Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Talent launches 'Acceleration 2026' program in partnership with MTB platform

Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Talent and Creativity, one of the centers under the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), has launched the Accelerate 2026 program in collaboration with the MTB platform, aiming to support and develop promising projects and innovations in the fields of food and water security, preparing them for further growth, expansion, and integration with markets, companies, and international innovation ecosystems.

In a statement to KUNA, the center said the program targets innovative projects and solutions in food and water security, including agricultural technology, food technology, water technologies, and desalination, alongside solutions that help address challenges related to these sectors.

The program includes an intensive acceleration phase in Kuwait, running from November 16 to 23, focusing on project development, enhancing market and investment readiness, refining business models, improving pitch skills, and leveraging specialized expertise and mentoring.

At the conclusion of the local acceleration phase, the top 10 projects will be selected to participate in an international mission to Barcelona, Spain, from December 8 to 17. This mission aims to familiarize participants with the international innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and to build relationships with companies, research centers, and specialized entities in the food, agriculture, water, and desalination sectors.

The mission also includes participation in the International Demo Day in Barcelona on December 15, enabling selected projects to present their solutions and connect with investors, companies, and potential partners.

The center noted that the partnership with MTB, as an international partner for the program, aligns with efforts to enhance the initiative’s international dimension and leverage MTB’s expertise in accelerating project growth, connecting startups with markets, companies, investors, and global innovation ecosystems.

The program reflects the center’s orientation toward empowering innovators and entrepreneurs, transforming promising solutions into projects better prepared for growth, expansion, and international competition, thereby supporting innovation as a tool to address challenges related to food and water security.

The center called on entrepreneurs and innovators in the targeted fields to apply, noting that registration remains open until November 12. The acceleration phase in Kuwait begins on November 16. Interested parties can review the program’s terms and details on the center’s official website, Sacgc.org.

MTB, or “Mind the Bridge,” is a global open innovation platform founded in 2007. It operates at the intersection of startups, large corporations, and innovation ecosystems. Through its international network and expertise in acceleration, it supports entrepreneurs in validating their solutions, scaling them, and connecting them to global markets.