Innovation Ecosystems 2025

2.3 Growth and scaling-up Uniqueness of offer counts and, complementing this, so does the need to focus on more than technology and infrastructure. This chapter contains two case studies from leading innovation districts that could not be more different from one another – yet both demonstrate the power of effective, resilient governance models that are tailored to the specific context: INNOVATION DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT 3: Aramco Taleed, Saudi Arabia: demonstrates how a corporate-led initiative can develop an innovative ecosystem to empower SMEs through skills training and common KPIs. INNOVATION DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT 4: DistritoTec, Mexico: demonstrates how a university can put inclusive community engagement and human- centred design at the heart of urban innovation. INNOVATION DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT 3: Aramco Taleed, Saudi Arabia – corporate-led ecosystem development through SME empowerment Overview Aramco’s Taleed programme demonstrates how major corporations can catalyse the development of innovation ecosystems through the strategic empowerment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Launched in 2022, this corporate-led initiative has established 16 new businesses, supported over 2,500 SMEs, enabled approximately $800 million in capital investment and created 22,000 job opportunities, while advancing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals for economic diversification. Strategic framework Operating from Aramco’s LEED Platinum-certified headquarters in Dhahran, Taleed targets four strategic sectors: sustainability, manufacturing, digital and industrial. The programme’s name, meaning “rooted” in Arabic, reflects its mission to cultivate indigenous innovation capacity while supporting the Kingdom’s goal of increasing SME contribution to GDP from 20% to 35% by 2030. Core services –SME creation and localization: developing business cases to establish and localize new SMEs. –Growth support: via strategy, training and advisory initiatives to scale up SMEs. –Local capability building: empowering Saudi talent through upskilling, training and mentorship for future industrial jobs.Taleed has introduced a range of programmes tailored to support SMEs, including a “Carbon Net Zero Program” to help SMEs reduce emissions and energy costs through digital tools and frameworks, an “Operational Excellence Support Program” to share best business practices and an “Internal Controls Assessment Tool” to enhance governance and risk management, and to strengthen SMEs’ overall efficiency and sustainability. Collaborative ecosystem integration Rather than creating isolated innovation spaces, Taleed integrates SMEs into Aramco’s existing ecosystem, providing them unprecedented access to raw materials through Aramco downstream affiliates, technical expertise for piloting opportunities and connections to funding networks offering diverse financial solutions. This approach creates what Taleed Director Yousif Al-Ghamdi describes as “a collision of ideas and new investments” where SMEs transform concepts into viable solutions addressing specific industry challenges. Governance and digital innovation The programme leverages Aramco’s robust governance framework while maintaining entrepreneurial agility through dedicated leadership structures. This model effectively manages a complex network of over 30 public and private partners, including funding providers and technology enablers, to provide comprehensive support to participating SMEs. Digital transformation drives impact: an upcoming AI- powered platform will democratize e-learning, expert advice and offer discounted solutions. A fintech marketplace will cut funding approval to 48 hours, showing how corporate infrastructure removes SME barriers. Innovation Ecosystems: A Toolkit of Principles and Best Practice 17