Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, conducted an inspection tour of the Imhotep Innovation Centre in the Knowledge City. The Centre, designed to support electronics companies and stimulate innovation, represents a significant milestone in Egypt's journey toward becoming a regional hub for electronics design and manufacturing.
The Centre incorporates a number of advanced labs that support activities of electronic design and networking between local and global companies in the field to transfer knowledge. It hosts different companies operating in electronics design and embedded systems.
During the visit, Eng. Ahmed Elzaher, ITIDA CEO, showcased the strategic pillars of "Egypt Makes Electronics," an initiative aimed at strengthening the electronics industry, particularly mobile phone and communication devices manufacturing, in addition to embedded systems as well as electronic circuits design and manufacturing. Elzaher pointed that the strategy focuses on building a skilled workforce in electronic circuits design and embedded systems, fostering innovation clusters in electronics within tech parks and CREATIVA Innovation Hubs and advanced technology labs to develop prototypes, besides attracting investments to the electronics sector, empowering R&D and supporting startups and entrepreneurs.
He also mentioned that the strategy, since its launch, has witnessed significant developments in attracting major mobile phone manufacturing companies; whether by establishing their headquarters in Egypt, or by manufacturing their products in Egyptian factories manufacturing for others. Elzaher explained that ITIDA continues to attract and encourage international companies to invest in Egypt, not only in manufacturing, but also in semiconductors design and embedded systems, which enhances Egypt's position as a regional center for the electronics industry.
Ahmed El-Zaher highlighted the remarkable growth of the electronics and embedded systems design sector, noting that the number of companies operating in the field has increased from 34 in 2016 to over 80 by the end of 2024. This expansion includes 20 international companies and 60 local firms, creating more than 9,000 job opportunities for specialized engineers.
The Imhotep Innovation Centre, a cornerstone of this strategy, provides a state-of-the-art ecosystem for electronics companies. It currently hosts 17 specialized international and local companies focused on designing integrated circuits and embedded systems. The centre also features a business incubator for startups and advanced high-frequency laboratories capable of testing electronics up to 110 GHz. These facilities enable companies to develop cutting-edge products without the burden of purchasing or renting expensive equipment, further enhancing Egypt's competitiveness in the global electronics market.
Besides the Imhotep Centre, Dr. Madbouly visited Siemens Industry 4.0 Center of Excellency (CoE), established through a collaboration between Siemens, ITIDA, and the Industrial Modernization Centre. This centre aims to raise awareness of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, train Egyptian professionals, and support the adoption of advanced digital solutions in local industries. It also contributes to sustainability efforts by helping Egypt transition to net-zero carbon emissions.
Mr. Mustafa El-Bagoury, CEO of Siemens Egypt, emphasized the centre's role in showcasing Siemens' latest technologies, providing training and supporting companies and students in designing and implementing innovative solutions.
The Prime Minister also toured advanced microelectronic circuit testing facilities, which utilize the latest global measurement technologies. These facilities support companies, universities, and students in developing high-tech electronic products and components.
Dr. Madbouly met with representatives of global and local companies operating at the centre, reaffirming the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's commitment to supporting innovation, training skilled professionals, and fostering specialized labs that drive Egypt's technological advancement.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly also visited the headquarters of SI-Vision, one of the leading Egyptian companies in electronic circuit design hosted by the center, where Eng. Mohamed Samir, the company's VP, showcased the company's journey of success and growth in this field of specialty; started in 2016 with 69 specialized engineers, the number of employees reached over 800 engineers in 2025. The company became the largest company in the Middle East and North Africa in IC Design. He also pointed out the advantages provided by Imhotep Innovation Center and its role in supporting business growth and expanding the scope of companies, as the centre provides an integrated ecosystem that enhances opportunities for innovation and development in the electronics and embedded systems.
By the end of his visit to Knowledge City, Prime Minister expressed pride in the development of the facility, crediting the ongoing support of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He highlighted the importance of the government's directives to expedite the city's construction with cutting-edge technology. The goal is to establish an information society that fosters research and innovation in advanced technologies while attracting investments from global tech firms.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly remarked on the inspiration he felt after interacting with exemplary young individuals trained through various digital initiatives. He emphasized the government's commitment to nurturing a culture of creativity and supporting innovators, including students, researchers, and entrepreneurs. This effort aims to empower them as key players in advancing digital transformation across different sectors. He encouraged young people of all ages to engage with future-oriented sciences.
