in the Middle East, Kneron is well-positioned to enter key sectors including enterprise AI applications, smart cities, and digital transformation initiatives.

Albert Liu, Founder and CEO of Kneron, stated:
"The Saudi government's forward-looking investments in AI and the swift execution of the RELOCATE program have left a strong impression. This collaboration goes beyond financial support — it represents a strategic alignment of technological sovereignty and market-driven innovation. We are excited about the opportunity to integrate our AI chip technologies into Saudi Arabia's smart city infrastructure and become a model for transformative technological advancement in the region."

One spokesman from NTDP stated:
“We are pleased to welcome Kneron into the RELOCATE program as a testament to Saudi Arabia’s growing appeal as a global hub for deep-tech innovation. With its cutting-edge expertise in edge AI and semiconductor design, Kneron aligns perfectly with our vision to build a knowledge-driven economy and establish a world-class semiconductor ecosystem under Vision 2030. We believe this partnership will not only accelerate Kneron’s regional growth but also contribute meaningfully to Saudi Arabia’s technological advancement and digital transformation.”

This successful entry into Saudi Arabia represents a major milestone in Kneron's expansion into strategically important, high-growth markets. With Saudi Arabia's rapidly maturing digital infrastructure, Kneron will continue to drive the adoption of high-performance edge AI chips across critical domains such as smart cities and Industry 4.0, delivering on its mission to "empower industries through AI" and contribute to the evolution of the global tech ecosystem.