Dr. Ahmed Adel Abdel Hakim, Acting President of Alexandria University, affirmed the University's commitment to encouraging its students, researchers, and faculty members to participate in the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects. He announced that all university participants will be honored in recognition of their innovative ideas and initiatives, while the winning projects will receive direct support from the University to help develop them into successful, applicable models, thereby fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the University.

His remarks came during the introductory seminar on the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, organized by Alexandria Governorate and hosted by the Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria University. The seminar aimed to raise awareness of the initiative and encourage faculty members, researchers, students, and entrepreneurs to submit innovative ideas and projects that contribute to Egypt's sustainable development goals and the transition toward a green economy.

The seminar was attended by Dr. Amira Yassan, Deputy Governor of Alexandria; Ambassador Hisham Badr, General Coordinator of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects; Dr. Mohamed Morsi El-Gohary, President of Borg El Arab Technological University; Dr. Affaf Al-Oufy, Vice President of Alexandria University for Community Service and Environmental Development; Dr. Wael El-Meghlany, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering; in addition to a number of deans, vice deans, faculty members, representatives of ministries and partner organizations, environmental companies, researchers, and students.

Dr. Ahmed Adel Abdel Hakim explained that Alexandria University places innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship at the forefront of its strategic priorities as part of its role as a national partner in achieving Egypt Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. He noted that the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects provides an important platform for discovering innovative ideas and transforming them into projects with tangible economic, environmental, and societal impact.

He added that the University is committed to providing an educational and research environment that connects scientific research with community needs and encourages the transformation of research outcomes into practical applications capable of addressing developmental and environmental challenges. He emphasized that universities serve as incubators for innovation by empowering talented researchers and young people to develop creative solutions that benefit society.

Dr. Abdel Hakim also called upon students, researchers, and faculty members to seize this valuable opportunity by actively participating in the initiative with innovative projects that reflect Alexandria University's distinguished scientific and research capabilities and contribute to supporting Egypt's sustainable development agenda, the green economy, and national competitiveness in innovation and sustainability.

For her part, Dr. Amira Yassin, Deputy Governor of Alexandria, stated that the seminar was held as part of the preparations for launching the fourth edition of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects. She noted that the initiative, launched by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in 2022, reflects Egypt's leadership in adopting innovative solutions to address climate change challenges and achieve sustainable development goals in line with Egypt Vision 2030.

She added that Alexandria Governorate has consistently promoted community engagement and green innovation since the initiative's launch, resulting in remarkable national achievements. During the first edition, the Governorate won three leading national awards through pioneering projects, including CNC machine manufacturing using recycled electronic waste, an early flood warning and forecasting system, and a robotic system for removing plastic waste from the sea.

She further highlighted the Governorate's continued success in the second edition, where several Smart Green Projects represented Egypt at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates and received broad recognition from international partners and organizations concerned with climate action and sustainability.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Hisham Badr, General Coordinator of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, explained that the initiative was launched alongside Egypt's hosting of COP27 to encourage innovative ideas and projects capable of addressing environmental challenges, including waste management, energy efficiency, and transforming these ideas into economically viable projects that create quality employment opportunities.

He encouraged participants to utilize technology at all levels to develop innovative environmental solutions, noting that the initiative has received thousands of project submissions over previous editions. Winners receive financial awards as well as opportunities to participate in international climate conferences. He stressed that the initiative offers not only financial support but also free training programs and online educational sessions to help participants develop and manage successful environmental projects.

Ambassador Badr also pointed out that many successful projects began with very limited capital before growing into ventures worth millions of Egyptian pounds, with some exceeding a valuation of one million US dollars. He emphasized that creativity and innovation—not the size of initial capital—are the true foundations of success.

He concluded by affirming that the initiative's winners receive official recognition from the Egyptian State and are invited to participate in international climate conferences as outstanding examples of Egyptian youth's ability to innovate and contribute to building a more sustainable future.