The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat has attended the closing ceremony of the third round of AI Empower Egypt for building universities’ capacities in artificial intelligence, at Creativa Innovation Hub in Giza.
The program was launched by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) in cooperation with Dell Technologies to strengthen knowledge, build capabilities, and support innovation in AI.
In its third round, the initiative provided specialized training in AI to 676 students from eight public, national, and private universities: Cairo University, Ain Shams University, the American University in Cairo (AUC), the German University in Cairo (GUC), the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology, Assiut University, and Mansoura University.
Participants developed 70 tech-enabled projects addressing five vital sectors: smart agriculture, smart traffic, smart government, digital healthcare, and smart economy.
A special AI hackathon on smart solutions for the tourism sector was also held, engaging 63 students forming 13 teams from the eight participating universities.
In his remarks, the ICT Minister stated that incorporating an AI hackathon into the initiative reflects the values MCIT seeks to instill in the ICT sector, particularly among youth—namely diligence, innovative thinking, and meaningful competition. He noted that the hackathon’s focus on developing AI-powered solutions for tourism supports Egypt’s competitive edge in this sector and highlights the transformative impact of AI and emerging technologies across all areas of national development. He added that the ICT sector now serves as a key driver of socio-economic progress.
Talaat also highlighted the launch of Digitopia, the largest hackathon in the ICT sector, with a total prize pool of EGP 10 million and a grand prize of EGP 1 million. The hackathon targets youth aged 9 to 35 across several technology tracks, including AI, cybersecurity, and digital arts, and aims to inspire innovative tech-based solutions to societal challenges.
The ICT Minister emphasized that all participants of the AI Empower Egypt hackathon are winners, having gained new knowledge, hands-on experience, and valuable peer connections that help strengthen their capabilities and practical expertise.
From the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Assistant Minister for Smart Governance Sherif Kishk highlighted that last year alone, around 115,000 students enrolled in 92 faculties of computer science and AI. He noted that the number of such faculties is expected to exceed 100 this year, reaffirming the importance of initiatives like this in supporting students in a field that has become integral to daily life.
Senior Vice President for Central Eastern Europe, Middle East, Turkey and Africa (CEEMETA) at Dell Technologies Mohammed Amin stated that the company had recognized early on the significance of digital transformation and the rapid evolution of AI. For that reason, Dell invests around USD 8 billion annually in research and development, with about 70% of that dedicated to AI technologies.
Amin noted that the company’s motto is “We create technology that drives human progress.” He pointed to studies suggesting that by 2030, the digital economy would make up one-third of the global economy, further emphasizing the growing importance of the tech industry and outsourcing services.
During the ceremony, the ICT Minister honored the three winning teams of the hackathon. The Myocardium Laviosa team from Cairo University won first place, followed by AI Sparks from GUC in second, and Edutopia from Ain Shams University in third.
AI Empower Egypt is part of a cooperation agreement between MCIT and Dell Technologies to equip the most creative university students in AI with the necessary technical and practical skills to meet labor market demands and enrich the ICT sector with qualified talent. The initiative supports collaboration among the public sector, academia, and industry.
Since its launch, the program has built the capacities of 1,620 students in AI, resulting in the development of 300 AI-based projects.
Attending the closing event were Vice ICT Minister for Institutional Development Ghada Labib; Manager of Dell Technologies’ Center of Excellence Sameh Mahboub; President of AASTMT Ismail Abdel Ghafar; CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) Ahmed Elzaher; Advisor to the ICT Minister for Technology Talents Development Hoda Baraka; Head of the Applied Innovation Center (AIC) Ahmed Tantawy; Director of the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) Ahmed Khattab; Chairman of the National Academy of Information Technology for Persons with Disabilities (NAID) AbdEl-Monem El-Sharkawy; President of AUC Ahmad S. Dallal; and Director of Information Systems and Digital Transformation at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Ehab Abdel Hamid.
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