Industry Minister Launches 'Rafed' Program to Establish Innovative Factories in Saudi Universities

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef launched the "Rafed" program aimed at establishing innovative factories in technical universities and colleges in Saudi Arabia.
The program aims to develop effective partnerships with academic institutions to enhance the utilization of innovation and research in advanced manufacturing, particularly in sectors outlined in the national industry strategy.
Notable officials from the industry and mining sectors, presidents of various Saudi universities, and representatives from private-sector companies graced the program's launch.
During his keynote address, Alkhorayef underscored the crucial role of advanced national industry in realizing Saudi Vision 2030 and nurturing a robust, sustainable economy. He emphasized the imperative for the industrial sector to harness cutting-edge technologies, foster innovation, and cultivate human resources, positioning the Rafed program as a strategic solution to tackle such challenges.
Alkhorayef presided over the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to establish new factories under the program. These included an MoU between Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University and Autonomous Technologies for Industry Co to set up a drone factory at the university. Additional agreements comprised partnerships between King Abdulaziz University and Haven Scientific to establish a state-of-the-art factory for medical products, as well as an agreement between Qassim University and United Defense to launch an advanced drone system manufacturing facility.
Umm Al-Qura University, represented by Wadi Makkah Company for Technology, and the Abu Al-Jadayel Food Services signed an agreement for the establishment of a food manufacturing factory at the university.
The allocation of industrial lands spanning 1.4 million square meters for food and environmental industries within the program at King Faisal University in Al-Ahsa was announced at the signing ceremony. Another land plot covering 1.5 million square meters was allocated at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah for industries related to Hajj.
Rafed is a comprehensive program aimed at bolstering advanced national industry. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, the program engages several local technical universities and colleges to realize the objectives of the industry strategy.
The program's blueprint is rooted in the principles of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which establish digital manufacturing capabilities by leveraging rapid advancements in 3D printing technologies, design and engineering analysis systems, simulation, and various other leading-edge manufacturing technologies.
Rafed will lend support to all initiatives and programs accelerating the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, such as the Future Factories Program.