Johnson Controls Arabia and Jeddah University Conclude Inaugural Industrial Hackathon
Johnson Controls Arabia concluded its first "Industrial University Projects Hackathon" and showcased the outcomes of its "Ghadi" training program during a ceremony at the Rixos Hotel in King Abdullah Economic City on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Developed in partnership with the University of Jeddah, the initiatives aim to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world industrial needs, aligning closely with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Strategy.
Hackathon and Innovation Highlights
Student Participation: Approximately 50 engineering students from the University of Jeddah competed in the inaugural edition.
Project Development: Participants engineered 18 innovative solutions across two primary tracks: Mechanical Engineering and Industrial & Systems Engineering.
Real-World Application: Projects were designed to address actual operational challenges and development opportunities within the YORK Industrial Complex.
Future Expansions: A second edition of the hackathon was officially announced during the event. Furthermore, the YORK Industrial Complex expects to host over 10,000 student visits by October 2026 to expose youth to practical manufacturing environments.
'Ghadi' Training Program Impact
The "Ghadi" (meaning "My Tomorrow") program is Johnson Controls Arabia's flagship initiative for equipping students and recent graduates with hands-on professional skills to ensure labor market readiness.
MetricAchievement / Target
Total BeneficiariesOver 350 Saudi youths from 26 educational institutions
2026 Cohort185+ trainees (targeting 300 by year-end)
Full-Time ConversionsOver 60 graduates hired out of 250+ successful completions
Field Specialization63% of trainees are in engineering and technical disciplines
2030 Vision TargetEmpowering more than 1,500 total trainees
The program’s specialized tracks to date have included over 100 cooperative training opportunities, 45 summer training slots, and 39 participants in the "Tamheer" program, with an average training duration of four months.