A Home for Innovation Connecting the Middle East and Africa
Cultivate New Ideas — Co-Create with Industry Trendsetters — Innovate Authentic Solutions
AUC Innovation Hub is a platform for corporations, start-ups, AUC faculty and students, and the supporting ecosystem to work in the same space and collaborate to research and co-create innovative solutions for Egypt’s and the region’s toughest challenges.
Through AUC iHub, AUC will create a number of long-term partnerships to productize innovations with the aim of creating sustainable impact in Egypt and the world. By offering our partners the location at AUC New Cairo and by empowering their efforts with a rich set of services, we offer our innovation partners world-class secure facilities, with access to tools, technology, labs, equipment, and support, along with the opportunity to learn, design and build through formal and informal programming. Their presence on campus allows them to work on strategic and cutting-edge projects syncing with existing AUC programs and facilities.
A Powerhouse for Innovation
A dynamic ecosystem that connects industry and academia to drive innovation, the AUC iHub is a springboard for industry partnerships, multidisciplinary research and experiential learning. It leverages AUC’s wealth of research expertise, bright young minds and state-of-the-art campus facilities to provide a platform for the research, development and commercialization of technologies that offer creative solutions to today’s most pressing challenges.
Connecting Creative Partners in Innovation 
The AUC iHub serves two constituencies – industry and higher education – through its mutually reinforcing, dual mission: to bring AUC’s most innovative faculty, students and their labs and learning spaces together with corporate research and innovative startups.
The AUC iHub will serve as a satellite research center for innovative companies, organizations and individuals seeking synergies with AUC’s leading faculty, students and alumni on multidisciplinary research and its practical applications; create a co-working space for startups; support social innovation and policy research; provide business and advisory services for the innovation ecosystem; and build a vibrant entrepreneurial community.
Winning on All Fronts
Industry Partners
Enterprises, big and small, share prime space in a strategic location on AUC’s state-of-the-art New Cairo campus with world-class facilities and a multitude of services. The iHub provides a gateway for industry partners to access the fresh perspectives of AUC’s star faculty and brightest young minds. They will have the opportunity both to shape and to exploit academic research to create and validate products and services in a collaborative environment.
Students
Through internships and class projects, AUC’s most creative and entrepreneurial students interact with industry trendsetters and gain exposure to the real-world challenges businesses face on a daily basis. They engage in mind-expanding work that equips them with transferable skills in problem-solving and critical thinking. By practically applying their theoretical knowledge and brainstorming solutions, students learn by doing in a creative environment. As rising young consumers themselves, they can serve reciprocally to shape industry translation of research into commercial applications.
Faculty
AUC faculty members work closely with industry partners on cutting-edge corporate research projects and co-create solutions to regional and global challenges. Through university-industry partnerships, faculty members translate research findings into marketable products and new technologies aimed at improving the lives and meeting the tastes and needs of the rising generation of global consumers.
Alumni
AUC alumni looking to advance their creative ventures have priority as iHub members, gaining access to diverse global corporations, startups, expert AUC faculty members, and a rich pool of creative and intellectual student talent. By joining the iHub’s supportive environment, alumni have a unique edge to grow their new enterprise and take it to the next level.
Striking up Partnerships
Industry Satellite Research
Industrial research programs in partnership with AUC faculty, corporate innovation labs seeking collaboration with AUC, and international university research centers.
Innovative Startups
Startups by AUC students, alumni and faculty or graduates of the AUC Venture Lab — Egypt’s rst University-based startup incubator and accelerator. Social enterprises and high-potential startups that sprouted from student graduation projects are also included. AUC is careful about fair space allocation and maintaining a diverse industry mix among tenants.
Social Innovation and Policy Research
Nonprofits, policy research centers and organizations working on social innovation and entrepreneurship.
Ecosystem Support
Startup accelerators and incubators, design thinking labs, fab labs, design firms, law firms, digital marketing firms and research organizations focused on serving entrepreneurship and innovation.
A Design-Conscious Space
The iHub’s main features include private as well as open, collaborative office spaces; fixed-size startup spots, fully equipped conference rooms, lounge seating areas and a cafeteria. An adjacent outdoor area encourages open engagement, networking and exchange of ideas.
AUC-Mountain View Design Thinking Challenge


Innovation Sprints


What People are Saying
"Ideas come easily, ideas are not important. What is important is the beautiful skill of listening. The ability to apply it in a personal and professional context changes everything. I really appreciate that you could see something and build on it. It's very tempting to come up with something completely new, but glory doesn't go to everything shiny, glory goes to being grounded."
Suzan Salem, head of partnerships and business development, Wuzzuf
"The final presentations and ideas were very insighful. It was an eye-opening experience; how the teams perceived the problems we're facing and tackled them in our business model using our own words, without us realizing that they already exist. It was a great experience and hopefully, we come back in the future with another challenge."
Hashim Ibrahim, partnerships director, Klickit
"I decided to join this design sprint as I wanted to learn how the design thinking approach can be used to develop and improve my own startup - a B2B marketplace that provides raw materials for F&Bs."
Marwan Hassan, one of the first design sprint participants