Pact to accelerate Oman's startup ecosystem

An Omani innovation hub backed by the Oman Investment Authority’s (OIA) Future Fund Oman has signed a strategic partnership with the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) to connect local startups to a global innovation network. Terminal 11’s inclusion in the CIC Global Network follows a Master Services Agreement signed in December 2025 and an initial four-month advisory phase during which CIC supported the hub’s design, operating model and community-building strategy.

"Joining the CIC Global Network gives our startups, entrepreneurs and partners direct access to one of the world’s most advanced innovation communities while enabling us to adopt international best practices and create programmes that connect local innovation with global opportunities," said Abdullah Al Badi, Managing Director and Founder of Terminal 11.

The partnership will make Terminal 11 part of CIC’s international ecosystem, linking Oman’s entrepreneurs, investors, multinational companies, universities and public institutions with peers across multiple countries. During the advisory phase, CIC provided guidance on programme development and long-term business planning. The next stage of the collaboration will concentrate on developing innovation programmes, strengthening international cooperation, sharing expertise and facilitating connections between Omani entrepreneurs and global networks.

What the agreement covers

• Master Services Agreement signed December 2025 and a subsequent four-month advisory phase.
• Design and operating model support from CIC, including community-building and programme guidance.
• Future focus on programme development, international cooperation, expertise sharing and market access for Omani startups.

Tim Rowe, Founder and Executive Chair of CIC, said the organisation sees potential in Oman’s innovation ecosystem and expressed intent to deepen connections: "the organisation sees significant potential in Oman’s innovation ecosystem and looks forward to strengthening its links with the global innovation community." CIC operates innovation campuses in Cambridge, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, Rotterdam, Warsaw, Berlin, Tokyo and Seoul, and maintains its headquarters in Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, adjacent to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Terminal 11 has positioned the partnership as a core element of its long-term strategy to expand international collaborations that give Omani technology companies greater access to global expertise, strategic partnerships, investment and overseas markets. By tapping into CIC’s campuses and networks, Terminal 11 aims to expose local founders to international best practices and to accelerate their ability to attract funding and scale abroad.

Officials involved say the move supports broader ambitions for Oman to build a more globally connected innovation ecosystem. In practical terms, startups in Terminal 11 should expect curated programmes, mentor and investor introductions, and opportunities to pilot or scale solutions through CIC’s multinational and academic partners.

Over the coming months the partnership will roll out targeted initiatives to operationalise those goals, with emphasis on programme delivery, community engagement and facilitating cross-border commercial ties that can translate into new funding and market opportunities for Omani entrepreneurs.