Summary of The Daily Debate 15 4 2025 Prof Nevine Makram Labib

The video episode of "The Daily Debate" on April 15, 2025, focuses on Egyptian-European cooperation in information technology (IT) and digital transformation. The discussion is anchored by Dr. Nevine Makram Labib, Chair of the Department of Computer and Information Systems at SSAT Academy for Management Sciences, who provides expert insights on the evolving partnership.

Key Points and Analysis:

  1. Context of Egyptian-European Cooperation:
    • The cooperation began in 2024 with a focus on digital transformation initiatives, emphasizing knowledge transfer, joint innovative research projects, and cybersecurity.
    • Egypt’s association with Horizon Europe, the EU’s premier research and innovation program, was successfully negotiated and is expected to be signed by November 2025. This will allow Egyptian researchers to participate on equal footing with EU countries, boosting innovation in sectors like energy, food security, and digital transition.
    • This partnership builds on longstanding EU-Egypt science and technology cooperation and was elevated to a strategic and comprehensive partnership in March 2024.
  2. Benefits to Egypt:
    • Capacity building through training programs and awareness campaigns, especially targeting youth, to develop skills in AI and other emerging technologies.
    • Exchange of technical expertise has helped digitize governmental institutions and improve digital infrastructure across key sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and transportation.
    • The partnership supports Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enabling digital transformation to improve public services and governance.
    • Emphasis on cybersecurity policies and governance frameworks to mitigate risks associated with digital transformation and AI technologies.
  3. Strategic Importance and Future Plans:
    • The partnership is mutually beneficial, focusing on digital transformation as a foundation for better public services and economic development.
    • Future cooperation aims to strengthen governance frameworks, especially regarding ethical and legal issues around AI, and to foster an ecosystem that encourages AI technologies “made in Egypt.”
    • Egypt’s digital transformation is supported by significant EU funding, including a $1.3 billion cooperation portfolio and a $7.44 billion global Europe fund, enabling infrastructure development and capacity building.
    • European companies are actively involved in improving Egypt’s IT infrastructure, including expanding internet access and providing technical expertise.
  4. Challenges:
    • Resistance to digital transformation exists, mainly due to a lack of awareness and fear of cybersecurity risks among the general population, especially adults.
    • Changing mindsets is critical; awareness campaigns and educational initiatives targeting all age groups, including schoolchildren, are needed to foster acceptance.
    • Ethical concerns around AI and digital governance require regulatory frameworks informed by EU experience to prevent bias and corruption in automated systems.
  5. Role of Private Sector and Education:
    • The private sector supports capacity building by providing hardware, software, incubators, and managerial training to complement technical education.
    • Universities and training programs are increasingly emphasizing practical skills to prepare graduates for the digital economy.
    • Startups and youth innovation are encouraged through incubators and market access opportunities in the EU.
  6. Impact on Governance and Transparency:
    • Digitalization reduces corruption by minimizing human intervention in processes, though vigilance is needed to ensure data and algorithms are unbiased.
    • Smart governance initiatives aim to integrate services across ministries to improve efficiency and citizen satisfaction.
  7. Citizen Benefits:
    • Digital government services have improved accessibility and user satisfaction, though challenges remain.
    • The ultimate goal is a fully digital Egypt by 2027, with AI-driven data analytics supporting policy making and service delivery.
  8. Trade and Investment Cooperation:
    • Parallel to IT cooperation, Egypt and the EU are working to boost trade and investment, reduce trade barriers, and improve infrastructure and logistics to facilitate economic ties.
    • The strategic partnership fosters a transparent and competitive trade environment benefiting businesses and communities on both sides.

Conclusion:

Dr. Nevine Makram Labib underscores the importance of continuing to build capacity, fostering an ecosystem conducive to innovation, and changing public perceptions to embrace digital transformation. The Egyptian-European partnership is pivotal in achieving Egypt’s digital and Sustainable Development Goals, with a vision of AI technologies developed domestically and integrated into all sectors to improve citizens’ lives.

Presenters and Contributors:

Notable Quotes

— 27:40 — « We cannot tell them that we have no risks and that everything is nice no that's not the case we should be realistic and respect their mentalities and tell them that these technologies may be very useful if used in a proper way. »
— 28:10 — « Sometimes with these people they give their passwords to their police... and then everyone is aware of all the data that's there and now we're talking about how to protect the data if we go digital. »
— 28:49 — « They hear digital or digitization or digitalization or digital transformation and then maybe we'll have robots around us and maybe we'll have wars and then they watch some movies some scary movies that's the scenarios they have. »
— 44:44 — « It's not necessary that these systems will not be corrupt because you have two main aspects or two main inputs in the system the data and the algorithm. Sometimes you feed the system with biased data and this leads to unfair outcomes. »
— 45:23 — « With the EU they have a very nice charter for AI so as to make sure that it is ethical AI and they did a great job in transforming these ethical aspects into regulations. »

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