Al-Azhar University held a hearing session with 25 academics and entrepreneurship experts as part of preparations for the Egypt 2026 Forum, where it will help manage the innovation and entrepreneurship track alongside Capital University.
The session brought together university leaders, faculty members and officials from innovation and entrepreneurship centres, with participation from Heba Medhat Zaki, director of the Egypt Entrepreneurship Center at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.
Discussions focused on strengthening university innovation ecosystems, expanding entrepreneurship culture and helping incubators and accelerators turn ideas into viable businesses. Participants also examined how to connect academic research with market needs in sectors including energy, water, food, healthcare, education and industry.
A third discussion covered startup formation, funding and growth, including the regulatory, administrative and financial challenges facing university spinouts. Students also took part in a separate hearing to share ideas on entrepreneurship and the use of the university’s technology incubators.
The five-hour session concluded with a set of priorities and recommendations to support the forum’s innovation and entrepreneurship track. According to the university, Al-Azhar was named the Best University in Entrepreneurship for 2025.
Source: Al Masry Al Youm
