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7 November 2023

NAID, Benha University Promote Inclusive Innovation with ‘Empowering People of Determination Hackathon’

The National Academy of Information Technology for Persons with Disabilities (NAID) and Benha University are co-organizing the Emerging Technologies for Empowering People of Determination Hackathon in February 2024.

The Hackathon is part of the national efforts to accelerate innovation and R&D. It acts as a springboard for young Egyptians: undergraduates, techies, creators, and developers to build innovative solutions around the themes of health, education, employment, sports, entertainment, and accessibility. The aim is to solve real-world challenges faced by persons with auditory, visual, speech/language, motor, or cognitive/learning/neurological disabilities.

The event is organized within the framework of the collaboration agreement between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), represented by NAID, and Benha University on empowering and integrating persons with disabilities (PwDs) into the higher education system and fostering R&D and entrepreneurship in assistive technology.

Students at Egyptian universities can apply for the Hackathon until December 31. Accepted applicants will be announced in January; they will receive hands-on training and attend activities and workshops on innovation, lean methodology, design thinking, and value creation. In February, participants, in three to five-member teams, will learn to design, develop, and test prototypes, and prepare for their final pitch at the Hackathon, on February 11-13.

NAID was established in 2018 as a hub for empowering and unlocking the potential of people with exceptional abilities to achieve economic and social development in Egypt. The Academy strives to become a one-of-a-kind center of excellence in the region for promoting innovation in assistive technology. From capacity building to technical training, NAID works to empower PwDs in Egypt and Arab and African countries and supports innovators in developing solutions using ICT tools and applications.

For more information on the Hackathon, kindly click here.

Related Websites

Benha University