Fischell Institute Hosts Saudi Arabia’s Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA)

The Fischell Institute hosted Saudi Arabia’s Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA) on Thursday, September 19 to discuss potential collaboration and learn about each other’s missions and operations.

In attendance were NSF I-Corps Hub Mid-Atlantic Region Director Dan Kunitz and the Fischell Institute’s Director Bill Bentley, Assistant Director Martha Wang, Senior Engineer Kevin Aroom and Communications Specialist Ambi Narula. Attending from the RDIA were Vice Governor for Research Grants and National Programs Rami Niazy, Vice Governor of Strategy at Research Basil AsSadhan, Project Specialist Dana Hajjan, and Executive Expert “Advisor” Lamya Abdulaziz AlOmair.

The RDIA visited the Fischell Institute at the recommendation of MPower Fellow alum Rayan Alabsi, the acting general manager of grants compliance and oversight for the RDIA.

At the meeting, Fischell Institute staff provided an overview of their work developing medical devices and the institute’s connection to the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech), UMD I-Corps, and M-CERSI.

Aroom took attendees on a tour of Fischell Institute lab faculties, demonstrating how devices are created and the machines used to develop and prototype.

The RDIA provided an overview of its history, work, and mission of encouraging and supporting innovation, coordinating the activities of institutions and scientific research centers, proposing policies, legislation, and regulations, and providing sector funding.

“We are excited to continue looking into areas of collaboration, especially in supporting technology development and commercialization together,” said Wang.

Published September 26, 2024