LocationsFrom Ideas to Impact: Youth at the Heart of Egypt’s Twin Transition
February 22, 2026
Nour presenting her idea to her peers and coaching experts at the bootcamp. Photo: UNDP Egypt
When twenty-two‑year‑old Nour Bahgat walked into the Twin Transition Ideation Bootcamp, she did not introduce herself as an entrepreneur. She introduced herself as someone with a seed of an idea to support Egypt’s climate future. “I want to understand how to develop my idea into something that makes a real impact,” she said. Two days later, she walked out not only with a business model but with the confidence to build it.
Nour’s journey mirrors that of thirty-five young Egyptians who stepped into the buzzing halls of the AI Everything MEA Egypt 2026 conference to be part of the bootcamp. They arrived carrying lived experiences: hotter summers, unpredictable seasons, crowded cities, and the pressure to find solutions that strengthen their communities. They came not simply to attend a bootcamp, but to answer a question many have been asking: What can I do?
Group brainstorming AI powered solutions to climate related challenges. Photo: UNDP Egypt
Inside this energy, curiosity, and quiet determination, the “Twin Transition Ideation Bootcamp” took shape. The bootcamp was led by UNDP through the Danish Egyptian Dialogue Initiative (DEDI) and the Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator Project (GGJAP), supported by Denmark, and in collaboration with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC), and the Creativa Innovation Hubs.
The twin transition involves redesigning systems, energy, transport, industry, and public services, to be simultaneously low‑carbon and digitally intelligent, enabling faster decision‑making, greater efficiency, and more resilient communities.
For Egypt, where rising temperatures, water scarcity, and rapid urban growth intersect with a fast‑growing tech ecosystem, the twin transition is not abstract; it is about resilience, jobs, and opportunity. This is why the bootcamp chose the twin transition as its theme: it sits at the crossroads of Egypt’s most urgent challenges and its greatest potential, offering a space where youth can co‑create solutions informed by both Egyptian realities and Danish innovation. In this spirit, the bootcamp was designed to foster cross‑border learning, youth exchange, and the co‑creation of solutions informed by both countries’experiences.
Inside the bootcamp: From problem statements to green pathways
Group brainstorming AI powered solutions to climate related challenges. Photo: UNDP Egypt
Over two days, youth embarked on a practical journey exploring the twin transition, Egypt’s climate priorities, and how digital technologies, especially AI, can help accelerate solutions. Participants also engaged with Danish startups, gaining insights into Denmark’s innovation context and its startup ecosystem. These exchanges supported the youth in understanding climate impacts on resilience, stability, and peace, while developing AI‑enabled climate solutions grounded in local realities. This exposure then fed into sessions on entrepreneurship, sustainability, and human‑centered design, enabling teams to define clear, locally rooted climate challenges before moving into ideation.
Youth motivations: Ideas anchored in community
Teams formed organically, bringing together students, graduates, and young professionals from governorates across Egypt. Each arrived with personal ambitions and with lived experience of rising heat, shifting seasons, and the need for climate solutions that support daily life. Through this process, youth gained a practical understanding of how AI and digital tools can support climate mitigation and adaptation.
Nour and Mohamed presenting their pitch on "RESILIA" Photo: UNDP Egypt
For Nour Bahgat (22) and Mohammed Al-Hedewy (21), the bootcamp marked a turning point. “We learned how to turn a concept into something that makes a real impact. AI became our creative tool, helping us refine our vision, shape it for the market, and see its potential to scale. We understood what it means to move from enhancement to transition to full transformation. Our startup, RESILIA, is an AI‑powered concept to turn water risks into water opportunities through floodwater harvesting, helping Egypt build a more resilient future. We are leaving the bootcamp with a clear system for our startup and the confidence to bring it to life.”
Discussions and feedback with Sigge Peterson, Business Developer at VitaFi Nordics. Photo: UNDP Egypt
Youth presenting tech-driven ideas on Energy consumption. Photo: UNDP Egypt
Through roundtables and guided discussions, youth explored the ethics of technology, responsible AI, and how innovation can support more inclusive and resilient communities. With coaching from UNDP and partners such as Flat6Labs, teams refined their value propositions and pitches, learning to clearly communicate their problems, solutions, users, and pathways to scale.
Ahmed on the sidelines of the bootcamp. Photo: UNDP Egypt
This dialogue‑centered approach engaged youth in conversations that link climate, peace, and security, and helped them articulate recommendations shaped by their own experiences. As discussions progressed, the bootcamp highlighted how strong ecosystems and international expertise strengthen innovation pathways. A key moment was the cross‑sector and cross‑border mentorship from Danish AI startups like VitaFi Nordics, RabitIQ, and Praice. These exchanges showed how Egypt and Denmark can learn from each other by connecting Egypt’s fast‑growing innovation landscape with Denmark’s experience in green and digital solutions.
“I was afraid that AI would replace my job. After hearing from the startups and coaches, I realized the opposite. AI can elevate my skills and create new opportunities for creativity and efficiency.” Ahmed Youssef, 25
Youth with UNDP team. Photo: UNDP Egypt
Youth with UNDP team. Photo: UNDP Egypt
After pitching and confidence coaching, Eyad confidently presents his idea at the bootcamp. Photo: UNDP Egypt
This bootcamp was the first collaboration between DEDI and ITIDA‑TIEC, setting the foundation for a broader partnership. In 2026, this partnership will aim to reach 2,000 youth across Egypt with ideation and inspiration to kickstart their own entrepreneurial journeys in the green sectors.
“I used to think attracting support for my ideas was impossible at my age. Now I know it is achievable with creativity, hard work, and clear thinking. This experience taught me to trust myself and believe my ideas are worth bringing to life.” Eyad Ramadan, 22