As part of the visit of the delegation from Paris-Saclay University to Alexandria University, the university organized an extensive workshop to discuss ways of advancing the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, and enhancing the role of the Technology Valley in supporting startups, technology transfer, and linking scientific research with industry.

The workshop was attended by Professor Dr. Ahmed Adel Abdel Hakim, Acting President of Alexandria University; Professor Dr. Roshdy Zahran, former President of Alexandria University and Rapporteur of the Supreme Committee for Strategies and Policies of the Technology Valley; Professor Dr. Yasser Refaat, Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Planning and Governance and member of the Supreme Committee for the Technology Valley; Engineer Sherif Hedayat, former Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources; and, via video conference, Professor Dr. Walaa Sheta, CEO of the Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), in addition to a number of experts and specialists from both sides.

During the workshop, Professor Dr. Ahmed Adel Abdel Hakim emphasized that Alexandria University is working to build an integrated innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem aimed at identifying promising research ideas and supporting researchers and innovators, contributing to transforming research outputs into practical applications and economically viable startups. He noted that the university places strong emphasis on strengthening intellectual property protection and encouraging innovation among students and researchers, in support of national development plans.

He added that the Technology Valley at Alexandria University represents a key pillar in the university’s strategy by strengthening the link between scientific research and industry, providing a stimulating environment for innovation and technology transfer, and opening channels of cooperation between researchers, entrepreneurs, and the industrial sector. He also stressed the importance of benefiting from leading international experiences, particularly that of Paris-Saclay University, in developing mechanisms for identifying, commercializing, and transforming innovation into applicable projects.

For their part, representatives of Paris-Saclay University presented their experience in supporting innovation and managing scientific research, expressing their strong interest in strengthening cooperation with Alexandria University in the fields of advanced technologies, entrepreneurship, and joint research, particularly through the Technology Valley. They highlighted the importance of exchanging expertise in identifying innovations, early-stage evaluation, and intellectual property protection, enabling their transformation into commercially viable industrial applications.

The workshop addressed mechanisms for developing the Technology Valley at Alexandria University and enhancing its role in supporting startups, as well as reviewing international best practices in technology transfer and in the commercialization of research outputs and their linkage to industry. It also discussed supporting researchers in developing their innovative ideas, evaluating patent registration opportunities, and documenting innovations at early stages to facilitate future commercialization and technology transfer.

Participants also examined mechanisms for identifying innovations within academic institutions and the role of Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) in supporting researchers across fields such as biotechnology, digital technologies, and health sciences, enabling the transformation of research ideas into applicable products.

The workshop emphasized that building an effective innovation discovery system within universities is a fundamental pillar for strengthening the knowledge-based economy, increasing patent registration rates, and supporting the establishment of technology-based startups.

It also discussed mechanisms for assessing the competitive positioning of new technologies, analyzing target markets, developing business models for startups, and establishing effective strategies for technology transfer to industry while strengthening partnerships with production sectors.