ITIDA Innovation Bridge: Egypt × Japan — Call for Egyptian Startups
ITIDA Innovation Bridge: Egypt × Japan
Collaborate directly with leading Japanese corporations, validate your solution through a funded Proof-of-Concept (PoC), and unlock potential pathways to commercial partnerships, international growth, and future market opportunities.
Supported by
ITIDA — IT Industry Development Agency JICA — Japan International Cooperation Agency
Deadline:Saturday 17 October 2026
Apply for this programSee the themes
7Collaboration themes open for application
6 monthsInitial PoC collaboration period
Egypt × JapanDelivered by ITIDA in partnership with JICA
1. Program Overview
A cross-border corporate–startup co-creation program
The ITIDA Innovation Bridge: Egypt × Japan is a cross-border corporate-startup co-creation program owned and led by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and delivered in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
This program bridges the industrial expertise and needs of established Japanese corporations with high-potential Egyptian startups. Following a comprehensive corporate needs assessment phase, we have curated specific collaboration themes, business opportunities, and areas of interest from selected Japanese partners.
Program owner
ITIDA
ITIDA supports the growth and internationalization of Egypt's technology sector through startup support, technology commercialization, market access, international partnerships, and the development of digital exports and offshoring opportunities. As the program owner, ITIDA leads the Innovation Bridge program, connects Egyptian startups with Japanese corporates, and provides access to its innovation ecosystem, including startup support programs, mentors, technical experts, and strategic partners.
Funding partner
JICA
JICA funds the proof of concept, contracts directly with the selected startup, and brings extensive experience connecting startups in emerging markets with Japanese corporations.
For selected startups
What you gain
Selected startups run a fully funded six-month proof of concept, working directly with the corporate team that defined the challenge. Startups leave with a validated reference with a Japanese corporation and, if both sides choose to continue, a route to extended pilots, commercial agreements or investment.
2. Program Benefits
Selected startups receive structured collaboration support spanning corporate access, ITIDA ecosystem support, PoC implementation, and pathways to future partnership.
Access to Leading Japanese Corporates
Participating startups will gain direct access to leading Japanese corporations seeking innovative solutions to real business challenges. Selected startups will have the opportunity to work closely with corporate teams, validate solutions in a real business environment, and build relationships with potential long-term partners and customers.
ITIDA Ecosystem Support & Market Access
As the program owner, ITIDA supports participating startups throughout the collaboration journey by providing access to its innovation ecosystem, startup support network, mentors, technical experts, and ecosystem partners. Through the program, startups can also explore new international business opportunities and establish relationships that may lead to future commercial partnerships beyond the initial PoC.
Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Opportunity
Selected startups will have the opportunity to collaborate with Japanese corporates to design and implement a real-world Proof-of-Concept (PoC) aimed at validating the proposed solution and assessing its business value.
The PoC period is expected to last approximately six months, although the duration may be adjusted depending on project requirements and mutual agreement between the participating parties.
JICA PoC Support Framework
To support successful implementation, JICA may provide financial support to participating startups for approved PoC activities, subject to JICA's internal procedures and contracting requirements.
Support is generally intended to cover reasonable costs directly associated with PoC implementation, such as technical development, testing, deployment activities, and related project expenses. The final scope and budget will be determined based on the agreed PoC design and JICA's evaluation process.
No upfront or full advance funding is provided. Interim payments are expected based on agreed PoC milestones.
Pathway to Future Collaboration
While participation in the program does not guarantee a commercial agreement, successful PoCs may create opportunities for:
  • Commercial partnerships
  • Follow-on pilots
  • Long-term business relationships
  • Market expansion opportunities
  • Future Egypt–Japan innovation collaborations
The program is designed not only to support PoC implementation, but also to help build sustainable international partnerships between Egyptian startups and Japanese corporates.
3. Eligibility & Selection Criteria
To guarantee a successful and sustainable delivery, applicants will be strictly evaluated based on the following readiness and reliability parameters:
Egyptian Company
Your startup must be registered in Egypt.
ICT-Based Startups
The program is open to ICT-based startups. PoC themes must involve an ICT, digital or technology-based solution.
Product Maturity
Startups must have at least an MVP completed, a product launched with active customers, or be scaling regionally. (Note: Solutions requiring core infrastructure or foundational product development from scratch are not eligible due to the strict implementation timeline.)
Financial & Business Stability
Applicants must demonstrate basic financial stability, business continuity, and organizational maturity to ensure that project operations will not be disrupted or halted during the collaboration period. Applicants should also note that PoC funding is milestone-based with no advance payment, and must be able to finance activity between milestones.
Execution & Team Capability
Possession of a team structure capable of supporting implementation activities smoothly and without significant operational delays.
4. Step-by-Step Program Flow & Selection Process
Note: All dates and durations are tentative and subject to change.
Applicants are encouraged to provide a preliminary 6-month roadmap and an initial budget outline based on their current assumptions. These will serve as a starting point for evaluation; the definitive milestones, final scope, and specific resource allocations are not expected to be fixed at this stage and will be flexibly co-designed and finalized during Step 4.
