Monitoring Desk
In a bold move to position itself at the heart of the global innovation ecosystem, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched the “Exponeur” initiative from its national pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. The five-year global initiative aims to connect entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors across borders, laying the foundation for a new era of collaborative entrepreneurship and innovation-driven development.
Exponeur is a flagship initiative of the Vision Leadership Association, launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). It is sponsored by SBI Holdings Japan, which is supporting the inaugural edition of programs and training during Expo 2025.
Spanning from Expo Osaka 2025 to Expo Riyadh 2030, Exponeur aspires to become the first Expo pavilion dedicated entirely to nurturing the global entrepreneurship ecosystem. It aims to transform global challenges into opportunities through structured innovation, talent development, and high-impact investment facilitation.
Key pillars of the Exponeur initiative include:
Exponeur Academy: A six-month global training program that will support 150 entrepreneurs annually from over 20 countries, offering mentorship, investment readiness sessions, and access to venture capital opportunities.
Exponeur Competitions and Challenges: A series of innovation challenges aligned with each Expo’s theme, progressing through regional and global rounds, and culminating in the showcase of top solutions at Expo Riyadh 2030.
Annual Exponeur Event: To be held annually in Riyadh, this forum will feature thought leadership panels, project exhibitions, networking sessions, and global partnership-building activities.
Entrepreneurship Development Fund: A new financing vehicle designed to support startup ventures, particularly in developing economies, helping to close critical funding gaps and boost inclusive growth.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Prince Fahad bin Mansour bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Vision Leadership Association and Head of the G20 Startup20 Saudi Delegation, said:
“Exponeur reflects Saudi Arabia’s deep commitment to fostering global economic cooperation and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. Through this initiative, we are building bridges between nations, exchanging knowledge, and presenting real solutions to the world’s shared challenges.”
Mansour Al-Sa’nouni, founder of the Exponeur initiative, noted that the concept was born during the Kingdom’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, grounded in the belief that entrepreneurship can be a powerful force for global change.
“What started as a vision has now become a global platform to empower talent, inspire innovation, and drive impact—from Osaka 2025 to Riyadh 2030,” he said.
As Saudi Arabia prepares to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh, the launch of Exponeur marks a strategic and visionary step in the Kingdom’s broader effort to redefine its global economic footprint through innovation, collaboration, and opportunity creation.
