Egypt on Wednesday launched the STEM & AI Challenge 2025, a national competition aimed at empowering university students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and supporting their innovative projects in artificial intelligence. The initiative, organised by the Top 50 Women Forum in partnership with Nile University's Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness Centre (IECC), is part of the fourth Egyptian Women Summit, held under the theme STEM and Future Innovation Summit. The summit is backed by the Egyptian Cabinet, the National Council for Women (NCW), and the Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA). The Challenge attracted 160 project submissions from students across more than 28 universities, highlighting growing efforts to foster entrepreneurship and innovation in Egypt's higher education sector. Following a rigorous selection process, 30 projects advanced to intensive training workshops covering business-model development and pitching techniques. 15 teams then moved to the semi-final stage, showcasing their work on 8 December at Nile University, with the top six set to receive awards on 14 December. Winners will also receive mentoring and access to Nile University's entrepreneurship programmes. "STEM & AI Challenge 2025 represents a pivotal step within our 'Journey of Future Makers,' empowering youth and women to become creators of knowledge, innovation, and technological leadership," said Dina Abdel Fattah, founder of the Top 50 Women Forum. Essam Roshdy, acting president of Nile University, said the university is "honoured to host an initiative that aligns with our vision of empowering young talent and amplifying their role in innovation and entrepreneurship." Pakinam Kafafi, CEO of TAQA Arabia, added that supporting the Challenge reflects the company's commitment to "identifying and mentoring new talents who will play a key role in the future of the energy and advanced technology sectors." Suez Canal Bank, another sponsor, highlighted its focus on youth empowerment and bridging the gap between academic curricula and the labour market. "The Challenge opens new horizons for students to develop projects capable of transforming into real business models that serve the Egyptian economy," said Nour El-Zeny, the bank's head of financial inclusion. The event is the first of its kind to unite academia, civil society, and the private sector in a strategic partnership to advance STEM and AI innovation in Egypt. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Download
