Executive Overview and Mandate
The Optica Egypt Local Section is the official national charter of Optica (formerly OSA) in the Arab Republic of Egypt. Established on 10 September 2026, the section unites university students, academic researchers, faculty, and deep-tech industry engineers across Egypt into a single collaborative ecosystem connected to the global optics and photonics community.
Strategic Vision
Position Egypt as the premier regional hub for optical science, silicon photonics design, and deep-tech innovation across the Middle East and North Africa.
Operational Mission
Democratize photonics education, open-source design automation, and research funding with zero financial barriers for Egyptian students and researchers.
Five Strategic Execution Pillars
- Open-Source Photonic Design Automation (PDA): Zero-cost Python layout and FDTD simulation workflows using gdsfactory, Meep, and KLayout.
- Flagship Scientific Conference (EPC 2027): Peer-reviewed Egypt Photonics Conference with five technical tracks and DOI-indexed proceedings.
- Academic Upskilling and Seasonal Schools: Intensive tuition-free seasonal schools and hands-on CAD bootcamps rotating across Egyptian universities.
- Direct Research Seed Funding: Best Thesis Award in Photonics (B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.) and the Optica Egypt Thesis Fund (up to 25,000 EGP).
- Nationwide Campus Chapters and STEM Outreach: Supporting student chapters across Egyptian universities and pre-university K-12 optics demonstrations.
Founding Executive Leadership and Senior Advisory Board
Founding Executive Officers
Abdulaziz Albadawi — First President and Co-Founder (AUC)
Islam I. Abdulaal — Founder, Section Initiator, and Webmaster (FAU / MPSP)
Khaled Ramadan — Vice President and Co-Founder (Ain Shams)
Mohamed Nader — Secretary and Co-Founder (Ain Shams)
Arwa Elsherbiny — Treasurer and Co-Founder (Ain Shams)
Founding Senior Faculty Advisors
Prof. Diaa Khalil — Professor of Photonics, Ain Shams University; Chief Scientist, Si-Ware Systems
Prof. Yasser Sabry — Professor of Photonics and MEMS, Ain Shams University; Co-Inventor of NeoSpectra
Assoc. Prof. Salem Hegazy — Associate Professor of Quantum Optics, Cairo University and Zewail City