The Nile University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Team is a diverse, cross-functional leadership group that has redefined the role of higher education in ecosystem development and national transformation. Comprising individuals from varied backgrounds, spanning academia, industry, research, technology, policy, and community engagement, the team reflects a gender-balanced, multi-generational model of inclusive leadership. Their combined expertise has enabled the design and execution of a coherent institutional strategy centered on entrepreneurship, innovation, and impact. Positioned as a strategic pillar of Nile University, the team’s work has led to the integration of entrepreneurship across academic curricula, applied research, student initiatives, and industry collaboration. The team has played a central role in institutionalizing innovation through the establishment of dedicated hubs, startup and SME programs, women-led initiatives, and partnerships with over 80 local and international organizations. Their work supports Egypt’s national priorities by advancing enterprise competitiveness, digital transformation, and inclusive economic growth. Through NilePreneurs, backed by the Central Bank of Egypt, the team has facilitated access to finance for SMEs, provided technical support through R&D as a service, and helped businesses unlock new markets. Their targeted capacity-building programs have reached over 30,000 youth and 7,500 women, generating thousands of jobs and hundreds of ventures. In addition, the team actively addresses environmental sustainability through curriculum innovations and startup support in areas such as water reuse and the blue economy. During the COVID-19 crisis, they rapidly produced and distributed 90,000 protective face shields to healthcare workers nationwide, exemplifying their agility and social responsibility. By fostering institutional transformation and building scalable models for ecosystem engagement, the team has positioned Nile University as a national hub for inclusive innovation, and a regional leader in entrepreneurial education and impact.
Finalist
Entrepreneurial Leadership Team of the Year Award
Nile University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Team
Finalist Entrepreneurial Leadership Team of the Year Award
Nile University - Egypt
"Empowering Innovation, Advancing Impact"
Engage on social media
https://www.facebook.com/nu.iecc(The official Facebook page of Nile University’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IECC), showcasing programs, initiatives, events, and impact stories that drive innovation and ecosystem development.)
https://www.facebook.com/nilepreneurs(The official Facebook page of the NilePreneurs initiative, supported by the Central Bank of Egypt and hosted by Nile University, focusing on SME growth, startup incubation, and industrial innovation.)
https://www.facebook.com/wempowerinitiative(The Facebook hub for Wempower, an NU Initiative designed to empower women entrepreneurs through capacity building, mentorship, and inclusive ecosystem support.)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/nu-iecc/(The LinkedIn page of Nile University’s IECC, highlighting thought leadership, institutional partnerships, research-driven entrepreneurship programs, and stakeholder engagement across Egypt and Africa.)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/wempower-for-innovation(The official LinkedIn page of Wempower, showcasing its work in women’s innovation, empowerment programs, and inclusive ecosystem development.)
https://www.facebook.com/NileUniversity(The official Facebook presence of Nile University, providing updates on academic programs, student life, research activities, and community initiatives.)
https://www.linkedin.com/school/nile-university(Nile University’s institutional LinkedIn profile, showcasing research excellence, academic innovation, and strategic collaborations across sectors and geographies.)
https://www.instagram.com/nileuniversity.eg(A visual platform sharing daily life, student engagement, and campus culture at Nile University, along with highlights from research, innovation, and entrepreneurship events.)
https://www.instagram.com/nilepreneurs(The Instagram profile for NilePreneurs, offering snapshots of startup journeys, SME success stories, innovation labs, and outreach activities across Egypt.)
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Summary
Key People
Dr. Heba Labib
Assistant VP of Innovation and Entrepreneurship- Assistant Professor
Nile University
Dr. Mireille Barsoum
Director of Ecosystem Development- Assistant Professor
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Unit,
Nile University
Dr. Ahmed Saleh
Executive Director
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center,
Nile University
Dr. Yomna Elnahas
Head of Startup Acceleration
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center,
Nile University
Asmaa Youssef
Deputy Director & Head of University-Industry Collaboration
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center,
Nile University
Dr. ElHassan ElSabry
Assistant Professor & Director of Idea Lab
Graduate School of MOT,
Nile University
Dr. Amr Hashem
Assistant Professor
Graduate School of MOT,
Nile University
Duaa Nassef
Head of Marketing & Outreach
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center,
Nile University
Acknowledgements
We extend our sincere gratitude to the leadership of Nile University for their unwavering support and belief in the power of innovation-driven transformation. We particularly thank Professor Dr. Wael Akl, President of Nile University, for championing the vision and empowering the team to institutionalize entrepreneurship as a strategic pillar of the university’s mission.
We also acknowledge the foundational role of Professor Dr. Tarek Khalil, Founding President of Nile University, whose establishment of the Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness Center (IECC) and the Graduate School of Management of Technology (MOT) laid the groundwork for the university’s innovation ecosystem and its continued national impact.
