Orange Egypt Partners with Paragon Developments | Adir International to Launch AI Campus and “AI 100” Program
Reinforcing its role as a key technology partner in advancing digital transformation and fostering a knowledge-based economy, Orange Egypt has announced the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Paragon Developments | Adir International to launch the “AI Campus” - the first of its kind in Egypt, the Middle East, and Africa - within the SODIC Boulevard project in Mostakbal City, New Cairo, in collaboration with the global innovation platform Plug and Play.
This initiative aligns with Orange Egypt’s commitment to supporting Egypt’s vision of building an integrated digital economy and strengthening the country’s position as a leading regional hub for artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. It aims to deliver a smart digital infrastructure capable of meeting future demands.
The MoU was signed during a high-level ceremony held at the Grand Egyptian Museum, in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Investment, alongside senior executives, key stakeholders, and strategic partners.
The “AI Campus” represents a fully integrated model that combines advanced technology, urban development, and global innovation ecosystems. Spanning 500 feddans at the heart of SODIC Boulevard, the campus is designed to serve as a comprehensive platform for supporting startups and entrepreneurship in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, contributing to attracting investments and accelerating the growth of Egypt’s digital economy.
Under this partnership, Orange Egypt will lead the development of the campus’s smart digital infrastructure by deploying cutting-edge connectivity technologies, including 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and intelligent connectivity solutions. This will create a dynamic business environment that fosters innovation and enhances operational efficiency across the campus.
These efforts are complemented by the expertise of Paragon | Adir in developing smart urban communities, alongside Plug and Play’s global role in connecting startups with international innovation networks and accelerating their growth and scalability.
As part of this collaboration, Orange Egypt and its partners will launch the “AI 100” program within the AI Campus - a four-year strategic initiative aimed at supporting and developing 100 AI-driven startups in Egypt by 2030. The program will offer advanced training, specialized workshops, investment readiness tracks, and direct access to global innovation ecosystems.
Commenting on the partnership, Eng. Mohamed Shabl, Chief Business Officer at Orange Egypt, said: “Launching the AI Campus in partnership with Paragon | Adir represents a strategic milestone that underscores Orange Egypt’s commitment to leading the development of a fully integrated digital innovation ecosystem in Egypt. We are not only providing advanced infrastructure, but also empowering a new generation of startups and enhancing their ability to compete regionally and globally.”
He added: “This partnership reflects an advanced model of integration between technology and infrastructure, supporting Egypt’s Digital Strategy and Egypt Vision 2030, while strengthening the country’s position as a regional hub for artificial intelligence.”
For his part, Eng. Bedeir Rizk, CEO of Paragon | Adir, said: “The AI Campus at SODIC Boulevard marks a transformative milestone for Egypt, where innovation meets sustainability in a boundary-pushing environment. In collaboration with Plug and Play, we are not merely building infrastructure, but establishing a fully integrated ecosystem capable of capturing and evolving with global opportunities.”
He added: “Our partnership with Orange Egypt brings significant value to the project, as the company plays a pivotal role in empowering startups through advanced digital infrastructure and technical expertise needed to accelerate their growth.”
Karima El Hakim, Egypt Country Director at Plug and Play, commented: “The AI Campus and the AI 100 program represent a powerful platform to strengthen Egypt’s position as a regional AI hub by connecting startups to global markets and building a collaborative innovation ecosystem.”
SODIC Boulevard stands as one of the most prominent integrated urban development projects in New Cairo, developed through the Paragon | Adir alliance, reflecting a strategic partnership between local expertise and regional investments in support of Egypt’s vision for smart and sustainable cities.
Through this partnership, Orange Egypt reaffirms its commitment to leveraging technology to support Egypt’s digital transformation agenda, empower innovation ecosystems, and create new opportunities for sustainable economic growth, in alignment with Egypt Vision 2030.