
Sharjah Advanced Industry Accelerator (SAIA)
Join SAIA’s 5th edition to accelerate your innovation, connect with industry leaders, and pitch to investors at SRTIP’s premier scale-up program.
Why Sharjah Advanced Industry Accelerator (SAIA)?
Our ecosystem bridges the gap between research, technology, and commercialization, providing a dynamic environment for groundbreaking advancements.
- Invested by ecosystem partners in SPark $100m+
- Accelerated startups 50+
Focus Areas
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Sustainability Cohort
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Waste Management
01Waste Collection and Processing
02Circular Economy Solutions
03Data Analytics and Al
04Waste-to-Energy
05Waste Reduction and Education.
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Precision Agriculture
01Irrigation and Automation
02Sensors and Data Platforms
03Biotechnology and Crop Optimization
04Al and Predictive Analytics
05Blockchain and Traceability
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Healthcare Cohort
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Healthcare Technology
01Medical Devices & Wearables
02Wearable Technology Companies
03Healthcare IT and Software Companies
04Remote Patient Monitoring Providers
05Biotechnology Companies
06Regulatory and Compliance Consultancies
07Contract Manufacturers
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Hospital Automation
01Diagnostic Devices
02Therapeutic Devices
03Personal Health Wearables
04Medical VR and AR
05Telehealth and Remote Monitoring
06Hospital Management Software
07Medical Robotics
08Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
09Hospital Connectivity and Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)
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Insure Tech
01Digital Health Insurance Platforms
02Wearable-based Insurance Models
03Al-powered Risk Assessment and Underwriting
04Telehealth Integration and Claims Management
05Blockchain-based Healthcare Data Security
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Cohort Timeline
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01 22 Feb – 09 May
Application and Recruitment
International and regional startup call and scouting in the entrepreneur ecosystem.
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02 27 May – 28 May
Selection Interviews
Selection of the participating startups for the Acceleration Program
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03 29 May
Finalists Announcement
Announcement of the finalist selected to go through the Acceleration Program.
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04 8 July - 17 July
Acceleration
2-weeks acceleration program on SRTIP Campus
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05 18 July
Demo & Investor Day
Startups pitch presentations to investors and results of the Program.
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01 TBA
Application and Recruitment
International and regional startup call and scouting in the entrepreneur ecosystem.
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02 TBA
Selection Interviews
Selection of the participating startups for the Acceleration Program
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03 TBA
Finalists Announcement
Announcement of the finalist selected to go through the Acceleration Program.
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04 TBA
Acceleration
2-weeks acceleration program on SRTIP Campus
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05 TBA
Demo & Investor Day
Startups pitch presentations to investors and results of the Program.
The SAIA 2024 Programs
Scaleup focused accelerator programs for growth stage tech ventures:
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01
Free entry into the accelerator program
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02
Up to 10 startups to be selected for the program
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03
Discounted coworking or office space
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04
Connections with a potential clients, marketing support
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05
Demo launch/presentation
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06
Access to SRTIP local events and networking
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07
Advisory & Mentorship from market leaders, 200+ ecosystem partners
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08
Access to the region's largest additive manufacturing & Fast prototyping hub
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09
1/1 matchmaking meetings with corporates and government
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10
Connection with relevant universities where possible
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11
Matchmaking to Business Angel networks
FAQ
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01
How many companies are selected for each SAIA cohort?
+ -We shortlist around 25–30 applicants for virtual interviews and ultimately accept up to 10 growth-stage scale-ups per cohort. Limiting the cohort size lets us give each company dedicated mentors, 1-on-1 matchmaking sessions, and tailored pilot opportunities inside SRTI Park.
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02
Which sectors qualify for the accelerator?
+ -SAIA targets technology-driven companies in six high-impact domains:
• Waste Management & Circularity (collection, recycling, waste-to-energy)
• Precision Agriculture (IoT irrigation, ag-biotech, AI analytics)
• Healthcare Technology (digital health, med-devices, biotech)
• Hospital Automation (AI diagnostics, robotics, IoMT)
• InsurTech (digital health-insurance, AI underwriting, blockchain security)
• Smart Materials & Advanced Manufacturing supporting the above verticals. -
03
What practical training and resources are provided during the two-week on-campus program?
+ -Finalists work from SRTI Park’s prototyping labs and co-working hub, receiving:
• Intensive workshops on market entry, compliance, and fundraising
• Technical sessions in additive manufacturing, IoT, and data analytics
• Daily office-hours with 200+ ecosystem mentors, corporate partners, and VCs
• Piloting support to validate solutions with regional industry players.

Last Editions
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+1625
Startups from 45 different countries applied
Solumar, a female-led startup, stands out as the winning team in the 4th Edition SAIA Accelerator program.
Recognized for developing cost-efficient technologies to combat emissions and air pollutants, Solumar exemplifies the program’s commitment to environmental sustainability. The recent feature on CNN International further highlights the innovative technologies that have earned Solumar this prestigious recognition.
Our mission is to continuously support UAE to quickly and cost efficiently become the first MENA nation to reach its Net-Zero objectives. Thanks to our successful participation in Sharjah Advanced Industry Accelerator, we are one step closer to achieving this mission.
Rennie PopchevaCEO – Solumar.


At SAIA We Put Our Startups' Interests First!
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