Minia University President, Prof.Dr. Essam El-Din Sadeq Farahat, welcomed Eng. Ahmed Shaaban—Electrical Engineering graduate (Class of 2011) and Founder & CEO of “Simplex,” a leading CNC manufacturing company—in recognition of his entrepreneurial achievements and his international impact in technology, industry, and innovation.

The meeting was attended by Prof.Dr. Mostafa Mahmoud, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs; Prof.Dr. Yasser Refaat, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development; and Dr. Hamdy Metwally Sultan, Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering.

Dr. Farahat praised distinguished alumni as a true asset to the university, underscoring Minia University’s commitment to fostering creativity and preparing competitive talent for modern industry.

Discussions explored expanding cooperation between the university and Simplex, including establishing university-affiliated companies, supporting innovative startups through the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, and advancing joint projects aligned with the 2019 Science, Technology, and Innovation Incentives Law. The meeting also addressed ongoing collaboration in student training, support for graduation projects, and organizing employment fairs that strengthen the link between academia and the labor market.

Eng. Shaaban highlighted the pivotal role of his education at Minia University in shaping his career, stressing the importance of combining academic foundations with innovation and initiative. He shared insights on startup management, challenges of local manufacturing, and the role of youth in advancing Egyptian industry.

The discussion also touched on the National Strategic Plan for Higher Education (2023), and explored the establishment of a specialized academic program in CNC-based manufacturing—parallel to the development of Minia University of Technology.

During his visit, Eng. Shaaban delivered an open lecture to engineering students as part of preparations for the faculty’s Golden Jubilee in 2026. He shared his inspiring journey from a graduation project to leading a company with branches in 17 countries, serving over 8,000 clients, and operating factories in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Libya, Algeria, and Kenya, exporting more than 28 products worldwide.