About the Center
Al-Baha Municipality established the (Balady Innovation Center) in the fields of entrepreneurship related to municipal work, leveraging the latest trends and modern technologies and providing the necessary resources. The Balady Innovation Center will act as a catalyst for innovation and creativity, encouraging and guiding entrepreneurship in various fields of municipal work. This will contribute to sustainable development and quality of life by providing a platform for collaboration, research and development, and promoting a culture of innovation. The center will also contribute to achieving the municipality’s targets, the growth of cities in the region, and enhancing their competitiveness.

Vision and Mission
Vision:
 To be the leaders in transforming creative ideas into tangible reality in municipal services, contributing to building a prosperous and sustainable society in the Al-Baha region.
Mission: We are committed to supporting entrepreneurs and innovators, guiding their ideas and projects to serve the municipal sector, and helping them access the knowledge and tools necessary to turn their ideas into successful projects that contribute to the development of the cities in Al-Baha region.

Objective
The center aims to promote a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity in municipal work and employ it to achieve various targets and indicators in municipal performance, according to the following goals:

Strategic Goals:

1.      Promote a culture of innovation: Spread the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the municipal sector, and encourage individuals and institutions to present innovative solutions to the challenges facing municipal services.

2.      Support entrepreneurs: Provide necessary support to entrepreneurs and innovators in the municipal sector by facilitating access to training programs, incubators, mentorship, and funding.

3.      Develop innovative solutions: Develop innovative solutions to improve municipal services and operations, increase operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance services in cities, thereby raising the quality of life.

4.      Build strategic partnerships: Build strong partnerships with the private sector, universities, government entities, non-profit organizations, and the community to foster innovation and creativity in the municipal sector.

5.      Measure impact: Develop a system to measure the social and economic impact of the center’s projects, initiatives, and outputs, and evaluate the extent to which the defined goals are achieved.

Target Groups:

1.      Entrepreneurs and innovators in the municipal sector: Including individuals and startups working or intending to work in municipal services such as waste management, cleanliness, afforestation, maintenance, visual distortion treatment, municipal volunteering, and others.

2.      Small and medium enterprises: Including companies working with the municipal sector that seek to develop new products or services related to municipal work.

3.      Various community segments: Including individuals and groups interested in participating in the development of municipal services and presenting creative suggestions and solutions.

4.      Educational institutions: Including universities, schools, and research centers aiming to enhance innovation and creativity in municipal services through student and research projects.

5.      Relevant government entities: Including other government entities that can benefit from the center’s services or contribute to supporting its activities.

Events and Activities:

1.      The First Balady Innovation Forum and Hackathon in Al-Baha Region:
The Al-Baha Municipality is organizing “The First Balady Innovation Forum and Hackathon in Entrepreneurship” in the Al-Baha region. It is a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing municipal development and the urban economy. The forum and hackathon target entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, students, experts, government agencies, and the private sector interested in developing innovative solutions to the proposed challenges. These fall under main themes such as innovation in basic services, entrepreneurship, smart cities, and technology. The accompanying hackathon includes specific challenges and opportunities for participants to develop practical and applicable solutions.
According to the proposed schedule of hackathon events (Appendix B), the registration period begins on 25/05/2025 and the events continue until the results announcement in July 2025. This initiative is expected to produce significant outcomes, including the generation of promising entrepreneurial projects, strengthening partnerships, and providing innovative solutions that contribute to achieving sustainable development goals and enhancing the urban economy in Al-Baha, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.

▶️  More about the forum and hackathon