Images
IECC Leadership Team
IECC Leadership Team 2
IECC Leadership Team 3
IECC Leadership Team 4
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Challenge
Community Engagement
SME support
WEMPOWER program for Women's Empowerment
Women's Empowerment Day
SME Capacity Building
NU TEAM
NU Innovation
International Engagement
International Collaboration
Innovation Training
Entrepreneurship Teaching
Ecosystem Contribution
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Capacity Building
Innovation Summit
Startup Pitching
Entrepreneurship Training
Entrepreneurship Undergraduate Teaching
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
The Nile University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Team has transformed vision into measurable, lasting impact, within the institution and across Egypt’s entrepreneurial landscape. Their work has advanced inclusive economic development, institutional transformation, and ecosystem connectivity through an integrated, multi-stakeholder approach.
Through NilePreneurs, an initiative supported by the Central Bank of Egypt, the team facilitated over 10 billion EGP in SME loans, helping enterprises expand operations, access new markets, and improve productivity. More than 800 SMEs and 400 startups have been supported through tailored mentorship, technical assistance, and incubation or acceleration. These efforts have contributed over 3 billion EGP annually to the national GDP and attracted over $10 million USD in startup investment.
The team’s impact extends beyond economic metrics. They empowered over 30,000 youth and 7,500 women through capacity-building programs in entrepreneurship, digital skills, financial literacy, and innovation. Their targeted interventions led to the creation of over 2,000 direct and indirect jobs and the incubation of more than 150 women-led ventures, reinforcing social inclusion and gender equity.
The team also addressed environmental challenges through innovation-focused courses on wastewater reuse and the blue economy, and supported startups working on sustainable materials. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they rapidly produced and distributed 90,000 protective face shields to frontline healthcare workers, demonstrating their ability to respond swiftly and responsibly to societal needs.
Today, the team continues to scale its model across institutions in Egypt and Africa—creating systemic, inclusive, and sustainable impact.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
The journey of the Nile University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Team offers key insights into how innovation can be institutionalized and scaled for national impact.
First, institutional transformation requires strategic alignment. Entrepreneurship was embedded into Nile University’s identity by integrating it across teaching, research, engagement, and partnerships. Executive commitment and a shared vision enabled the creation of a university-wide innovation culture.
Second, ecosystem building is relational, not transactional. Long-term collaboration with ministries, financial institutions, development agencies, and academic peers was grounded in trust and shared outcomes. Co-created programs, from SME financing to innovation hubs, demonstrated that inclusive development depends on collaborative governance.
Third, innovation thrives when it is applied and purpose-driven. The team focused on solving real problems—whether addressing industrial gaps, advancing the blue economy, or supporting underserved entrepreneurs. Innovation was positioned as a tool for sustainability and inclusion.
Fourth, inclusion must be intentional. Targeted tracks for youth, women, and marginalized groups ensured entrepreneurship served as a vehicle for equity. Listening and co-design were central to building responsive programs.
Fifth, resilience is rooted in agility. Navigating uncertainty—whether operational or societal—requires empowered, cross-functional teams. The ability to adapt programs, reallocate resources, and respond to evolving needs sustained long-term momentum.
Finally, scalability requires systems, not standalone initiatives. The team’s institutional transformation model is ready to be adopted across Egypt and Africa—proving that sustainable change is replicable when strategy and structure align.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
Building on a strong foundation of institutional transformation and national impact, the Nile University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Team is focused on expanding its ecosystem-building model both within Egypt and across Africa.
A key strategic priority is the scaling of the institutional transformation program, supporting universities, research centers, and public entities in adopting entrepreneurship and innovation as core mandates. Over the next three years, the team aims to engage 15+ institutions across Africa, offering technical support, capacity building, and policy alignment to create a network of innovation-driven entities.
The team is also developing a Pan-African Entrepreneurship and Innovation Consortium, positioning Nile University as a regional convener and thought leader in higher education, innovation, and inclusive entrepreneurship. This platform will bring together academia, government, industry, and civil society to foster coordinated innovation agendas.
In parallel, efforts will intensify around green and climate-resilient entrepreneurship, with new programs targeting circular economy solutions, water reuse, sustainable urban development, and emerging technologies such as green hydrogen production and applications. These will be integrated into curriculum, startup support tracks, and applied research initiatives.
On the inclusion front, the team plans to expand its women and youth empowerment efforts, with a special focus on fragile and underserved communities. A regional women’s innovation leadership program is under development.
Internally, the team will work to further institutionalize its systems and tools, ensuring that innovation at Nile University continues to be strategic, sustainable, and scalable for years to come.
