Egyptian Nonprofit EiTESAL Launches New Award for Startups in Honour of ICTE Pioneer Tarek Kamel

The Egyptian Information Telecommunications, Electronics & Software Alliance, aka EiTESAL, is a nonprofit, non-government entity that has been representing the information and communications technologies and electronics (ICTE) sector in Egypt since its formation in 2004.

Having been born of a merger between the Egyptian High-Tech Association (EHITA) and the Egyptian Software Alliance (ESA), EiTESAL has gone on to gain over 300 member companies of different sizes and ICTE specialisations.

One of its latest initiatives comes as an homage to the late Tarek Kamel, the former Egyptian Minister of Communications & IT and a computer engineer expert in global internet governance issues. Marking one year since the passing of Kamel, EiTESAL has launched the Tarek Kamel Award for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, which targets startups in the field.

13 companies from across Egypt have backed the award, which will see one winner take home EGP 100,000 and aims to put a spotlight on young innovators, while providing a platform for them. A Committee of industry experts and heavyweights will evaluate the applicants, who are asked to present ICTE solutions that benefit local or global communities.

Aside from his ministerial role, Kamel held a number of positions, including was the chairman of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) and the Information Technology Institute’s (ITI) Boards of Trustees. He also became the first person from a developing country to hold a senior management position at US-based nonprofit, iCANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), when he was appointed as a senior advisor to its president and Senior VP of Global Government and IGO Engagement

Applications are open now and until November 1st, 2020. Click here for more.