Telecom Egypt, in partnership with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority’s (NTRA) EG-CERT, celebrated the latest achievements of its WE INNOVATE initiative. The initiative honoured the winners of the National Cybersecurity Competition, sponsored by the National Bank of Egypt (NBE), during a graduation and awards ceremony at the Cairo ICT 2025 conference.
A Strategic Tri-Sector Collaboration
The WE INNOVATE initiative stands as a leading model of cooperation between Egypt’s telecommunications, regulatory, and banking sectors to bolster a secure digital economy. This partnership aims to empower young talent and entrepreneurs in the critical fields of innovation and cybersecurity.
At the ceremony, the National Bank of Egypt announced it would provide EGP 1.2 million in prize money to support the first-place winners. This contribution underscores NBE’s role as a strategic partner and a key supporter of Egypt’s cybersecurity innovation ecosystem. The event was attended by senior leadership from Telecom Egypt, NTRA, and NBE, alongside prominent figures from the technology and entrepreneurship community.
Fostering a National Cybersecurity Ecosystem
Eng. Tamer El Mahdi, Managing Director and CEO of Telecom Egypt, highlighted the initiative’s evolution into a comprehensive national system that supports Egypt’s cybersecurity strategy and enhances national readiness.
“WE INNOVATE is no longer just an initiative; it has become an integrated national system,” said Eng. El Mahdi. “Since its launch, it has successfully trained more than five thousand young men and women, graduated over a thousand specialists, and launched more than twenty startups that have provided local solutions, reducing reliance on imported licenses and strengthening our national capabilities.”
Global Exposure for Local Talent
The initiative also announced that several distinguished teams have been selected to represent Egypt at Black Hat 2025, one of the world’s foremost cybersecurity conferences. Under the sponsorship of WE INNOVATE, these teams will gain invaluable international exposure and opportunities for professional growth.
Eng. Walaa Salah El-Din, Advisor to the CEO for Innovation and Cybersecurity at Telecom Egypt, extended her gratitude to the strategic partners, EG-CERT and the National Bank of Egypt, as well as the implementation partner, Entlaq, emphasizing that such collaboration is “the true model for a secure and sustainable digital industry.”
About WE INNOVATE
WE INNOVATE is a national initiative launched by Telecom Egypt and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) through EG-CERT. It is designed to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in cybersecurity by training young talent, supporting emerging startups, and fostering collaboration between key industry sectors. The initiative is supported by strategic partners like the National Bank of Egypt and execution partners such as Entlaq.
Source: Safqa News
