This indicator captures the full extent of the physical infrastructure at King Faisal University (KFU) that is either already constructed or currently planned, which supports activities central to research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology development. It includes spaces allocated for startups, incubators, accelerators, research laboratories, innovation labs, and event venues related to scientific advancement and commercialization. These areas form the physical backbone of the university’s Innovation District, designed not only to encourage discovery and experimentation but also to facilitate collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, industry stakeholders, and students. Every square meter represents a commitment to fostering a high-impact, innovation-driven ecosystem.

As of the latest measurements, the total built-up area designated for research and innovation functions across the university and its Innovation District spans an impressive 48,768,900 square meters. Notably, 85% of this entire built area is explicitly reserved for research and innovation-focused activities, emphasizing the university’s deep institutional alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 knowledge economy objectives. These dedicated spaces range from specialized scientific labs and co-working environments to digital studios and multifunctional smart classrooms. This significant allocation reflects King Faisal University’s transformation into an advanced innovation ecosystem designed for continuous experimentation, ideation, and enterprise development across disciplines and demographics.

Central to this infrastructure are the university’s extensive laboratory facilities, which provide foundational research capabilities across applied sciences, agriculture, health, technology, and environmental studies. There are currently 331 research labs​. These labs enable interdisciplinary research and are often used in partnership with startup teams, faculty innovators, and patent developers. Additionally, 15 computer labs and 45 cooling rooms are available, further supporting computational research, digital prototyping, and experimental testing across numerous innovation domains.

In addition to laboratory spaces, the university has developed a robust ecosystem of innovation-support facilities. There are 225 co-working spaces, designed to accommodate early-stage startups, faculty-led research groups, and cross-functional student teams. These spaces foster collaboration, creativity, and knowledge sharing in a flexible and modern environment. The Innovation District also houses 30 digital and technology studios, providing specialized equipment and support for media production, app development, simulation work, and AI projects. Further enhancing innovation capacity are 20 smart classrooms, equipped with interactive technologies and adaptable formats to support training, workshops, and multidisciplinary learning sessions connected to innovation and entrepreneurship education.

Among the most strategically important facilities are the multi-use research labs, totaling 331 in number, which serve dual purposes: conducting applied research and enabling startups to prototype, test, and refine their products. The university also operates two dedicated innovation centers and prototyping labs, which serve as highly specialized spaces where academic researchers and entrepreneurs can transition from conceptual design to tangible product development. These centers support activities such as rapid prototyping, user testing, and industrial design, creating a critical bridge between lab research and commercial application. Together, this infrastructure reflects a well-integrated innovation environment where theory meets practice in a tangible, purpose-built space.

Supporting all these facilities are operational headquarters and administrative spaces dedicated to the governance and execution of innovation strategy. These include offices for technology transfer units, IP protection centers, startup acceleration teams, and university-industry liaison offices. Such spaces are not only administrative in nature but serve as active hubs for matchmaking between researchers and investors, organizing hackathons, managing intellectual property portfolios, and facilitating licensing deals. The spatial design of these headquarters is intentionally collaborative, offering open-door access to students and faculty alike, thereby promoting transparency, cross-pollination of ideas, and continual engagement across the innovation value chain.