Home of Innovation
Catalyzing industry collaboration and the next generation of Middle East housing
Beginning in early 2011, our history with GE Plastics sparked a strategic collaboration with SABIC, Saudi Arabia’s largest petrochemical company. The result is Home of Innovation™, a multi-year, regional market engagement and business growth initiative designed to demonstrate the power of performance, transform ideas into sustainable industry and enable downstream industry growth in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region.
Program Vision & Intent
IBACOS and SABIC have worked closely together to create and deliver an ambitious vision to inspire higher performance in the built environment, connect leading international companies to the region, and showcase innovative solutions that could be manufactured locally. We are proud to say that vision is being realized, most recently with the inauguration of a high-performance facility in Riyadh, KSA to serve the initiative.
View 2-minute overview video.
“Home of Innovation provides a unique platform to engage the local market, explore long-term, mutual growth opportunities, and help advance the local and regional economy.”
The Facility
The new, state-of-the-art facility promotes advanced product and materials solutions that address economic, environmental and social challenges. It also serves as a gathering place for key stakeholders to collaborate, share knowledge and technology, and showcase innovative yet commercially available solutions that can be manufactured locally.
Consisting of a Collaboration Center and a High Performance Demonstration Home, the facility informs, educates, and inspires the market to consider and apply solutions across key industry sectors. The facility itself is a showcase of energy, water and natural resource efficiency, durability, comfort and connectivity, illustrating high-performance practices, products and benefits.
Fostering Collaboration
With regard to the facility, IBACOS provided strategic innovation, building performance expertise and on-site quality. Our team worked closely with SABIC's construction management team, as well as a global team of architects, engineers, general and specialty contractors, designers, and performance experts, to ensure the facility meets its performance goals and delivers a world-class visitor experience.
IBACOS also played an integral role in strategizing and executing the Home of Innovation™ initiative with SABIC, including the formation of a collaborative alliance of manufacturers and managing an integrated and interactive communications plan.
Forty-five industry-leading companies from across the world have joined the initiative to collaborate with each other, SABIC, the Saudi government, local and regional industry value chains, and other stakeholders in the future of the Kingdom and region. More than any business initiative, it creates an “innovation ecosystem” that accelerates development and the adoption of new and better solutions in the Middle East.
Read an example of this "innovation ecosystem."
Program Management & Evolution
As Home of Innovation matures, IBACOS will remain a key strategic partner with SABIC to help ensure the program’s long-term value, focusing on:
- Articulating the Power of Performance to the region
- Developing members of the program team to foster market engagement and collaboration
- Supporting business development activities
- Real-time monitoring of the home’s performance, both in terms of energy as well as business engagement & education, to allow for strategic enhancements and future program evolution
- Providing meaningful and actionable market intelligence
- Refreshing the audience experience and overall messaging
- Ensuring alignment with the long-term goals of the Saudi government’s Vision 2030 strategy
For additional information about Home of Innovation, please visit the program website.
“This program combines marketing, innovation and technology to create demand and promote downstream industry development. It links participants, markets, products and material solutions while acting as a catalyst for new ideas & thinking.”