PRESSR: Alba, Tamkeen and Brinc MENA shortlist three Bahraini SMEs for Open Innovation Program

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter on one site, is pleased to announce its progression to the accelerator phase of the Open Innovation Program — a strategic collaboration with the Bahrain’s Labour Fund (Tamkeen) and Brinc MENA - with the selection of three Bahraini startups and SMEs to join this phase following a comprehensive evaluation process. This milestone builds on Alba’s early involvement as the first company in Bahrain to join this initiative, reinforcing Alba’s commitment to fostering innovation and empowering local businesses to grow and succeed.

The selected SMEs will enter a six-month accelerator phase under the Open Innovation Program, during which, they will receive financial support, tailored mentoring and technical guidance from Alba and Brinc to co-develop proof-of-concept (POC) solutions leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as AI and IoT to address specific data integration and asset reliability challenges at Alba. UData was selected for the Data Management Challenge, and Dyanvate and Infiniteware for the Asset Reliability Challenge.

In the fifth month, each startup/SME will present its POCs to a Steering Committee, which will select one winner per challenge for pilot implementation within Alba’s operations. The shortlisted SMEs will work closely with Brinc MENA and Alba experts to refine and test their solutions, with potential for broader deployment across Alba’s operations.

On this occasion, Ali Al Baqali, CEO of Alba, stated: “Innovation underpins Alba’s operational excellence. Our collaboration with Tamkeen and Brinc MENA enables us to work with Bahraini startups and SMEs to build technology-driven solutions to operational challenges, while promoting entrepreneurship and long-term economic resilience.”

Yasin Aboudaoud, Chief Development Officer and MP at Brinc added: “The selection of these startups reflects the real value the Open Innovation Program offers. By matching Alba’s complex operational challenges with high-potential Bahraini SMEs, we are forging a path toward deeper collaboration and tangible economic impact.”

Brinc MENA, Tamkeen’s appointed innovation partner, led the end-to-end scouting and evaluation process, applying rigorous standards to ensure alignment with the program’s goals. Key benchmarks included Bahraini founder presence, proven technical competencies, innovation readiness and the ability to operate within the program’s governance structure and respond effectively to corporate challenges. The evaluation phase included interviews with shortlisted SMEs, conducted by a joint committee of representatives from Alba, Tamkeen and Brinc MENA. Startups presented their capabilities, founder backgrounds and proposed solutions, and the final evaluation was based on a structured scoring matrix, resulting in the selection of the top-performing companies for the accelerator phase.

Media Contacts

Alba

Eline Hilal

Director, Investor Relations and Insurance

eline.hilal@alba.com.bh

Media@alba.com.bh

Tamkeen

media@tamkeen.bh

​​​​​​Brinc MENA

May Marzooq

Senior Corporate Innovation Manager

may.marzooq@brinc.io

About Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)

[Ticker: ALBH]

A Global Aluminium Leader: At plus-1.62 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) (2024), Alba is a world-leading aluminium smelter with a proud 50-year legacy in operational excellence, safety, environmental responsibility, and community development.

Trusted Partner: A cornerstone of the Bahrain’s economy, Alba produces high-quality aluminium, including standard and value-added products, which are exported to over 280 customers globally. With sales’ offices in Europe (Zurich), Asia (Singapore), and a subsidiary in the U.S., Alba is a reliable partner on the world stage. Alba is dually listed on Bahrain Bourse and London Stock Exchange and its shareholders are Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company B.S.C. © (69.38%), Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma'aden) (20.62%) and General Public (10%). Alba prioritises the highest quality standards, reflected in its certifications: ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), ISO 27001 (information security), ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), and ISO 18788 (security operations management). Additionally, Alba demonstrates its commitment to responsible manufacturing through certifications like IATF 16949 (automotive quality), ISO 22301 (business continuity management), ASI Performance and Chain of Custody Standards, and a top 1% Platinum sustainability rating from EcoVadis.

Pioneering Sustainability: As the first aluminium smelter in the Middle East, Alba is central to Bahrain's thriving downstream aluminium sector, contributing significantly to the Kingdom's GDP. Committed to social responsibility, Alba employs a workforce that is 87% Bahrainis (2024) and invests heavily in employee training and development. Alba also plays a crucial role in the Aluminium Downstream Park, therefore increasing the contribution of non-oil sectors to the GDP of Bahrain. Alba has been recognised for its initiatives to produce Aluminium responsibly through awards such as Top ESG performer in Bahrain by ESG Invest, Safeguard Label from Bureau Veritas and Best Corporate Governance Award by Ethical Boardroom.

Recognised for its environmental practices, social contributions, and corporate governance, Alba launched a comprehensive ESG Roadmap in 2022 focusing on 6 priority areas: (1) Decarbonisation, (2) Green Energy & Aluminium, (3) Circular Economy & Secondary Aluminium, (4) Employee Welfare, (5) Collaboration & Partnership and (6) Transparency, Communications & Due Diligence. Since its inception, Alba has invested into numerous environment, sustainable and socio-economic development projects that have had a positive impact on the society. Alba’s first-of-its-kind US$37.5 million zero-waste Spent Pot Lining Treatment Plant, Power Station 5 Block 4 Project, and the upcoming +6 MW Solar Farm Project are tangible initiatives aligned with Bahrain’s Net Zero Carbon Targets by 2060 led by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain. Specifically, Alba's PS5 Block 4 is a new 680.9-megawatt (MW) combined-cycle power plant that expands the existing PS5 facility. Block 4 has increased the nameplate capacity of PS5 Complex from 1,800 MW to 2,481 MW and is reducing the Company’s overall GHG emissions intensity ratio by 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per 1 tonne of aluminium produced.

In a significant step towards its ESG goals, particularly its commitment to a circular economy and secondary aluminium, Alba introduced EternAlTM, its new line of low-carbon aluminium products. Launched in May 2024, EternAl offers two product series with multiple variations to meet diverse customer needs: one featuring recycled content, and the other integrating verified in-house carbon offsets.

Safety First, Always: Guided by the motto "Safety First, Safety Always," Alba prioritises the well-being of its employees and contractors. The Company achieved a record-breaking 40 million safe working hours without a lost-time injury in October 2025. The Company has been recognised internationally for its excellent Safety and Health track record with awards such as the RoSPA’s Lifetime President and President Awards (10+ Gold Medal Awards), the British Safety Council’s International Safety Award with Merit along with 4-Star Audit Rating, as well as numerous awards from the National Safety Council (NSC).

Alba Stakeholder Engagement Plan

Alba prioritises open communication with all its stakeholders, including the community, environmental and social groups. Through its Stakeholder Engagement Plan, the Company proactively addresses environmental and social impacts of its operations, outlining clear mitigation controls. Alba also maintains an external Grievance Mechanism accessible through the Code of Conduct, allowing stakeholders and the public to voice concerns and raise issues.

Alba’s External Grievance Mechanism

Alba prioritises ethical conduct and environmental responsibility. Stakeholders, employees, contractors, and the community can confidentially report any potential breaches of Alba's Code of Conduct or raise concerns about environmental and social impacts through the Alba Integrity Line. This independent, multilingual hotline operates 24/7 and is accessible via a toll-free phone number, the company intranet, or the website at www.albasmelter.com.

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