The President of Ain Shams University participates in the conclusion of the entrepreneurship competition in the field of digital agriculture

Prof. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, witnessed the closing activities of the entrepreneurship competition in the field of digital agriculture, in cooperation with the German International Cooperation Agency (Giz) and the Arab Women Enterprise Fund (AWEF), in the presence of Dr. Alaa Azzouz, Head of the Agricultural Extension Sector at the Ministry of Agriculture, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Ayman Saleh, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, Ms. Maryam Fernando, Director of the Agricultural Innovation Project at the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), and Ms. Youmna Mustafa, Director of the Arab Women Enterprise Fund (AWEF), Prof. Dr. Nazmi Abdel Hamid, former Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development, Prof. Dr. Diaa Khalil, Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University and a member of the Board of Directors of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Prof. Dr. Taya Abdel Latif, Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Student Activities, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Galal, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Shawki Selim, Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Dr. Mohamed El-Behairy, Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Ain Shams University, Dr. Ayman Farid, Director of the University's Employment Center, Dr. Weam Mahmoud, Deputy Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Ain Shams University, and Professor Mohamed Tantawy, representing the Central Bank.

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, said that the university always seeks to catch up with this evolving digital age, which is why the university has taken a decision to establish a center for innovation and entrepreneurship at Ain Shams University since 2013 to be a beacon guiding our innovative children in their path towards entry. strongly in the labor market.

Because agriculture is the past, present and future, the Digital Agriculture Competition for Startups aims to support the growth of existing projects, as well as encourage those that have not yet started in the field of agricultural technology to digital transformation and technical innovation, taking into account the significant drift in all areas of industry to transformation. Digital, which has become a condition for the success and continuity of any commercial or industrial activity, as well as ensuring the entry of those competing companies to the electronic market, in order to combine two of the basics of contemporary life: technology and agriculture.

He pointed out that these competitions aim to provide an opportunity for innovative entrepreneurs to present their best innovations in this vital field, to prove that young people, with hard work and diligence, are able to change stereotypes and enter the labor market at an early age.

His Excellency also thanked the supporting institutions and bodies in organizing this strong competition, especially the German Agency for International Cooperation and the Arab Women Projects Fund, who made a great effort to make the competition appear as it is today. He also thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation for its adoption of such competitions in implementation of the state development plan sustainable 2030.

Dr. Alaa Azzouz, head of the agricultural extension sector at the Ministry of Agriculture, thanked Ain Shams University for the vital role, pointing out that the Ministry of Agriculture supports all innovations and small projects with the aim of improving the population level, pointing out that the Ministry of Agriculture takes care of the development of the agricultural sector through a number of programs Which would reduce wastage and waste from agricultural production before harvest, explaining that this needs concerted and finding solutions to reduce this phenomenon, in addition to developing a digital transformation strategy, which includes a digital transformation unit that updates data and services provided in digital form, digital agricultural extension services in addition to Traditional agricultural extension.

Prof. Dr. Ayman Saleh, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, said that based on the pivotal role that Ain Shams University adopts as an educational, research and service institution that adopts the initiative with innovation, and qualifies graduates at the academic and scientific level for the global labor market capable of competition and able to make a difference in service societies, the university was keen to Establishing the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Ain Shams University to be an attractive platform for eager talents who have a passion to learn more and qualify these talents for the labor market as pioneers and leaders capable of making change and growth in the Egyptian technology market to prove that young people, with their innovations, are the strength of the present and the hope of the future.

In the competition, youth innovations were geared towards advancing the field of agriculture in Egypt, especially digital agriculture. Young entrepreneurs presented ideas that matched those of experts. To help them crystallize these ideas and turn them into reality, financial prizes were presented to the winners who proved their worth and willingness to enter the labor market with these pioneering ideas. All these efforts made by the Center were crowned by the support provided by the German Agency for International Cooperation and the Arab Women Enterprise Fund.

As well as the importance of transforming the agricultural path in Egypt to a digital one that increases productivity, which is why they worked together to help young people take the initiative and present these bright ideas that will change our agricultural future.

Ms. Mariam Fernando, Director of the Agricultural Innovation Project at the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), expressed her happiness with the good and beneficial projects and competitions she saw for all, which enriches the broader idea, and reviewed the role played by the German Agency in Egypt in developing projects as well as supporting emerging projects.

Also presented by A. Yemeni Mustafa, Director of the Arab Women Enterprise Fund, thanked the contestants who presented innovative ideas that predict a better future for the effective role of innovation in solving the problems facing our societies, reviewing the role played by the Arab Women Enterprise Fund during 6 years of work in Egypt.

The teams participating in the competition gave a presentation of their projects, and the judges discussed them as well as some of the attendees. The ceremony concluded with announcing the results of the competition and handing out prizes for the winning projects from companies worth 150 thousand pounds. The first prize was won by Renile team, and the second prize by Cropsa team. The third prize was won by the Cotton Town team, in addition to the Innovative Ideas Path prizes, the value of which is 10,000 pounds each. The first prize was won by The Flankers team, the second prize went to the Taare team, and the third prize was won by the Zarati team.