Aramco Ventures, the venture capital arm of Aramco, has announced plans to open a new office in Paris in 2026. The move reflects Aramco’s expanding commitment to global innovation and its ongoing investment in next-generation technologies that support long-term diversification and energy transformation.
With more than $7 billion in allocated capital, Aramco Ventures plays a central role in sourcing and investing in breakthrough technologies and high-growth start-ups across multiple sectors. The Paris office will act as a strategic gateway to France and Europe’s dynamic innovation landscape, renowned for its strengths in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, industrial digitalisation and quantum computing.
Paris: A Strategic Hub for Technology Leadership
France has rapidly risen as one of the EU’s leading centres for AI, digital and quantum technology, supported by strong government initiatives and a maturing ecosystem of scale-ups, research institutions and investors. National programmes such as the National Quantum Strategy and significant public investment in AI have established France as a preferred destination for global technology expansion.
This innovation landscape is reinforced by world-class institutions such as Paris-Saclay University — Europe’s top-ranked university for mathematics, physics and engineering — and major innovation hubs including Station F, the world’s largest start-up campus.
Ahmad O. Al Khowaiter, Aramco Executive Vice President of Technology & Innovation and Chairman of Aramco Ventures, said: “Aramco is harnessing advanced technologies that have potential to solve some of the world’s toughest problems. Aramco Ventures, our global venture capital program, plays an important role in this by funding start-ups and high-growth companies at the forefront of innovation, in areas from sustainability to industrial AI. This supports Aramco’s diversification and adds to its competitive edge. Through the new office in Paris, Aramco Ventures will extend its international footprint with a view to contributing further to exciting scientific and technology advances in France, one of the top three venture capital markets in Europe, as well as the broader European region.”
Building on Existing French Innovation Partnerships
Aramco already has a strong connection to France’s research ecosystem through its Paris-based fuel research centre, focused on energy, transport and environmental innovation. Aramco Ventures has also backed two French technology start-ups: Pasqal, a quantum computing company, and Prophesee, the neuromorphic vision technology specialist developing advanced event-based imaging systems.
With the establishment of the new Paris office, Aramco Ventures plans to deepen engagement with founders, researchers and investors in France, supporting the scale-up of emerging technologies across AI, quantum, deeptech and sustainability.
