02/03/2026 07:14 AST
National Bank of Kuwait has made remarkable progress in implementing the "NBKEbtakir" Intrapreneurship program, the first of its kind in Kuwait, which the Bank launched in collaboration with Plug and Play, the world's leading innovation platform.
This program aims to promote a culture of innovation within NBK by enabling employees to turn their creative ideas into solutions that contribute to improving customer experience and developing operational processes.
An innovative generation
Since the program was launched, NBK has selected 50 employees from various sectors of the Bank following a fierce competition in which hundreds of applicants took part. Ten multidisciplinary work teams were formed, each of which began an innovative research and development journey based on global approaches in design thinking, needs analysis, and hypothesis testing. This diversity has contributed to generating significant momentum within the program, as teams engaged with internal and external clients to identify real challenges and opportunities for which innovative solutions can be developed.
Moreover, the participants followed a series of steps that included intensive training, market discovery, understanding customer needs, and developing initial concepts for solutions. These stages resulted in in-depth insights that helped teams turn ideas into verifiable and scalable solution models, with a focus on commercial viability and the value of customer experience.
A presentation to the executive committee
The first stage of the program concluded with a Pitch Day, where participants presented their concepts to a management jury comprising leaders from NBK and Plug and Play where the ten teams presented their initial solution models following a continuous process of development and improvement. The presentations were characterized by a high level of creativity and earnestness, reflecting the ability of the Bank's employees to adopt innovative tools and approaches and apply them to real challenges within the Bank's services and products.
The DemoStage
After careful evaluation, the jury selected five teams to move on to the next stage of the program, the demo stage, which is a crucial step in transforming innovative ideas into digital solutions that can be implemented in the field.
In the next stage, the qualified teams will work on developing the functional requirements for the solutions, in addition to designing models using the latest digital design tools and adopting flexible work methodologies to ensure gradual development based on user feedback. This phase aims to reach advanced initial models that are tested in an actual operational environment within the bank.
"NBKEbtakir" is scheduled to conclude with a presentation day, where teams will showcase their final models before presenting them to NBK employees. The management will then evaluate scalable solutions for adoption within the Bank's operations, which should play a role in enhancing the impact of internal innovation and paving the way for the adoption of other innovative initiatives in the future.
Instilling the culture of innovation
On this occasion, Najla Al-Sager, Head of Talent Management and Learning at NBK, commented: "The NBKEbtakir program reflects the Bank's commitment to establishing a culture of innovation and leadership, which empowers its employees to be active partners in developing digital solutions and modernizing work patterns".
"Through our collaboration with the global innovation platform Plug and Play," Al-Sager added, "we strive to build a work environment that encourages experimenting and discovering new opportunities, allowing employees to participate in leading the digital transformation within the Bank".
She emphasized that the progress achieved in the "NBKEbtakir" is a milestone in the Bank's journey towards enhancing institutional innovation, and it reflects NBK's ability to invest in its employees and enable them to contribute to shaping the future of banking services, noting NBK's continuous commitment to developing its human resources and equipping them with the necessary skills and tools to lead innovation and hence reinforce the Bank's leadership in the banking sector both locally and regionally.
Additionally, NBK affirms its unwavering dedication to developing talent in the field of entrepreneurship and strengthening its leadership in the field of financial innovation. It also continues to invest in its employees through the development of a comprehensive strategy that integrates innovation, digital transformation and skills development, as they represent a fundamental pillar of its sustainable success. Furthermore, NBK's ongoing efforts to foster creativity and empower talent across all its departments and divisions reflect its commitment to building a future-ready institution capable of meeting evolving customer needs and contributing to the development of the financial system.
In line with its commitment to talent development, NBK continuously invests in comprehensive programs aimed at cultivating leadership, enhancing technical expertise, and instilling a culture of continuous learning. These initiatives include the NBK Academy, which provides new graduates with essential banking skills, and the NBK Tech Academy, which aims to enhance the digital and technological capabilities of young professionals. In addition to these programs, NBK also provides specialized training and leadership programs to help employees navigate with confidence in the constantly changing markets and contribute to achieving the Bank's long-term strategic goals.
Therefore, the "NBKEbtakir" program continues to build on this rich legacy by empowering employees, fostering a culture of innovation, and ensuring that every employee is an active partner in shaping the future of financial services locally and regionally.
Najla Al-Sager
We make sure to empower our employees, so they become active partners in shaping the future of banking services.
Our aim is to turn internal innovations into solutions that contribute to improving our customers' experiences.
The participating employees presented their creative ideas to the executive committee.
5 teams advance to the Prototyping stage where they scope and build MVPs, engage internal stakeholders and prepare to pitch their solutions at Demo Day for potential implementation within NBK.
Kuwait Times
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