Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ayman Ashour on Sunday said the National Authority For Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS) is due to take part in the Africa Earth Observation (AEO) Challenge.
The participation of NARSS will be carried out through the incubation program provided by the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC), the minister added.
NARSS Chairman Islam Abul Magd said three innovative ideas and startups are taking part in the Africa Earth Observation (AEO) Challenge.
The startup “Space as a service”, the first Egyptian emerging company focusing on providing internet products and services through industrial satellites at reasonable prices for companies seeking remote sensing and monitoring services, is participating in the challenges, he said.
“GeoSport”, a startup which provides a mobile application designed as a cross-platform for ensuring safety of athletes while playing sports, is competing in the challenge as well.
Also, another contender is “EGRET Solutions” startup, which seeks triggering an agricultural revolution through applying remote sensing and analysis techniques, Abul Magd added.
Meanwhile, Ashour, in a statement, asserted the state’s keenness on providing all forms of support to entrepreneurship activities, startups and outcomes of scientific research, with a view to effectively contributing to attaining economic and social growth as well as Egypt Vision 2030.
The Africa Earth Observation (AEO) Challenge is an annual open innovation competition aimed at sourcing novel space technologies since 2016, said Abul Magd.
This challenge seeks to drive entrepreneurial activity in the African space industry and promote awareness of the value of earth observation data across the continent and in multiple sectors like water and food security, mining, logistics, insurance, and many more, he added.
