As part of the ongoing development of the SPEEDUP support ecosystem in Egypt, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) held an online coordination meeting with the Alexandria Business Association (ABA) on 19 August 2026. The meeting focused on preparations for the SPEEDUP Hub at AASTMT’s Alamein Campus and on exploring potential cooperation to support the project’s two Egyptian hubs in Alamein and Abu Qir/Alexandria.
The two hubs are being developed as local points of access to SPEEDUP’s acceleration activities, supporting startups, SMEs and entrepreneurs through capacity building, mentoring, business guidance, networking opportunities and access to relevant expertise and market connections.
Within AASTMT, preparations for the Egyptian hubs are jointly coordinated by Prof. Sara El Gazzar, Dean of the College of International Transport and Logistics; Dr. Sandra Haddad, Dean of the College of International Transport and Logistics at Alamein Campus; and Dr. Heba Al-Ashry, Director of the AASTMT Entrepreneurship Center. The meeting was also attended by Prof. Yasser Gaber Dessouky, Dean of Scientific Research and Innovation, and Dr. Mahmoud Barakat.
Representing the Alexandria Business Association were Eng. Mohamed Hanno, Board Member, and Dr. Walid Eid, Head of the Entrepreneurship Committee, alongside other participants.
The discussions explored how ABA’s business network and entrepreneurship expertise could contribute to the development of the SPEEDUP ecosystem in Egypt. Particular attention was given to strengthening outreach to SMEs and startups, facilitating connections with mentors and industry professionals, identifying practical business challenges, engaging relevant speakers and experts, and creating opportunities for future market linkages.
The participants also discussed ways in which the SPEEDUP Hubs can enhance the support available to entrepreneurs and enterprises by providing access to training, mentoring, business guidance, visibility and relevant professional networks.
The meeting marked a further step in the preparation of the SPEEDUP Alamein Hub and in the development of potential cooperation around the project’s two Egyptian hubs. By bringing together academic, entrepreneurial and business stakeholders, SPEEDUP continues to build the local partnerships needed to strengthen support for innovation, entrepreneurship and SME development across the project’s target regions.
AASTMT and the Alexandria Business Association expressed their commitment to exploring further opportunities for cooperation and to contributing to a stronger support environment for entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs through the SPEEDUP project.
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