Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Talent Launches 2026 Acceleration Program for Food and Water Security - Sarmad

(KUNA) – Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Talent and Creativity, one of the centers under the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, launched the Accelerate 2026 program in partnership 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 international markets, companies, and innovation ecosystems.

In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (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, as well as solutions that help address challenges related to these sectors.

The program includes an intensive acceleration phase in Kuwait 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 end 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, to explore the international innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and 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 collaboration with MTB as an international partner aims to strengthen the global dimension of the initiative and leverage its expertise in accelerating project growth, connecting startups with markets, companies, investors, and global innovation ecosystems.

The program reflects the center’s commitment to 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, with the acceleration phase in Kuwait starting 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, operating at the intersection of startups, large corporations, and innovation ecosystems. Through its international network and acceleration expertise, it supports entrepreneurs in validating their solutions, scaling them, and connecting them to global markets.