Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE)
The Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE) program at KAUST aims to train a new generation of entrepreneurial leaders across scientific and technological disciplines. The program integrates creative thinking with technological innovation to prepare students for entrepreneurial careers. TIE program seeks to redefine the boundaries between scientific discovery, technological advancement, and venture creation. It equips students with capabilities spanning science, engineering, innovation, and entrepreneurship, with a strong emphasis on project-based learning and design thinking.
By blending rigorous theoretical foundations with hands-on application, students engage in iterative product-development cycles through rapid prototyping and experimentation. These experiences cultivate creativity, translational thinking, and pathways from ideas to real-world impact. The TIE program offers a transformative journey in which innovation and entrepreneurship serve as catalysts for meaningful national and global change.
Program Chair
Aamir Farooq- aamir.farooq@kaust.edu.sa
Graduate Program Student Advisor (GPSA), formerly (GPC).
Reham Almubarak – reham.almubarak@kaust.edu.sa
Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Degrees
Program Mission:
The mission of the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE) Program is to develop a new generation of entrepreneurial leaders across scientific and technological domains who combine technical excellence with creative, design-driven, and entrepreneurial thinking. The program empowers students to translate ideas into real-world impact by integrating innovation, venture creation, and rigorous problem-solving to address complex challenges and drive sustainable economic and societal progress.
Program Goals
• Integrate Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship
Equip students to connect scientific and technological foundations with creative design, product development, and entrepreneurial thinking to deliver scalable, real-world solutions.
• Foster Experiential, Multidisciplinary, and Ethical Practice
Promote hands-on, project-based learning that emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, iterative prototyping, and socially responsible, sustainable innovation.
• Create Impact Through Innovation Leadership
Prepare graduates to advance technological, economic, and societal progress through venture creation, research and development, and leadership within global innovation ecosystems.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Knowledge and Understanding:
Graduates will be able to:
• K1: Demonstrate understanding of scientific and technological principles and apply design thinking and creative problem-solving methodologies to innovation-driven product development.
• K2: Describe innovation and venture creation processes in relation to customer needs, market forces, and regulatory considerations in technology commercialization.
Skills:
Graduates will be able to:
• S1: Apply analytical and computational methods, integrating design thinking and rapid prototyping to develop and refine innovative technological solutions
• S2: Develop viable business models and market strategies using data-driven methods to evaluate the feasibility and impact of technological innovations.
• S3: Communicate complex technical and business concepts effectively to diverse audiences.
Values, Autonomy, and Responsibility:
Graduates will be able to:
• V1: Demonstrate leadership, integrity, and ethical awareness while working collaboratively in diverse teams to develop sustainable, inclusive, and socially responsible technological innovations and ventures.