The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt, in collaboration with Egypt's Digital Creativity Centers 'Creativa', the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), and the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC), has opened applications for the DEDI Innovation Challenge. The initiative targets innovative youth, entrepreneurs, and early-stage startups working on digital and technological solutions to environmental and climate challenges in Egypt. It is implemented under the Danish-Egyptian Dialogue Initiative (DEDI) in cooperation with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the goal of helping young people turn innovative ideas into scalable and practically applicable green ventures through specialized training programs and expert technical support.
Program Overview and Objectives
• Program name: DEDI Innovation Challenge
• Lead organizer: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt
• Partners: Egypt's Digital Creativity Centers 'Creativa', Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC)
• Framework: Danish-Egyptian Dialogue Initiative (DEDI), in cooperation with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Purpose: support innovative youth, entrepreneurs, and early-stage startups to develop innovative technological and digital solutions for environmental and climate challenges in Egypt
• Approach: help participants convert innovative ideas into scalable, practically applicable green projects through specialized training programs and expert technical support
Target Sectors
• The challenge focuses on projects and innovative ideas in five main sectors:
• Energy
• Transport
• Water
• Agriculture
• Waste management
• Emphasis: developing smart technological and digital solutions that address environmental and climate challenges on the ground
Training Camps and Project Development
• Participants can attend intensive training camps organized online and in person in several Egyptian governorates.
• The camps are held in cooperation with UNDP and Egypt's Digital Creativity Centers 'Creativa'.
• The objective is to develop prototypes for green projects and test their applicability.
Participant Benefits
• Accredited certificates for completing the training camp from UNDP and Egypt's Digital Creativity Centers 'Creativa'.
• Specialized training, knowledge resources, and exclusive training courses delivered by a group of experts.
• Opportunity to qualify and join directly an integrated business incubator program.
• Incubator support includes startup establishment services and business model development, preparing participants to turn innovative ideas into growth-ready projects.
Eligibility Criteria
• Age: applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old.
• Participation format: individual or teams of up to five members.
• Training requirement: must have attended a previous ideas camp or an equivalent activity.
• Business model: must prepare an integrated Business Model Canvas (BMC) that explains the nature and operations of the project.
• Project maturity: must have a prototype or proof of concept, indicating the idea has moved beyond theoretical conceptualization to an assessable implementation level.
• Sector alignment: the project must be linked to one of the five targeted sectors: energy, transport, water, agriculture, or waste management.
• Additional advantage: holding a 'Greening Your Business' certificate grants extra points during evaluation but is not a mandatory condition for acceptance.
Application Deadline and Organizers
• Application deadline: 23 October 2026
• Organizers: UNDP Egypt, Egypt's Digital Creativity Centers 'Creativa', Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), and Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC)
• Initiative framework: activities of the Danish-Egyptian Dialogue Initiative (DEDI), in cooperation with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Strategic objective: strengthen the participation of Egyptian youth in developing innovative solutions to environmental and climate challenges by combining technology training and entrepreneurship, and provide pathways to support the establishment of startups in the green economy
The DEDI Innovation Challenge offers a structured pathway for young Egyptian innovators and early-stage startups to access specialized training, expert guidance, and potential incubation support while addressing pressing environmental and climate issues through technology and entrepreneurship. Interested applicants who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to register before the 23 October 2026 deadline.