Prof. Dr. Mohamed Rashad Abdel Fattah, Acting Director of the Scientific Research and Technological Applications City (SRTA-City), announced the City's participation in a distinguished panel discussion held as part of the sixth edition of Waha Connect, an initiative organized by Silicon Waha, affiliated with the Egyptian Cabinet, under the title "When Factories Think: The Rise of Smart Manufacturing." The event took place on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in the presence of Mr. Hashem Mansi, CEO of Silicon Waha, along with a number of university presidents, faculty members, researchers from various universities and research centers, leading figures from the ICT industry, entrepreneurs, representatives of the industrial sector, and numerous university students. This participation reflects SRTA-City's commitment to supporting technological development and bridging the gap between academia, scientific research, and national industry.

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Rashad emphasized that SRTA-City's participation reinforces its pioneering role in advancing digital transformation and promoting the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies within the industrial sector. He noted that the City is strategically located in New Borg El Arab City, which hosts approximately 40% of Egypt's industrial base. From this standpoint, SRTA-City is keen to participate in events that facilitate the transfer and application of advanced technologies while exploring new opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of local industries through scientific research and digital innovation.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Hashem Mansi praised the scientific excellence and pioneering role of the Scientific Research and Technological Applications City, expressing his pride in having such a prestigious research and technology institution located adjacent to Waha Connect. He stressed that this unique geographical and research proximity represents a fundamental pillar for strengthening integration between scientific innovation and industrial applications, while opening promising prospects for broader collaboration in the coming period.

The panel discussion explored the role of artificial intelligence, automation, and emerging digital technologies in reshaping the future of manufacturing and accelerating industrial innovation. The session featured a distinguished group of experts, including:

- Prof. Dr. Mohamed Rashad Abdel Fattah, Acting Director of the Scientific Research and Technological Applications City (SRTA-City).

- Eng. Magdy El-Taher, Chairman of the Board of Robex International for Plastic and Acrylic Manufacturing.

- Eng. Ibrahim Atshi Ibrahim, Customer Success and Digital Transformation Manager at Appsoft and an expert in digital transformation and smart manufacturing.

- Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Hafez, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Robota Industries.

- Eng. Ahmed Abdel Moneim, Senior Projects Manager at the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA).

On the sidelines of the panel discussion, a field tour was organized to showcase outstanding university graduation projects. Participants and attendees reviewed a range of innovative student projects and practical applications in the fields of artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing. The showcased solutions received high praise for their innovation and potential to be adopted, further developed, and transformed into viable industrial projects for real-world implementation.