The Scientific Society of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Technology Management Branch, in cooperation with IEEE TEMS, in cooperation with the International Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GIE), today announced the launch of the fifth edition of the Arab Challenge for the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence 2023, with the participation of 12 Arab countries, namely Algeria, Bahrain and Egypt. Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.
In a statement by Dr. Mahmoud Saqr, President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, he explained that the Egypt Challenge for the Internet of Things, in its seventh year, which was launched under the name (Internet of Things League) since 2016, is the starting point for the winners to the Arab Challenge for the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence, which will be held in Dubai next October. The Egypt Challenge for the Internet of Things, from its inception until 2023, with the support and funding of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, has supported about 180 startups, 950 graduation projects, 960 projects from schools of outstanding students, and 7,000 trainees. The Egypt Challenge for the Internet of Things is considered one of the most important competitions held in the Arab Republic of Egypt in related fields. In the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence, the first three winners from the fields of startups, graduation projects, and schools of excellence will qualify to represent Egypt in the Arab Challenge for the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence, with the participation of 55 teams from 12 countries this year.
Capacity building to support and encourage startups
The President of the Academy of Scientific Research indicated that the challenge is an annual national program that aims to build capacities to support and encourage emerging companies working in the fields of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence applications, and added that the program aims to support and assist graduation projects for university students and outstanding students in science and technology (STEM). Those interested in IoT applications and artificial intelligence, which is in line with the state’s directions towards creating local cadres and competencies that contribute to the localization of technology in the fields and applications of IoT and artificial intelligence.
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Shadeed, Executive Director of Etisal Association, said: “The challenge of the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence, which began in 2017 in cooperation with the Burj Al Arab Creativity Park and continues today, is a wonderful example of cooperation and integration between civil society organizations, technology companies, and the Academy of Scientific Research. This cooperation has continued.” Its scope has expanded to include the Arab region and the African continent, and Etisal considers the challenge to be the embodiment of its role in community development and youth development, from schools of outstanding students to graduation projects and up to startup companies.
Commenting on this statement, Eng. Hussein Mustafa, Director of Business Development at the International Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GIE), said: “We are proud of our constructive role in supporting the sustainable development goals sought by all Arab countries by unveiling young talents and innovative ideas and providing programs He added that the integrated role that would provide an appropriate environment to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, explaining that the pivotal role of innovation and entrepreneurship receives special attention from all concerned parties in the Arab region, including partners and representatives of academic institutions and government agencies, as one of the main pillars in the digital transformation process.
The Challenge of the Internet of Things and Arab Artificial Intelligence is an integrated program, as it is concerned with building the capabilities of innovators for the pre-incubation stage or joining business accelerators, and it includes 3 main tracks, which are graduation projects for university students and entrepreneurs who own startups, in addition to a track for high school students, and it is based on To highlight the prominent role of Internet of Things and artificial intelligence technologies in the areas of digital transformation to achieve the ambitious Arab government visions to join the ranks of smart countries, in line with global trends.
The challenge, in the pre-announcement of the final results, which is scheduled to take place during the activities of GITEX Technology Week in October 2023 in Dubai, will include a number of training and qualification programs and workshops for the participants with the aim of providing the necessary technical capabilities to achieve their goals, implement their innovative projects, and develop their programs and digital applications. .
It should be noted that the Arab Challenge for the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence succeeded over the past four years in including more than 600 startups, 2,950 graduation projects, and nearly 1,070 ideas from the high school track, with the participation of more than 20,900 experts and specialists from across the Arab region.