# Heba Labib

Chief Innovation Officer · Zewail City of Science and Technology · Egypt

Page: https://techne-summit-concept.pages.dev/speakers/heba-labib

Dr. Heba Labib is the Chief Innovation Officer at Zewail City of Science, Technology and Innovation, where she is leading the development and operationalization of the City’s innovation and entrepreneurship pillar. Her work focuses on transforming Zewail City’s scientific capabilities, research, technologies, talent, and advanced infrastructure into economic and societal impact.
She oversees Zewail City’s activities in technology transfer and industry collaboration, entrepreneurship and venture development, innovation ecosystem building, and the development of innovation spaces. She is currently leading the establishment of the systems, policies, programs, partnerships, and organizational capabilities required to commercialize research, create deep-tech ventures, strengthen university–industry collaboration, and position Zewail City as a leading deep-tech innovation hub in Egypt and the region.
Before joining Zewail City, Dr. Labib served as AVP for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Nile University, where she led NilePreneurs, one of Egypt’s largest innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives. Through NilePreneurs, she contributed to supporting more than 450 startups and 850 SMEs, training over 25,000 individuals, and facilitating the development of more than 200 innovative products and research-based solutions.
Dr. Labib previously served as Director of the Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness Center and managed Nile University’s Technology Commercialization and Industry Relations Office. She also founded NU100, an entrepreneurship initiative supporting university entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneur, she co-founded Palm Paper, a wastepaper recycling company, and Nile’s Gift, an exporter of medicinal and aromatic plants.
Her contributions have received several recognitions, including being named among Egypt’s Top 50 Influential Women and being recognized as a leading entrepreneurial figure in Africa at the 2023 Triple E Awards in Barcelona. She has also received the Arab Business Challenge Award, the Business in Development Challenge Award, and the Shell Intelaqah Award for Best Business Idea.
Dr. Labib holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Oakland University in Michigan, USA, and an MSc and PhD in Management of Technology from Nile University, Egypt. She also teaches in the fields of technology entrepreneurship, innovation management, blue economy entrepreneurship, and innovation in wastewater reuse. She is a member of the European Innovation Expert Support Board for the Future4PRIMA initiative and contributes to regional and international discussions on research commercialization, innovation ecosystems, and entrepreneurship.
Outside her professional work, she is an avid traveller and a PADI-certified Advanced Open Water Diver.

## Sessions at Techne Summit 2026

- [Beyond the Pilot: Turning Corporate–Startup Collaboration into Growth](https://techne-summit-concept.pages.dev/agenda/beyond-the-pilot-turning-corporate-startup-collaboration-into-growth.md): Sun 27 Sept, 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm, Ghurnata - Andalus Stage, Cairo
- [From Innovation to Investment: Building a Resilient Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Amid Changing Conditions](https://techne-summit-concept.pages.dev/agenda/from-innovation-to-investment-building-a-resilient-entrepreneurship-ec.md): Sat 3 Oct, 1:10 pm – 1:55 pm, Lecture Room, Alexandria