ICT Minister Attends DSC MENA 2024 at EUI

The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat has attended the first Data Science Conference (DSC MENA 2024) at Egypt University of Informatics (EUI) in Knowledge City, New Administrative Capital. DSC MENA is a premier global event where 800+ experts gather to explore the latest developments in data science and AI.  
 
The conference delved into cutting-edge themes such as generative AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP) and text analytics, computer vision and machine vision, deep learning, innovation with data, AI and ML, data engineering, data in cloud, AI in medicine, data and AI product development, requirement engineering, open data and using data for the public good, augmented analytics in marketing, and from fundamentals to frontiers.
 
The event, held on April 18-20, was organized by Ntervento, in collaboration with EUI and the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) as strategic partners. Additional partners included Cyshield and Huawei. DSC MENA commenced with two days of online training and tutorials, followed by the conference day hosted at EUI campus.
 
In his address, the ICT Minister underscored Egypt's extensive wealth of data resulting from decades of operating digitization systems nationwide. He highlighted the challenge of effectively managing this data, encompassing crucial concepts such as data privacy protection and organized data exchange. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of leveraging this data to generate insights, increase data volume, and utilize it for forecasting and decision-making.
 
Talaat highlighted the Ministry’s collaboration with relevant authorities in implementing the first phase of the National AI Strategy. He also mentioned the establishment of the Applied Innovation Center (AIC), aimed at developing AI-powered solutions across various sectors such as healthcare and agriculture. Additionally, he revealed Egypt's significant advancement, moving up more than 50 spots on global AI indices.
 
Moreover, the ICT Minister outlined that the second phase of the National AI Strategy will prioritize the significance of data science and its management, alongside AI. It aims to expand the pool of talents and experts in these fields and initiate courses to enhance awareness and provide training to citizens. He emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts within an information society to align with the global momentum surrounding the utilization of AI technologies across all sectors. Additionally, he underscored the need to address the risks associated with AI, particularly with the emergence of generative AI, while also addressing concerns about these technologies potentially replacing human jobs.
 
Talaat highlighted that the conference marks the beginning of a series of international events and scientific dialogues scheduled to take place in the Knowledge City of the New Administrative Capital. These events will cover various ICT topics, facilitating further discussion and collaboration in the field.
 
For her part, President of EUI Reem Bahgat affirmed that DSC aimed to consolidate efforts in presenting a top-tier event for the entire MENA region and the global AI community. This initiative aligns with the growing demand for extracting valuable insights from data and utilizing them in production processes. Consequently, companies are compelled to invest in the development of enhanced intelligent systems that operate with heightened efficiency and flexibility. These systems provide solutions and address inquiries regarding the utilization of technology's potential to construct a more equitable society.  
 
Bahgat emphasized the university's strong commitment to hosting conferences of this nature, which bring together researchers and specialized professionals. Such gatherings contribute significantly to maximizing the sustainable development observed in the new republic.
 
The founder and Managing Director of the Data Science Conference Aleksandar Linc-Djordjevic expressed his delight at the tremendous success of DSC MENA. Having been held in various European countries over the past years, he emphasized that the conference will now extend its activities regularly in Egypt. This expansion is made possible through fruitful cooperation with MCIT, EUI, and industry partners, reflecting the promising opportunities observed in this vital sector within Egypt.
 
Co-Founder and CEO at Ntervento Walid Saad underscored the significance of the event in bolstering the development of the technology sector in the region while fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. He emphasized that DSC MENA provides an exceptional opportunity to cultivate a robust network of relationships with an esteemed group of experts and professionals in the field of data and AI from across the globe.
 
Saad highlighted Egypt's hosting of the first edition of DSC MENA as a pivotal step, elevating Egypt's ambition within the IT industry and reflecting its aspirations to lead the data and AI revolution in the region. He noted that the conference served as an exceptional platform for exchanging knowledge and experiences, as well as expanding business networks and cooperation.
 
It is worth mentioning that EUI stands as one of the pioneering specialized universities in the Middle East and Africa, particularly in ICT and related sciences. Established by MCIT in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, EUI aims to emerge as a leading academic institution offering specialized educational programs tailored to fulfill the evolving demands of the labor market in cutting-edge ICT fields.  
 
The university comprises four faculties: Computing and Information Sciences, Engineering, Business Informatics, and Digital Arts and Design. It offers a total of 16 specialized educational programs designed to address the labor market's needs in the latest ICT domains such as AI, data science, data engineering, electronics and communications engineering, mechatronics, business analytics, digital marketing, animation, UX, and electronic game design.
 
The ICT Minister toured the exhibition held on the sidelines of the conference, where companies showcased the latest products and services in AI and data science.
 
DSC MENA was attended by the Director of the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) Ahmed Khattab, the Chairman of the National Academy of Information Technology for Persons with Disabilities (NAID) AbdEl-Monem El-Sharkawy, the Acting Chairman of the Software Engineering Competence Center (SECC) Haitham Hamza, the Head of Business Development at EUI Amany Eissa, senior officials from MCIT, and data science and AI experts.