Mansoura University has officially launched the Mansoura University Award for Entrepreneurship and Startup Creation, a first-of-its-kind integrated university prize in Egypt. The initiative, approved by the university’s council, aims to bridge the gap between academic research and the market by supporting entrepreneurial ideas and research outcomes with the potential to become sustainable, high-impact startups.
With a total prize pool of EGP 1.8 million, the award represents a significant step in the university’s strategy to embody the “Entrepreneurial University” model, directly contributing to Egypt’s national innovation ecosystem and Vision 2030.
A Strategic Move Towards An Entrepreneurial University
The award is a cornerstone of Mansoura University’s strategic pivot towards fostering a culture of innovation and practical application. It aligns with the national strategy for higher education, which emphasizes the role of universities in driving economic development by linking education with market needs.
Dr. Sherif Khater, President of Mansoura University, stated that the launch confirms the university’s pioneering role in the Egyptian higher education landscape. “This award reflects the university’s commitment to presenting a unique model for supporting innovation and transforming knowledge into economic and societal value,” he said. He added that the initiative is a direct implementation of state directives to enhance the role of universities in supporting applied scientific research and stimulating entrepreneurship.
Dual Tracks For Students And Researchers
The award is structured into two main tracks, featuring unprecedented prize money at the university level to incentivize both early-stage ideas and advanced research.
The student track has a total prize pool of EGP 600,000, dedicated to supporting student ideas and early-stage projects. The research track, aimed at faculty members and researchers, offers a substantial EGP 1.2 million prize pool to facilitate the transformation of research outcomes, patents, and prototypes into commercial applications and viable startups.
Fostering A Sustainable Innovation Pipeline
The university has established a comprehensive framework to ensure the award’s success and long-term impact. The program aims to create a clear and sustainable pathway for students and researchers to transition from idea to market.
Dr. Tarek Ghalwash, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research, noted that the award is an effective mechanism for maximizing the return on scientific research. “Supporting the research track opens new horizons for technology transfer and converting scientific innovations into scalable and sustainable economic projects,” he explained.
To ensure professional execution, the award will be implemented in collaboration with specialized institutions in entrepreneurship training and evaluation. Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Khalek, Advisor to the University President for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, confirmed that this partnership will guarantee participants are trained to professional standards and that projects are evaluated on a balanced mix of innovation and market viability.
About The Mansoura University Entrepreneurship Award
Launched under the slogan, “From Mansoura University… Your Startup Story Begins,” the award is the first integrated, university-led prize in Egypt designed to systematically convert academic ideas and research into scalable startups. It features two distinct tracks—one for students and one for faculty and researchers—with a combined prize pool of EGP 1.8 million. The initiative aims to solidify Mansoura University’s position as a leading research institution that actively supports the creation of startups with sustainable economic and social impact.
Source: vetogate
