Under the auspices of Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Nawah Scientific celebrated its tenth anniversary in a milestone event reflecting the exceptional trajectory of one of Egypt’s pioneering science driven enterprises, specializing in advanced scientific and industrial testing services across Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East.
Funding Round
The ceremony, held at Cairo’s historic Salah El-Din Citadel, brought together senior figures from government, the research community, and the investment sector. Attendees included Hossam Heiba, Chief Executive Officer of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), alongside representatives of financial and research institutions and partners from within Egypt and abroad.
The celebration also featured the signing of a new $23 million funding round for Nawah Scientific, led by Life Ventures Holding.
Company’s Expansion
Dr. Omar Shoukry Sakr, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nawah Scientific, said the round is intended to support the company’s regional and international expansion plans and strengthen its research and technology capabilities in the coming phase. He also noted that Nawah was recently selected among the winning alliances under the presidential initiative “Alliance and Development” days earlier.
Inspiring National Model
During the event, Heiba described Nawah Scientific as an inspiring national model that has successfully bridged scientific research with the demands of development. He stressed that, within a single decade, the company has demonstrated the capacity of Egypt’s private sector to invest seriously in science and translate it into an economic engine that serves society and the state.
He added that Nawah represents an advanced example of knowledge-based companies powered by innovation and deep technology, an approach aligned with Egypt’s direction toward a value added, technology-driven economy.
Institutional Scientific Excellence
Heiba further emphasized that Nawah’s achievements reflect institutional scientific excellence, not merely commercial success. He pointed out that GAFI attaches particular importance to supporting this type of institution, which contributes to localizing technology and strengthening scientific independence, by providing a supportive investment environment, streamlining procedures, and offering the incentives required for sustainable growth.
He added that the company’s regional and international expansion, while maintaining its research roots in Egypt, strengthens the country’s standing as a regional center for research and innovation.
Scientific and Geographic Impact
For his part, Dr. Sakr said that the 10 year anniversary comes at a pivotal moment as Nawah moves into a broader phase in terms of scientific and geographic impact. He explained that closing the new round reflects investors’ confidence in Nawah’s specialized research based business model and its ability to deliver longterm, sustainable growth.
He added that the next stage will include expanding research infrastructure, establishing a global research center in Rwanda, and doubling the size of the company’s existing laboratories in Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Latest Round
Notably, the latest round is structured as a blended package of equity and debt, led by Life Ventures Holding, with participation from deep tech and life science investors including Den Ventures, Empire M, AfricInvest, and Elsewedy, in addition to a group of angel investors and banks.
Cloud Lab Model
Over the past decade, Nawah Scientific has developed its cloud lab model, enabling advanced experiments and testing to be conducted remotely. The company expanded into the pharmaceutical and food domains, becoming one of a limited number of companies worldwide specializing in the production of certified reference materials. Nawah has contributed to testing more than one million samples, employs around 160 researchers across several countries, supported the development of hundreds of pharmaceutical and food products, and serves clients in 30 countries.
