Innovation Diwan

Innovation Diwan is one of the programs launched by the Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation 'Misk', as part of its community partnership initiatives. This program aims to develop social innovators among the youth in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by encouraging them to participate and present creative and innovative solutions in five challenges. These challenges are categorized into five fields: community participation, health, economic development, education and training, and environmental protection. The foundation launched the first edition of the program in 2021.

The Innovation Diwan aims to foster a culture of social innovation among Saudi youth aged eighteen and above across all provinces of the Kingdom. It achieves this by providing opportunities for them to participate with creative solutions and helping them develop these solutions using social innovation methodologies. Additionally, the program connects the best qualifying social initiatives with supporters and donors to transform them into tangible and sustainable impacts that benefit the community.

The Innovation Diwan program unfolds through five essential stages. The first stage is skill registration, where individuals with relevant skills but with no team to develop their ideas can submit their entries. In the second stage, team formation, skilled participants select one of the qualifying ideas, connecting idea owners with skilled team members. The third stage launches a virtual boot camp, where all teams are formed. This camp is designed to empower participants, helping them transform their ideas into innovative social initiatives with tangible impacts.

The fourth stage involves an in-person boot camp, which continues to support and develop the initiatives of the teams that advanced from the virtual camp. The final stage is dedicated to training the qualifying teams on how to pitch their ideas to potential supporters during the closing ceremony.

The innovator’s journey with the Innovation Diwan represents an educational experience that goes beyond facing challenges and creating solutions. It includes forming a network of connections, attending workshops, engaging in inspirational dialogues and creative activities, and gaining access to the world of Misk and other supportive programs. The financial awards in the Innovation Diwan program are distributed among five descending ranks, ranging from SAR150,000 to SAR50,000.

At the conclusion of its activities in December 2021, the program resulted in the contribution of 1,376 solutions and community initiatives, out of which fifty-three ideas were selected as implementable solutions and initiatives. The program also empowered 173 young men and women by equipping them with the skills needed to develop appropriate solutions to community challenges through various mechanisms, enabling them to qualify for two training camps.

On December 22, 2022, Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation 'Misk' concluded the second edition of the "Innovation Diwan" program. The top five teams were honored, and financial awards totaling SAR500,000 were distributed among the winning teams.

The third edition of the Innovation Diwan program, held through a strategic partnership between the Misk Foundation and King Abdullah University for Science and Technology "KAUST", aims to activate the role of Saudi youth from various provinces of the Kingdom. It contributes to finding creative solutions to societal challenges and transforming them into actionable community initiatives that create a sustainable social impact.

On November 8, 2023, 'Misk' Foundation concluded the in-person boot camp for participants in the third edition of the Innovation Diwan program. Over 3,400 ideas were submitted to the program.