Egypt boosts AI startups with new National AI Strategy

Egypt is actively working to accelerate the growth of its AI ecosystem by fostering stronger collaboration among startups, investors, enterprises, and policymakers. At a recent event titled "Shaping Egypt’s AI Horizon," co-organized by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and venture capital firm 500 Global, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Amr Talaat, reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to AI as a catalyst for digital transformation. During the event, Amal Enan, Managing Partner at 500 Global, revealed that 157 startups are currently participating in 500 Global's accelerator programs, and the VC firm has already invested in over 65 Egyptian startups. A key objective of Egypt's National AI Strategy is to support 250 new AI-driven startups by 2030.

Why This Matters for Egypt's AI Future

Egypt's National AI Strategy (2025-2030) is designed to underpin a wide range of national ambitions, with a core focus on empowering AI startups. By integrating government policies, investment incentives, and talent development initiatives, Egypt aims to attract both AI startups and established enterprises. This approach seeks to ensure that AI-driven solutions effectively address critical national challenges in sectors like healthcare, finance, agriculture, and cybersecurity. Given its robust talent pool and strong global partnerships, Egypt is well-positioned to emerge as a global hub for AI startups.

Key Highlights from "Shaping Egypt’s AI Horizon"

Tuesday's event underscored the National AI Strategy's focus on the startup ecosystem. It served as a platform bringing together policymakers, startups, and investors to discuss opportunities in AI adoption and funding.

• National AI Strategy (2025-2030): This strategy, launched in January, is built upon six core pillars: computing infrastructure, data governance, AI-powered applications, talent development, regulation, and ecosystem growth.
• 500 Global's Impact: The venture capital firm currently has 157 startups in its accelerator programs, many of which are AI-focused, and has invested in over 65 Egyptian startups to date.
• AI Investment Insights: A panel discussion on AI investment trends featured prominent investors from Synapse Analytics, Intella, Tektonik Ventures, and Algebra Ventures, who explored both the challenges and opportunities in funding AI startups.
• Applied Innovation: The Applied Innovation Centre of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) is actively developing AI-powered solutions for real-world applications in agriculture, education, healthcare, and legal sectors.
• Talent and Business Growth: Egypt's strategic goals include training 30,000 AI specialists and supporting 250 AI-driven companies, thereby expanding AI literacy and adoption across various industries.
• Zooming Out: Egypt's Broader AI Vision

President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi inaugurated Egypt’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2025–2030 in January. This new strategy aims to solidify Egypt's position as a leading AI hub in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, building upon the foundations of the first strategy launched in 2021. The updated strategy emphasizes inclusive AI to support the broader "Digital Egypt" initiative and the development of a national foundational model to enable the creation and implementation of sovereign AI solutions. Key targets for this strategy include facilitating the launch of over 250 AI companies and cultivating a workforce of 30,000 AI professionals by 2030.