NetKite was an EU-funded initiative to foster cross-Mediterranean innovation by connecting research institutions with enterprises. In Egypt, Innovety partnered with ASRT to design the country’s first comprehensive Technology Transfer Roadmap, assessing the ecosystem, benchmarking global practices, and defining commercialization pathways.
The roadmap identified 30+ systemic gaps, mapped 5 sector priorities, and produced a national action plan with phased implementation steps to strengthen industry–academia linkages, building directly on principles central to our Socioeconomic Development strategy services. This laid the foundation for Egypt’s future technology transfer models, aligning research outputs with market needs and embedding a replicable framework for innovation-led growth.
Egypt’s research ecosystem has historically generated a wealth of scientific outputs, yet these rarely translated into market-ready innovations. Universities and research centers lacked structured Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and policies to protect and commercialize intellectual property.
Industry–academia collaboration was minimal, leaving most innovations disconnected from real market needs. Without clear pathways, Egypt risked losing valuable intellectual assets and missing opportunities for job creation and economic diversification.
Innovety began with a comprehensive assessment of Egypt’s research and innovation landscape, covering 20 universities, research centers, and industrial clusters. Through surveys, interviews, and policy reviews, the team identified 30+ systemic gaps across IP management, commercialization pathways, and industry collaboration. This diagnosis provided the evidence base for designing a roadmap grounded in Egypt’s realities.
Building on this analysis, Innovety authored a national roadmap for technology transfer and spin-off development. The roadmap defined structures, processes, and tools to optimize the commercialization journey—from invention disclosure to licensing and spin-off creation. It also prioritized 5 economic sectors where technology transfer could deliver the highest economic and social returns, aligning research priorities with Egypt’s industrial demand.
Recognizing the human capacity gap, Innovety delivered a 6-week capacity-building program for staff of Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and Technology Innovation Commercialization Offices (TICOs). The training covered IP management, market assessment, licensing, grant writing, and negotiation, equipping participants with both the technical and business skills required to run effective TTOs. A pilot coaching program was implemented with 3 TICOs, guiding them through real commercialization cases and strengthening their operational models.
In line with NetKite’s cross-Mediterranean vision, Innovety proposed two platforms: an online innovation portal to connect researchers and industry virtually, and an offline industry–academia collaboration forum to build trust and partnerships through events and exhibitions. These platforms introduced open innovation practices to Egypt’s ecosystem, creating a culture of knowledge sharing and collaborative commercialization.
To ensure sustainability, Innovety developed practical guidelines for IP protection, licensing agreements, spin-off support, and TTO operations. These guidelines were designed as a reference for ASRT and research institutions, consolidating international best practices and adapting them to Egypt’s context.
