Prime Minister Madbouly Spotlights AI and Digital Success Stories at Cairo ICT

On the sidelines of the Cairo ICT Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with a group of graduates from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) initiatives, as well as several founders of emerging startups. During the meeting he listened to their success stories and discussed how they had benefited from the ministry’s programs. This took place during his tour in Cairo ICT, Which was held under the patronage of MCIT, held this year under the theme “AI Everywhere.”

During the tour, one graduate of the ITIDA Gigs scholarship shared his experience with the Prime Minister, describing the program as a turning point in his career after graduating from the Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences, Class of 2025. The initiative enabled him to complete paid tasks on freelance platforms and provided him with practical exposure that strengthened his technical skills. He continued working in the same field after completing the training, and within a short period, he succeeded in earning more than USD 1,000 through digital projects demonstrating how the initiative empowers young talent to become globally competitive professionals.

Founders of a Health tech startup also presented their success story following their participation in the Creativa Innovation Hub in Benha. They explained that the hub played a central role in supporting their growth and helping them enhance their digital solutions. Their efforts culminated in securing a total investment of USD 310,000, including seed capital, support from the incubation program, and an external investment of USD 87,000 from a Saudi investment group.

In the same context, the founder of an Egyptian startup specializing in cybersecurity and deepfake audio detection technologies described his company’s journey after receiving support from the Creativa Innovation Hub at the Sultan Hussein Kamel Palace. The support included office space, participation in the Smart Cities program, and a direct investment round from “Plug and Play,” the global operator of the hub.

Prime Minister Madbouly also listened to the experience of a graduate from Egypt University of Informatics (EUI), who earned a dual degree with distinction from both EUI and the University of Minnesota. He currently works as an AI engineer at a major regional company operating in Egypt. Another outstanding example featured a student from EUI’s Faculty of Engineering, who completed her fourth year at Purdue University in the United States, ranked first in her department, and was included on the Dean’s List for Academic Excellence. Owing to her strong academic performance, she served as a teaching assistant at Purdue and is now completing her final year at EUI while interning with a global Swiss company specializing in electronics design and manufacturing.

The Prime Minister also heard from a graduate of the Tech Law training program offered by the Information Technology Institute (ITI). The program aims to prepare a new generation of judges and lawyers capable of leading digital transformation and digital justice. The graduate highlighted how the program enabled her and her peers to combine law and technology and receive in-depth training in intellectual property, cybercrime, AI tools, technology contracts, blockchain regulation, and cryptocurrencies. She also praised the launch of the program’s e-learning version on the “Mahara-Tech” platform, which widens access for law graduates nationwide.

Several inspiring examples were also presented from graduates of the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) programs. These graduates benefited from a comprehensive training model that combines hands-on practice, internationally recognized examinations, and technical mentorship—enabling them to join the job market locally and regionally and to compete in major international competitions. Among them was a trainee who obtained global certifications from leading cybersecurity companies, which later qualified him to join a major regional firm.

One of the success stories showcased included a trainee from the Summer Training Program 2025, a fourth-year student specializing in machine learning, who earned an NVIDIA certification that helped him secure a job at an AI-focused company. Another example highlighted the experience of a female winner in the Afro-Asian Competition 2025 held in Malaysia.

The Prime Minister also received a presentation from a member of the judging panel of the DIGITOPIA Competition, which is evaluated by experts and specialists from MCIT, academia, international organizations, and technology companies. The competition attracted more than 4,660 ideas submitted by participants across four age groups—from fourth grade to 35 years old—across three tracks: software and AI, cybersecurity, and digital arts and gaming. The judge explained the evaluation criteria for the idea submission and prototype development phases, as well as the number of teams advancing to the finals. A total of 72 teams involving more than 300 participants have qualified for the final round, with 36 winners to be announced, including three teams one in each track that will each receive a grand prize of EGP 1 million, along with major prizes for second and third place and additional awards for ranks four through six.
 
The tour also featured inspiring stories from graduates of the Digital Egypt Pioneers Initiative, including a young female participant in the Digital Egypt Cubs program who achieved top placements in international competitions and developed her own innovation project a smart bracelet integrating embedded systems and digital arts with an electronic medical profile. Another student, a fourth-grader enrolled in the Digital Egypt Buds program, spoke about the technological skills he gained, which enabled him to compete in multiple tech competitions.

The Prime Minister also heard the story of a graduate from the first cohort of the Digital Egypt Youth Initiative, who explained how the program transformed his career path and enabled him to develop his technical skills, becoming a technical trainer for the second and third cohorts. He went on to co-found a startup based in Sohag that offers programming diplomas, children’s coding programs, and training in management and entrepreneurship aimed at expanding tech education and equipping Upper Egypt youth with future-ready skills.

Finally, a graduate of the WE Applied Technology Schools, now a startup founder, shared how the hands-on training and technical exposure he received at the school enabled him to launch his own IT solutions and cybersecurity company. He presented some of the projects his company has delivered, including a mobile app for a Saudi pharmaceutical company and a website for a Kuwaiti construction materials business.

Source: Press Release