RIYADH — The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has launched the "game-changers" program for Saudi national cadres who are interested in creative and entertainment fields. The Game Changers Program includes an intensive training phase that will lead into an incubation phase or employment, in addition to various packages to support startups that go in line with the ministry’s strategy contributing to achieving Vision 2030. The program aims to attract leading institutes in the field of e-games to train and qualify national cadres academically and practically in the field of the e-games industry. One of the program’s objectives is to lead into startups which afterward will be incubated in a local business incubator, through which various support programs will be provided. Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Future Jobs and Digital Entrepreneurship Dr. Ahmed Altheneyan said that the program will empower innovative entrepreneurs to transform their ideas and games development projects into companies with commercial value, in addition to contributing to the growth of these entrepreneurial companies. The program will also work on establishing startups in the field of e-games development with high-growth potential in Saudi and global markets. He added that the program’s tracks are game design, game art & animation, and game programming, noting that the program is distinguished by providing academic and practical training, a diploma, in addition to the opportunity to establish a games studio. The program will also include grant funding of up to SR70,000 in the incubator phase or a job opportunity in one of the leading companies in the field. — SG