The US Embassy in Cairo and the Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt recently hosted a regional conference focused on “Education, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship in the Age of AI.” This event, held from June 7 to 9, marked the 250th anniversary of the United States and highlighted the role of American AI technologies in fostering innovation and development in education, research, business, and governance across the MENA region and globally.
The conference featured presentations by 61 Fulbright alumni from the MENA region, who shared insights on the transformative impact of American AI. The event concluded with discussions on future US-MENA collaboration in artificial intelligence.
Marwa Abbas, IBM’s Technology Leader for North East Africa, delivered a keynote address emphasizing the importance of education and skills development in driving successful technological transformations. Ruben Harutunian from the US Embassy in Cairo highlighted the longstanding Fulbright partnership, noting its positive impact on both Egyptian and American communities.
Cari Graves from the US Department of State stressed the strategic value of the Fulbright Programme in fostering global and regional networks that promote innovation and growth. Mostafa Rifaat from the Supreme Council of Universities underscored the significance of the conference coinciding with America’s anniversary, celebrating values of education and international cooperation.
The event brought together Fulbright alumni from 11 Arab countries and distinguished guests from various sectors, celebrating American contributions to science and innovation and paving the way for future US-MENA collaborations. Established in 1949, the BFCE is the oldest and largest Fulbright programme in the MENA region, facilitating exchanges for over 8,000 scholars and students and strengthening US-Egypt relations.
