Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship hosted the highly anticipated 1st International Entrepreneurship Research Conference from Jan. 21 to 23, at its campus in King Abdullah Economic City. Under the theme “The Future of Entrepreneurship, Family Business and Education Research: New Trends and Innovative Practices,” the conference united global thought leaders to explore innovative trends shaping entrepreneurship.

IERC 2025 featured more than 26 parallel sessions and six panel discussions, with more than 150 paper presentations selected from 339 submissions. The event engaged 306 authors from 42 countries, highlighting MBSC’s role in fostering global research collaboration.

Dr. Zeger Degraeve, dean of MBSC, said: “IERC 2025 embodies our mission to inspire innovation and cultivate leadership for sustainable growth in alignment with Vision 2030. This conference is a testament to MBSC’s dedication to bridging the gap between academia and industry to drive meaningful impact.”

Prominent keynote speakers included Saud Khalid Al-Sabhan, vice governor of Monsha’at, and Fuad Shapra, chair of the Middle East Investment Committee and board member at KPMG Middle East. Their participation underscored the event’s significance in advancing entrepreneurial innovation in Saudi Arabia and the region.

The conference delved into topics such as entrepreneurial ecosystems, family business, women entrepreneurship, digital transformation, sustainability, climate resilience, healthcare transformation and innovation.

Professor of entrepreneurship Dr. Adnan Maalaoui said: “IERC 2025 offers a vibrant platform for entrepreneurs and policymakers to collaborate and transform research into actionable solutions, reinforcing MBSC’s leadership in entrepreneurship education.”

As part of expanding the success of the conference, the college plans to enhance its global impact by hosting the second edition, IERC 2026, in Alexandria, Egypt, and the third edition, IERC 2027, in Fez, Morocco. The conference will also return to Saudi Arabia in 2028 and every three years thereafter, reflecting the college’s ongoing commitment to fostering entrepreneurial innovation in the MENA region and reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a leading hub for entrepreneurship.

Al-Sabhan, vice governor of Monsha’at, said: “MBSC’s hosting of IERC 2025 highlights its commitment to driving innovation and collaboration between academia and industry. This conference plays a crucial role in empowering Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and advancing Vision 2030.”

San Shyn, a young street artist from Saudi Arabia, revealed a new vibrant public art mural outside the Saudi Embassy in the heart of Mayfair, London. The project has been realized as part of a unique Saudi-UK cross-cultural collaboration, with the piece being installed by London-based Graffiti artist Cept. The collaboration developed organically through word of mouth within the grassroots street art community and demonstrates an artistic exchange at the intersection of Saudi and UK culture.

The public nature of the artwork in London promotes a greater understanding of diverse perspectives and worldviews that Saudi artists draw upon in their contemporary works. The 80-feet mural was installed over several days at the beginning of the year and will remain in place until mid-February.

Shyn said: “I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to create this mural in London and to collaborate with the incredibly talented UK artist Cept. The mural’s distorted lines and shapes reflect the imperfection of creative expression which is at the heart of my work. This project is especially meaningful to me, as it allows me to share the evolving street art culture from Saudi Arabia on an international stage. To create something outside of my hometown and to contribute to the global dialogue of art is a dream come true.”

The project is part of a series of artistic collaborations between the Embassy and Saudi artists including with Rashed Al-Shashai, whose luminous hanging sculpture was installed in the Embassy garden last year, and Ahmed Mater’s first retrospective held at Christie’s last summer. Mater is exhibiting his iconic Magnetism installation, first shown in the UK at the British Museum in 2012, at the historic Islamic Biennale, which opened in Jeddah on Jan. 25.

Saudi Ambassador to the UK Khalid bin Bandar Al-Saud said: ”Saudi Arabia is changing, and the rise of dynamic street artists like San Shyn is a great example of this. That’s why I was keen to give her a platform in central London, where we are already showcasing Rashed Al-Shashai’s brilliant sculpture. Art is a bridge between cultures, and these works are an opportunity to demonstrate that Britain and Saudi Arabia have more in common than we might imagine.”

In this mural, the artist’s primary aim is to celebrate the street culture, capturing the essence of spontaneous, vibrant graffiti. With quick, bold strokes made using spray cans, the mural transforms ordinary walls into canvases of beauty, bringing life to the streets. Central to the artwork are figures that embody the very act of creating art, illustrating the raw energy and creativity that define this underground movement. The overall direction is inspired by the photos below, which are dynamic, colorful and unapologetically loud — just like street culture itself.

Stephen Stapleton, founder of Edge of Arabia, said: “This playful, joyful artwork in front of the Saudi Embassy in Mayfair reflects a new era of cross-cultural collaboration between the UK and Saudi Arabia. The language of art transcends the borders that divide us, and we need that language now more than ever.”