EdgeCortix Inc., a fabless semiconductor company based in Japan and specializing in energy-efficient Artificial Intelligence (AI) processing at the edge, today announced its selection by the Saudi Ministry of Investment to join the Kingdom’s National Semiconductor Hub (NSH) program. As part of this strategic collaboration, EdgeCortix will launch a subsidiary in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to drive advanced semiconductor engineering and edge AI development, contributing to the nation’s rapidly growing tech ecosystem.
The National Semiconductor Hub (NSH), is an initiative by the Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA), was launched in 2024 to attract 50 fabless chip companies to the Kingdom by 2030. As part of this effort, the hub also aims to train and hire 5,000 engineers in integrated circuit design, attract over 1 billion SAR in investment capital and deep-tech funds, recruit 25 international experts through the Premium Residency Center, and provide access to 150 million+ SAR in support products via the National Technology Development Program (NTDP). From a pool of nearly 70 global applicants, EdgeCortix was among a select few chosen to participate in this prestigious program starting in early 2025. The company will receive financial grants and incentives to support the creation of its KSA subsidiary, with the office set to open in the first quarter of 2025. The Riyadh-based team will focus on engineering, product development, and business partnerships across the MENA region—further solidifying Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a leading technology and semiconductor innovation hub.
“At EdgeCortix, we recognize the immense potential for innovation, talent, and business growth in the Saudi market. We are honored to be one of the few global companies selected to join the NSH program, which plays a pivotal role in realizing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030,” said Dr. Sakyasingha Dasgupta, Founder & CEO of EdgeCortix Inc. “We are already building deeper partnerships with Saudi businesses eager to bring our latest edge AI acceleration solutions to the Kingdom. Demand is strong across multiple sectors—including Smart Infrastructure, Telecommunications, and Aerospace—for our SAKURA-II platform, an industry-leading, flexible, and power-efficient Generative AI accelerator for edge applications. By collaborating within the NSH framework, we look forward to driving engineering and business development with our existing product portfolio, empowering the Kingdom with advanced edge AI capabilities and supporting sustainable economic growth.”
“We welcome EdgeCortix to the National Semiconductor Hub and are confident in their ability to help us achieve our Vision 2030 goals,” said Dr. Naveed Sherwani, Chairman of the NSH. “Their industry-proven AI acceleration technology and commitment to talent development will create a significant impact on Saudi Arabia’s semiconductor landscape, positioning the Kingdom for continued leadership in AI innovation.”
“For more than 25 years, SBI and now SBI Middle East has been identifying and supporting leading-edge Japanese and Middle Eastern companies. When it comes to semiconductor innovation, EdgeCortix is our top recommendation,” said Shiran Dias, CEO of SBI Middle East. “We have witnessed firsthand the team’s talent, creativity, and technical acumen. We are confident that EdgeCortix will bring significant value to the National Semiconductor Hub Program and derive substantial benefit from operating in the broader KSA economy.”
