Shell Egypt Champions Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship at EGYPES 2025

Shell Egypt reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment and sustainable innovation at EGYPES 2025, where the NXplorers Awards Ceremony and Intilaaqah Egypt showcase took centre stage. Through these flagship social investment programmes, Shell is helping to shape the next generation of energy leaders and entrepreneurs, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and platforms to drive meaningful change.

NXplorers Awards: Recognizing the brightest young innovators

The NXplorers Awards Ceremony at EGYPES 2025 celebrated Egypt’s most promising young problem-solvers, recognizing their ability to tackle real-world sustainability challenges through creative and systems-based thinking. This year’s competition saw over 160 applicants, with more than 75 attendees representing 13 teams. After a rigorous selection process, 6 teams were shortlisted as finalists. The winning team, ECO Safe, developed an innovative approach to reducing the harmful effects of plastic waste on public health in Manshea Nasser, Cairo, by 50-70% by 2028.

ECO Safe’s approach comprises the formation of modern research centres for recycling technologies and amending legislature to combat the establishment of illegal plastic processing workshops by working with private sector companies and informal garbage collectors. Ultimately, the vision should result in turning a polluted area into an oasis of progress and sustainability and reducing the harm of plastic waste.

Speaking about the programme’s impact, Heba El Karrar, Communications & Social Investment Lead at Shell Egypt, stated: “The NXplorers programme is about empowering young people with the tools to think critically, collaborate, and take action, in order to be able to tangibly innovate. The solutions presented this year show that Egypt’s youth are ready to lead the way in sustainability and energy transition. At Shell, we are committed to fostering these talents and ensuring they have the support to turn their ideas into real-world impact.”

Launched in 2017, the NXplorers programme has engaged thousands of students across Egypt, helping them develop solutions that align with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Shell Intilaaqah Egypt: Empowering Egypt’s next wave of entrepreneurs

Alongside the NXplorers Awards, six high-potential startups from Shell Intilaaqah Egypt were showcased at the Shell booth, giving them a platform to present their innovative businesses to industry leaders, investors, and policymakers. These startups, spanning renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, healthcare, and e-mobility solutions, are at the forefront of driving economic growth and sustainable business models.

Reflecting on the programme’s significance, Ahmed Gabry, Social Performance Manager at Shell Egypt, commented: “Entrepreneurship is a powerful force for economic resilience and innovation. Through Intilaaqah, we are equipping Egypt’s young entrepreneurs with the resources and mentorship needed to build scalable, impactful businesses. Seeing these startups take centre stage at EGYPES 2025 is a testament to their potential and the importance of investing in local talent.”

The featured startups included Solar Edge, which has developed a self-cleaning device for solar panels; Hybridly, a platform that connects renewable energy stakeholders; and Qatfa, an agri-tech solution that reduces food waste using biodegradable coatings. Other showcased startups included Banana Med, which pioneers surgical sutures made from banana fibers; Seaats, an e-mobility platform revolutionizing last-mile delivery; and Croptimus, which enhances agricultural efficiency through biochar and bio-oil technology.

Shell Egypt’s long-term commitment to social investment

NXplorers and Shell Intilaaqah Egypt are part of Shell Egypt’s wider social investment strategy, which focuses on education, skills development, and entrepreneurship – key pillars of its Powering Progress strategy.

As EGYPES 2025 concludes, Shell Egypt remains committed to nurturing talent, empowering youth, and investing in a future where innovation and sustainability drive lasting progress.