NBK concludes Its Participation in the Innovation Challenge Program

13/02/2026 07:46 AST

The National Bank of Kuwait concluded its participation in the Innovation Challenge Program, organized by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, for the tenth consecutive year, in collaboration with Imperial College London. This comes as part of the Bank's commitment to promoting a culture of innovation and developing its young leaders, which supports the institutional transformation and sustainable development process, and contributes to pushing Kuwait's economy towards a knowledge-based model.

The program, which is one of the most prominent and leading initiatives in building innovation skills in the private sector, provided a comprehensive educational experience that lasted for four months, during which participants learned about the latest innovation approaches to apply when facing real challenges related to their companies, enabling them to lead change and launch new solutions in the areas of products, services and operational processes.

The program was inaugurated in Kuwait before moving to the Imperial College London Campus in South Kensington, where the participants had the opportunity to work alongside a select group of academics and global experts to address corporate challenges chosen according to each company's priorities, with the aim of creating added value and achieving sustainable growth and profitability.

The participants' educational journey consisted of intensive training that focused on practical application based on design thinking, understanding customer needs, developing innovative and feasible solutions, and ultimately presenting the projects to company boards of directors at the end of the program, which tangibly shows learning outcomes and opens the way for transforming ideas into real institutional initiatives.

During the program, the NBK team tackled a challenge that is part of the Bank's operational and digital priorities. Team members analyzed the problem, scrutinized it, and developed innovative proposals aimed at enhancing efficiency and increasing customer value. The project was also discussed with Salah Al-Fulaij, NBK-Kuwait CEO, alongside other leaders and officials that also evaluated the presented models.

Moreover, NBK's team benefited from the academic mentorship provided by Imperial College experts throughout the program, which focused on translating theoretical ideas into practical, impactful solutions and equipping the participants with the necessary tools to measure the impact of innovation and evaluate the feasibility of new initiatives. This experience gave the team the advanced skills of building effective teams that can lead to change, incorporate innovative thinking into the institution's strategy, and turn operational challenges into real opportunities for development.

The Innovation Challenge program represents a significant platform for transferring knowledge to work environments within participating companies, as it contributes to establishing a culture of innovation and spreading its tools across different departments, which enhances the efficiency of institutions and their ability to develop products, services and operational processes that keep pace with the rapid developments in global markets.

On this occasion, Maryam Al-Nasrallah, AVP - Talent Management, Group Human Resources at National Bank of Kuwait, commented: "We are pleased to participate in this program, which embodies our strong commitment to developing human capital and investing in future leaders, as we always believe that establishing a culture of innovation is a fundamental pillar in our strategy to enhance competitiveness and support the digital transformation journey within the bank. This participation accentuates the importance of initiatives that combine academic education with practical application, given their significant impact on preparing leaders capable of keeping pace with market changes and meeting customer needs in modern and innovative ways".

Al-Nasrallah added: "We are keen to work with state institutions and strategic partners to make a positive impact on society and establish a motivational environment for the new generation, providing them with real opportunities to acquire knowledge, develop their skills, and build their future capabilities". Al-Nasrallah also emphasized that NBK will continue its commitment to supporting programs and initiatives aimed at developing national competencies, especially as Kuwait's youth has remarkable potential that needs proper guidance to invest in supporting the path of sustainable development and enhancing the country's position on the map of innovation and knowledge.

Finally, she praised the pivotal role of KFAS in promoting investment in technology and innovation by learning from global experiences and benefiting from the best professional and academic expertise around the world. NBK continues to support programs that aim to develop its employees' skills and prepare them to lead, as it strongly believes that investing in innovation, developing national competencies, and maintaining the Bank's local and regional leadership in the banking sector are the most important pillars of its success.

Kuwait Times