  1. September 2026
    Application Submission
    Startups submit their basic profile and a preliminary proposal outlining their initial idea and approach to the corporate partner's collaboration theme and expected outcomes.
  2. October 2026
    Screening & Initial Discussions
    ITIDA, JICA and the Japanese corporates screen applicants for alignment, viability, and operational readiness. Shortlisted startups are introduced to the respective Japanese corporations for initial thematic discussions.
  3. Early November 2026
    RFP/TOR Invitation & Joint Evaluation
    Following initial discussions, shortlisted startups will be formally invited to submit a proposal based on the defined Terms of Reference (TOR). ITIDA, JICA, and the corporate partner will jointly evaluate these proposals to determine the final startup pairing through a competitive process.
  4. Mid November 2026 → Late January 2027
    Joint Scope Co-Design
    Before signing contracts, ITIDA, JICA, the corporate partner, and the selected startup will jointly discuss technical feasibility and collaboratively design the 6-month PoC scope, specific activities, and milestones in detail.
  5. After Step 4
    Dual-Contract Onboarding
    Once the customized PoC plan is co-designed and agreed upon, the formal onboarding is finalized:
    PoC Agreement / MOU
    Concluded between the Japanese corporation and the startup based on mutually agreeable terms and formats (which may utilize the corporate partner's standard template as a reference). This agreement serves strictly to clarify the operational scope of responsibilities, data usage limitations, and basic intellectual property (IP) boundaries for the duration of the activity.
    PoC Contract with JICA
    Concluded directly between JICA and the startup to formalize the PoC execution (Contract preparation, internal approvals and contracting typically take around two months.).
  6. From February 2027~6 months
    PoC Design & Implementation
    The initial PoC period is typically expected to last approximately six months, although the duration may be adjusted or extended on a case-by-case basis depending on project scope, technical complexity, and mutual agreement among the participating parties.
    ITIDA and JICA will jointly support monitoring, provide expert input, and facilitate ecosystem access where needed.
  7. After PoC completion
    Outcome Review & Next-Step Discussions
    Upon completion, results will be evaluated jointly. Potential next steps in terms of partnership with the Japanese corporate may include:
    • Extended pilot
    • Commercial agreement
    • Joint development
    • Market expansion
    • Investment consideration
    Post-program commitments remain entirely optional.
5. Collaboration Themes
Seven themes are open for application. Open a theme to read the full brief. When you apply, you select the theme code you are applying against.
Company Profile
A global Japanese electronics manufacturer.
Background
The company is exploring a sustainable resource-circulation business connecting Egypt and Japan, with a focus on collecting and recycling E-Scrap in Egypt and potentially exporting recovered materials to Japan. A key challenge is establishing transparent management across collection, sorting, storage, shipment, documentation, and regulatory processes while ensuring reliability and compliance. Digital and AI-based solutions could help create the necessary traceability and business infrastructure.
Expected Outcomes After the Initial PoC
  • Validate a digital traceability system covering key E-Scrap collection and export processes.
  • Test management of supplier, material, certificate, and shipment information.
  • Assess the feasibility and commercial potential of an Egypt–Japan E-Scrap supply chain.
Company Profile
A leading Japanese manufacturer of wire mesh products.
Background
The company is currently developing a web-based production management system with an overseas technology partner to replace its existing Excel-based processes. The system is expected to be completed for one factory by the end of 2026.
As a next step, the company would like to move forward with one of the following two development directions:
  • Further develop the existing production management system and expand it to other factories with different products, machines, and workflows.
  • Develop AI-powered production planning capabilities using data such as orders, delivery dates, machine capacity, workforce availability, and production performance.
Startup proposals may focus on these directions, depending on their technology, expertise, and proposed solution.
Expected Outcomes After the Initial PoC
  • Further develop the existing production management system and implement it at another factory with different products and workflows.
  • Develop and implement AI-powered production planning capabilities using existing production data, with the aim of improving and automating the current manual planning process.
  • Integrate the newly developed functions into actual production operations.
  • Establish a foundation for further development and expansion across multiple factories.
Company Profile
A global Japanese manufacturer of personal hygiene, baby care, and feminine care products.
Background
The company has established strong capabilities in traditional trade and has experience in key-account and e-commerce channels. However, the pharmacy channel is changing rapidly as offline sales are increasingly combined with mobile-app ordering. The company wants to understand how digital consumer behavior can be connected with offline purchasing and develop a successful, measurable marketing model for the pharmacy channel.
Expected Outcomes After the Initial PoC
  • Map consumer decision journeys across digital and offline pharmacy channels.
  • Test digital tools or campaigns that can generate product trial and purchase.
  • Establish initial KPIs and identify a scalable digital–offline marketing model.
Company Profile
A leading Japanese non-life insurance company.
Background
The company aims to expand its corporate motor insurance business among mid-sized companies operating commercial fleets such as trucks, pickups, and buses. Existing channels, mainly brokers and logistics relationships, have not generated sufficient growth. We are therefore looking for startups that can provide new access to fleet operators through digital platforms, mobility services, logistics networks, telematics, or data-driven solutions.
Expected Outcomes After the Initial PoC
  • Identify and reach qualified commercial fleet prospects through a startup's platform or network.
