In a significant move to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial enterprise, Mansoura University has launched a major initiative to financially back startups and innovative projects emerging from its community. The announcement was made during the university’s “Entrepreneurial Transformation Day: From Research to Startups” event, signalling a strategic push to transform scientific output into viable, high-impact companies.
The event was attended by key figures including Dr. Hossam Osman, Deputy Minister of Higher Education for Scientific Research and Innovation, and Dr. Rasha Sharaf, Secretary-General of the Education Support Fund, alongside university leadership, industry experts, and students.
A Landmark Initiative for University Spinoffs
Dr. Sherif Khater, President of Mansoura University, unveiled a pioneering award package, described as the first of its kind among Egyptian universities, aimed directly at graduate-led startups. The university has allocated a total of EGP 1.2 million for the top three companies founded by its alumni.
The first-place winner will receive EGP 500,000, followed by EGP 400,000 for second place, and EGP 300,000 for third. The funding is designed to empower research-based ventures to scale into competitive economic entities, aligning with national directives to support youth-led innovation.
Fostering Innovation at the Grassroots Level
To cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset from the ground up, the university also announced a separate EGP 600,000 prize pool for the best applicable student projects. The awards are tiered at EGP 300,000 for first place, EGP 200,000 for second, and EGP 100,000 for third, incentivizing students to develop practical and sustainable solutions.
To further bolster its innovation ecosystem, the university appointed Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Khalek as the President’s Advisor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, a role created to streamline the process of converting ideas into market-ready products.
Aligning with a National Vision
Dr. Hossam Osman emphasized that this initiative reflects a broader national strategy for sustainable innovation aimed at linking scientific research directly with the knowledge economy. He highlighted the presidential “Alliance and Development” initiative as a framework for driving regional development through applied projects tailored to local needs.
This sentiment was echoed by university leaders, who noted Mansoura University’s leading position in innovation and industry metrics in the Times 2025 rankings. Several alumni have already successfully transitioned from research concepts to founding global companies in critical sectors like climate tech, artificial intelligence, and sustainable manufacturing.
Egypt’s Growing Tech Talent Pool
Providing wider context on the nation’s talent development, Dr. Rasha Sharaf showcased the Education Support Fund’s role in building a knowledge-based economy. She revealed that Egypt has achieved a remarkable global milestone, now ranking second worldwide, after India, in technology training. This was accomplished by training over 130,000 individuals in just two months, with new grants supporting a number of students from Mansoura University.
About Mansoura University
Founded in 1972, Mansoura University is one of Egypt’s largest and most prominent public universities, located in the city of Mansoura in the Nile Delta. It is recognized for its strong focus on research, scientific excellence, and its contributions to various fields, including medicine, engineering, and technology. The university is committed to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship to drive economic and social development in the region.
Source: Al Bawaba News
