The activities of the Cairo International Technology Exhibition and Conference Cairo ICT 2026 witnessed the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of the WE Innovate Star program, a national initiative aimed at accelerating the growth of startups specializing in cybersecurity and deep tech. This program comes as part of the state's strategy to enhance digital innovation and build a base of national technical competencies.
Program Results and Market Impact
Over four years, the program received applications from more than 800 startups, 20 of which were selected to participate in an intensive development journey. These efforts resulted in:
- Developing 16 market-ready technical products.
- Establishing 9 officially registered companies.
- Providing more than 300 hours of specialized technical and professional mentoring.
- Allocating 5 million Egyptian pounds in prizes, financial support, and in-kind services for the participating companies.
Why This News Matters
This program represents a strategic step to connect research and development with real market needs, as officials emphasized that digital sovereignty is no longer limited to ownership, but extends to possessing national capabilities to manage risks and develop protection solutions locally. The program also reflects the trend toward reducing the gap between the outputs of education and scientific research and the requirements of the technological industry sector.
National Context of the Digital Sector
This initiative comes in light of a remarkable growth in the communications and information technology sector in Egypt, where the sector recorded a growth rate of 19.3% during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The state also aims to raise its digital exports to 15 billion dollars by 2030, with a focus on enhancing cyber readiness, which culminated in Egypt obtaining the full mark in the Global Cybersecurity Index for 2024.
Participants in the celebration, including representatives of the Ministry of Communications and Telecom Egypt, emphasized continued support during the coming years to ensure the sustainability of these startups and provide a stimulating environment that protects intellectual property and supports the regional and international expansion of Egyptian solutions.