  • Test a new digital distribution, referral, or customer-engagement model.
  • Validate the potential for longer-term collaboration and commercial deployment.
Company Profile
A leading Japanese non-life insurance company.
Background
Insurance awareness and market penetration among Egyptian SMEs remain relatively low, while reliable information on SMEs is limited. This makes it difficult to identify high-potential customer segments, assess risks, and develop effective acquisition strategies. We are interested in partnering with startups that already serve SMEs through digital platforms, payment solutions, accounting systems, ERP, marketplaces, or other business tools.
Expected Outcomes After the Initial PoC
  • Identify high-potential SME customer segments using startup data or platforms.
  • Test a practical digital referral, embedded-insurance, or customer-engagement model.
  • Validate whether the collaboration can improve SME insurance awareness and customer acquisition.
Company Profile
A leading Japanese commercial broadcaster and media entertainment group.
Background
The Japanese anime industry is facing increasing production costs and a persistent shortage of production resources. At the same time, global demand for anime continues to expand, creating a growing need to develop new and sustainable production capacity.
Through this program, we would like to explore whether selected parts of the Japanese anime production process can be carried out in Egypt in collaboration with Egyptian animation studios (2D, 3D), digital art and creative production studios, and other companies with relevant production capabilities and qualified creative talent.
The primary objective is to evaluate actual production capability. Selected Egyptian partners would participate in a practical production trial based on clearly defined tasks, allowing us to assess production quality, communication, turnaround time, workflow compatibility, and the potential for continued collaboration with Japanese production partners.
We are also interested in the potential use of AI and digital technologies where they can directly support anime production. Possible applications may include talent assessment, work allocation, production workflow management, quality control, and selected production processes.
Expected Outcomes After the Initial PoC
  • Identify Egyptian studios, production companies, and creative talent capable of performing selected anime production tasks to the quality required by Japanese production partners.
  • Conduct a practical production trial using one or two clearly defined production functions or tasks.
  • Assess production quality, communication, turnaround time, production management, and compatibility with Japanese anime production workflows.
  • Examine how AI or digital tools could improve selected aspects of the production process where relevant.
  • Validate the feasibility of Egypt as a potential long-term production and BPO base for Japanese anime.
If the PoC demonstrates sufficient quality and operational feasibility, we would like to explore continued production collaboration and the gradual expansion of the scope of work.
Company Profile
A leading Japanese commercial broadcaster and media entertainment group.
Background
Anime has strong and growing fan communities in many emerging markets, but access to official content, licensed merchandise, and authorized sales channels remains limited in some markets.
Through this program, we would like to explore digital mechanisms such as QR codes, digital identification, customer databases, CRM, and data analytics to connect authorized IP and products with fans and better understand fan behavior.
Where authorized distributors or retailers already exist, the PoC may involve collaboration with them to track authorized products and connect customers with official channels. Where official distribution is still limited, existing anime events, communities, media platforms, or other partners with an established and engaged fan base could also serve as an entry point for building fan data and creating future pathways toward authorized content and merchandise.
AI and data analytics may also be used to understand fan preferences, engagement, and customer journeys and generate insights for future distribution, marketing, and commercial opportunities.
Expected Outcomes After the Initial PoC
  • Test a digital mechanism for identifying or tracking authorized products, content, or fan engagement.
  • Develop and test a prototype fan community or customer database.
  • Explore how authorized distributors, retailers, events, communities, or other local partners could be connected through a common digital framework.
  • Test whether existing anime fan communities can serve as an entry point for future authorized distribution and commercial engagement.
  • Collect and analyze fan behavior, preferences, engagement, or transaction-related data where available.
  • Validate whether AI and data analytics can generate actionable insights for marketing, merchandising, content distribution, customer engagement, and other commercial opportunities.
  • Assess the feasibility of creating a scalable model that connects authorized IP, local distribution, and fan communities in Egypt and potentially other markets.
The initial PoC does not need to cover the entire ecosystem. It may focus on one or two clearly defined functions or customer journeys that can demonstrate practical value.
6. How to Apply
Deadline Saturday 17 October 2026
To submit your initial proposal and join the program, please click the button below to access and complete the official online application form.
One startup can apply for multiple corporate themes by submitting separate applications for each.
Apply for this program
  • Digital or Technology-Based SolutionsPlease note that PoC themes should involve digital or technology-based solutions, and registering interest does not guarantee selection, startup matching, or progression to subsequent stages of the program.
  • ConfidentialityThe information provided in this questionnaire will be treated as confidential and will only be shared with ITIDA, JICA, and potential Japanese corporate partners for the purposes of needs assessment, startup matching, and potential PoC design within the ITIDA Innovation Bridge program.
  • CommunicationsBy participating in this initiative, applicants acknowledge that the program organizers may reference their participation in program-related communications, publications, or events for promotion and public relations purposes without prejudice to the confidentiality obligations.
7. Contact Information
For any inquiries regarding the program details, application process, or corporate partnership themes, please feel free to contact the program management office: mbakry@tiec.gov.eg
ITIDA Innovation Bridge · Egypt × Japan · 2026