Telecom Egypt, the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) have launched a new Cybersecurity Innovation Lab at the AASTMT Smart Village campus, reinforcing Egypt’s efforts to advance digital innovation, cybersecurity and technology entrepreneurship.
The facility was established under Telecom Egypt’s WE Innovate Star programme, which supports innovators from the early stages of research through product development, startup growth and commercialisation. The lab is designed to help bridge the gap between academic research and real-world applications by giving students, researchers, entrepreneurs and startups access to advanced tools for developing and testing solutions in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
The Cybersecurity Innovation Lab is part of Telecom Egypt’s wider strategy to build specialised innovation centres that nurture ideas and transform them into market-ready products. The company believes these facilities will help startups test technologies in practical environments and prepare them for commercial expansion.
During the launch ceremony, Tamer El-Mahdy, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Telecom Egypt, and Professor Ismail Abdel Ghaffar, President of AASTMT, signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the operation of the new facility. The agreement includes specialised training programmes, technical mentoring, workshops and initiatives aimed at strengthening collaboration between academia and industry.
El-Mahdy said the lab is an important part of Telecom Egypt’s mission to support local talent and create a complete innovation pipeline that takes projects from research and development through testing and market readiness.
Professor Abdel Ghaffar highlighted the value of closer cooperation between universities and industry, saying the lab will provide students and researchers with practical experience and access to advanced technologies that can help prepare future leaders in Egypt’s digital economy.
The NTRA also welcomed the initiative, noting that it supports the objectives of Egypt’s National Cybersecurity Strategy 2023–2027. Walid Zakaria, Deputy Head of the authority for Cybersecurity Affairs, said the project will contribute to developing skilled cybersecurity professionals capable of protecting the country’s digital infrastructure while encouraging the creation of competitive technology products and services.
The inauguration was attended by senior representatives from Telecom Egypt, NTRA, AASTMT and AGX Consultant, the implementation partner for the WE Innovate Star programme, alongside participating startups and technology teams.
By supporting scientific research, prototype development, product testing and startup acceleration, the Cybersecurity Innovation Lab is expected to play a key role in Egypt’s innovation ecosystem. Through the partnership, Telecom Egypt and its collaborators aim to strengthen the country’s position as a regional centre for cybersecurity, digital innovation and technology-led economic growth.
