Benha University President Attends Closing of Third Graduation Projects Marathon

Prof. Nasser El-Gizawy, President of Benha University, together with prof. Hossam Osman, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Innovation, attended the university's third Graduation Projects Marathon.
The event was also graced by prof. Gehan Abdel Hadi, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research; prof. Taha Ashour, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development; faculty deans and vice-deans; and prof. Ayman Samir, Advisor to the University President for Innovation.
In his remarks, prof. El-Gizawy emphasized that the Graduation Projects Marathon embodies the university's vision of supporting creativity and innovation, transforming academic knowledge into practical projects that serve society and advance sustainable development goals. He noted that graduation projects are not merely academic requirements for a degree, but rather a true reflection of students' capabilities—products of years of learning, diligence, research, and teamwork.
He added that real investment lies in young minds capable of creativity and shaping the future. The marathon provides a platform for fair competition, exchange of expertise, and presentation of ideas and projects that showcase the scientific and practical excellence of Benha's students. El-Gizawy stressed that, as part of its role in building a knowledge economy and promoting innovation, the university is committed to creating an educational and research environment that stimulates creativity—supporting student projects, encouraging applied research, and expanding partnerships with industrial and technological institutions. The university, he said, seeks to incubate entrepreneurial ideas and turn them into implementable projects, preparing graduates able to compete in the labor market and deliver innovative solutions that meet societal needs and align with Egypt's sustainable development vision.
The university President expressed gratitude to faculty members and supervisors for their dedication in guiding students, and praised all participating teams for their outstanding work. He hoped the marathon would mark another step toward excellence and leadership, keeping Benha University a beacon of science and innovation, a cradle of talent and creative ideas, and a source of future leaders driving development.
Prof. Hossam Osman delivered a lecture titled “Innovation Economy and the Journey to Entrepreneurship”, highlighting successful models of entrepreneurship and the significant annual revenues achieved by leading global companies. He also pointed to international universities and research centers—such as Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, and others in Asia and Europe—as engines of innovation. He thanked Benha University for organizing this event dedicated to advancing the knowledge economy, describing it as a pioneering partner in achieving Egypt's national goals, particularly in transforming scientific research into practical applications.
Prof. Gehan Abdel Hadi noted that the Graduation Projects Marathon has become an annual platform that brings together creativity, innovation, and excellence, reflecting the university's promising youth potential to turn ideas into projects that serve society and contribute to Egypt's Vision 2030. She praised the high level of competition, pointing out that students presented exemplary projects that demonstrated the quality of education and their ability to harness knowledge, research, and technology to provide practical solutions to societal challenges. She affirmed that the university will continue to support outstanding projects, align them with labor market needs, and encourage the transformation of innovative ideas into practical applications and startups that drive national development.
Prof. Ayman Samir explained that the third Graduation Projects Marathon featured 203 projects, of which 131 advanced to the finals, presented by 541 students from 10 faculties. The projects spanned six key themes: smart technology and digital transformation; energy and industry; environmental sustainability and water; agriculture and food security; health innovation and biotechnology; and entrepreneurship and the creative economy. He added that all participating projects showcased prototypes ready for presentation and further development, evaluated by 27 expert judges. This reflects the university's commitment to transforming academic knowledge and student ideas into innovative, applicable, and investable products—supporting the shift from the age of knowledge to the age of the knowledge economy.