Egypt Tops Afro-Asia Forum for Innovation and Technology, Strengthening Its Regional Leadership
In recognition of its achievements and leadership in digital innovation, Egypt was also selected to host the 2026 edition of the forum in Aswan, after a competitive bid with Turkey.
Egypt has achieved remarkable success at the Afro-Asia Forum for Innovation and Technology (AAFFIAT), held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from October 17 to 19, 2025. Egyptian teams took home an outstanding 68 awards, including 19 first-place prizes, in key categories such as software development, cybersecurity, robotics, and entrepreneurship. In recognition of its achievements and leadership in digital innovation, Egypt was also selected to host the 2026 edition of the forum in Aswan, after a competitive bid with Turkey.
The forum, hosted by the University of Malaya, brought together 419 participants from 12 countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine, Libya, Thailand, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, and Egypt. The Egyptian delegation, comprising 169 participants aged between 6 and 22 years, represented 12 governorates — Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Beheira, Damietta, Port Said, Gharbia, Menoufia, Beni Suef, Assiut, Qena, Luxor, and Kafr El-Sheikh. Their strong showing reflected the success of Egypt’s national programs in building digital skills and supporting young innovators.
Dr. Amr Talaat, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, hailed the victory as a reflection of the government’s long-term vision to empower Egyptian youth with the tools of the digital age. He noted that this achievement demonstrates Egypt’s growing leadership in innovation, entrepreneurship, and advanced technology on both regional and global levels. Dr. Talaat emphasized that choosing Aswan as the host city for the next forum is a recognition of Egypt’s status as a center of technological excellence and innovation. He added that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) continues to implement strategic programs to develop digital competencies and nurture young talent capable of global competition.
The Minister also praised the National Telecommunications Institute (NTI) and Telecom Egypt (WE) for their collaboration in supporting young innovators. He described their partnership as a successful model of integration between state institutions and the private sector, aimed at building a national innovation ecosystem that promotes creativity and digital transformation across all provinces.
Dr. Ahmed Khattab, Director of the National Telecommunications Institute and Head of the Egyptian Delegation, explained that Egypt’s success was the result of seven months of coordinated national preparation. The NTI organized three phases of local qualifiers in areas such as artificial intelligence, software engineering, technical innovation, and entrepreneurship. More than 1,500 students from schools and universities across the country participated in these qualifiers. The top-performing teams were selected and trained to represent Egypt at the international finals in Malaysia.
Dr. Khattab highlighted that the NTI’s training combined scientific learning, practical experience, and skill development, ensuring that participants met global standards of innovation and technical excellence. He emphasized that investing in young minds is the best way to build a strong and sustainable digital future for Egypt.
Beyond the awards, Egyptian participants earned exclusive international opportunities that further demonstrate the impact of their work. The team that won the Best Entrepreneurial Project Award received free membership in the International Entrepreneurship Club and qualified to exhibit their project at GITEX Kazakhstan. Additionally, five Egyptian teams secured training opportunities with global organizations such as O’Hara Group (USA), Commencis (Turkey), and Malaysia Industry Transformation (Malaysia). The winner of the Small Innovator Award was accepted into the Forum’s Business Incubator Program, and several students were granted partial scholarships ranging from 30% to 50% at leading universities in Europe and the United States.
The event concluded with the announcement that Egypt will host the next edition of the Afro-Asia Innovation and Technology Forum in Aswan in 2026. The forum will serve as a global platform celebrating creativity and technological innovation, while reinforcing Egypt’s position as a regional hub for digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Afro-Asia Forum for Innovation and Technology serves as a pioneering international platform that connects youth from Africa and Asia, encouraging collaboration in science, technology, and innovation. It promotes creative thinking, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development, while building bridges between education, business, and government institutions. This year’s edition included 17 international competitions in diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, mobile applications, cybersecurity, robotics, healthcare, and digital arts.
Egypt’s exceptional performance not only highlighted the country’s growing digital capabilities but also affirmed its strategic commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators. As Egypt prepares to welcome the world to Aswan in 2026, its leadership in technology and innovation continues to shine as a beacon of progress and inspiration for the region.
