New York, United States of America; Baghdad, Iraq (June 3, 2026) — We Are Innovation is very happy to announce that its network keeps expanding. The organization has just reached partner #58 after securing a collaboration with Ideas Beyond Borders, a nonprofit focused on the Middle East and North Africa.
The main work of Ideas Beyond Borders consists of partnering with people across the MENA region to make vital, often banned information available in local languages, including content on topics such as critical thinking, civil rights, science, and pluralism. Its programs combine leading education and human rights initiatives to counter extremism and its violent outcomes, aiming to empower youth and encourage knowledge, learning, and skill development.
Having a partner committed to change in the MENA is extremely relevant for WAI. The region holds an unmatched potential driven by ambitious digital transformation agendas, strategic investment in emerging technologies and a rapidly growing startup ecosystem. Moreover, it has an unique capacity to become a global hub for sustainable, future-oriented solutions.
Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, the founder and president of Ideas Beyond Borders, shares his thoughts on partnering up with WAI, “Innovation is really just about giving people the room to breathe, create, and build a better future for themselves. We are so excited to team up with the We Are Innovation network to help bring that vision to life across the Middle East. By connecting our local community of changemakers with partners from all over the world, we are building a space where bold ideas can actually take root. We want every entrepreneur and creator in our region to feel supported, knowing they have a global family behind them as they turn their vision into reality.”
Federico N. Fernández, the CEO of We Are Innovation, is also looking forward to what this new collaboration can bring, “When I look at what Faisal and his team have built, I see the same conviction that drives our entire network: that entrepreneurs can find extraordinary solutions. Welcoming Ideas Beyond Borders as our 58th partner is a signal that the global community of innovators is turning its attention to a region whose time has come.”
This new partnership reinforces We Are Innovation’s growing global presence and its commitment to connecting organizations that champion freedom, entrepreneurship, technological advancement, and openness. Together, WAI and Ideas Beyond Borders aim to strengthen international cooperation and help unlock the immense innovative potential emerging from the Middle East and North Africa.
ENDS
ABOUT WE ARE INNOVATION
We Are Innovation is a dynamic network of individuals and institutions who deeply believe in innovation’s power to drive progress and solve the world’s most pressing problems. With over 50 think tanks, foundations, and NGOs based worldwide, We Are Innovation represents the diverse voices of a global civil society committed to advancing human creativity, adopting new technologies, and promoting innovative solutions. Through our collaborative approach and cutting-edge expertise, we are driving global transformative change. To learn more about our work, visit us at https://www.weareinnovation.global/.
ABOUT IDEAS BEYOND BORDERS
Ideas Beyond Borders is a nonprofit with Special Consultative Status to the United Nations. It is committed to upholding critical thinking, science, and civil rights in the greater Middle East region. It is a platinum-level rating with Candid (formerly Guidestar), demonstrating our commitment to transparency with our programs and donors. It is recognized on Charity Navigator, reflecting our dedication to financial accountability and operational excellence. Learn more at https://ideasbeyondborders.org/
