Burgan Bank Inaugurates its Innovation Lab

Burgan Bank recently launched the Burgan Innovation Lab, which focuses on nurturing talents and promoting innovation amid the acceleration of the Bank’s digital transformation. The Innovation Lab aims at motivating the Bank’s employees to think up creative solutions to challenges, and to enhance further the Bank’s services, products, and operational frameworks.

Burgan Innovation Lab is a developmental project aligned with the Bank’s human capital development and training programs. It supports Burgan’s Strategic Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments and its digital transformation plans. The project also reflects the Bank’s core corporate culture values of innovation, excellence, continuous progress and talent empowerment, considered as major pillars of sustainability and leadership. 

The Lab was launched in two phases. The first included the revealing of the Lab premises consisting of a well-equipped modern space designed to foster employees’ creativity and innovation. The second phase involved the launch of the Lab’s digital platform on the Bank’s Learning and Talent Development portal. This platform enables all employees to easily and directly submit their innovative ideas and solutions and discuss the latest trends in the market.

The inauguration ceremony featured the participation of the Bank’s senior management, with an opening speech delivered by Mrs. Ghada El-Kadi, Unit Head- Learning and Talent Development at Burgan Bank, who addressed the project’s goals and strategic vision. The ceremony also hosted Mr. Ali Al Zankawi, the founder and CEO of Yahaal application, who presented Yahaal’s success story and his own experience in entrepreneurship and innovation through a discussion of the challenges he and his team faced and the innovative solutions they came up with. 

Mrs. Halah El Sherbini, Group Chief Human Resources and Development Officer at Burgan Bank commented saying “This lab is one of the Bank’s most impressive and impactful projects because it supports our employees’ potential and talent and encourages them to share their original and creative ideas in response to our Burgan transformation and latest strategic objectives. We strategically invest in developing our human capital by providing the necessary infrastructure and operational environment that help turn ideas into viable solutions.” 

She further added “This project builds on the vast knowledge base and strong industry know-how that Burgan employees have. As the Bank’s most important asset and the key drivers of success, they are the ones best suited to boost innovation and development from within. The Lab also supports our corporate culture’s main objective of strengthening the employees’ connection and loyalty to the Bank and improving synergy and collaboration within the teams. Burgan’s HRD is keen to support the platform’s needs in infrastructure to facilitate a seamless experience where innovation is encouraged and fostered. We are looking forward to celebrating our employees’ ingenuity and further growth of Burgan through them.”

During the ceremony, Mr Al Zankawi said “I thank Burgan Bank for supporting talents and highlighting the importance of innovation in an increasingly digitalized world. I commend their contribution to promoting initiative and innovation through the Innovation Lab program. 

 “The Lab’s importance lies in the role it plays in refining skills and creating an attractive environment that encourages innovation through workshops and lectures focused on creative thinking and innovative solutions generation based on practical case studies and an in-depth analysis of challenges” added Al Zankawi. 

The innovative ideas that will be submitted on the digital portal will be reviewed by the Lab’s specialized committee and given the necessary support for their implementation. Burgan Bank reaffirms through this project its commitment to empowering its employees and advancing innovation in support of its vision of sustainable development and meaningful growth.