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Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abidin, President of Ain Shams University, inaugurated the Electrical Fundamentals and Automation Laboratories at the Faculty of Engineering following their complete renovation and upgrade, as part of the University’s collaboration with ABB, a global leader in technology and industrial automation. He also inaugured the 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing Building. The inauguration was attended by Prof. Rami Maher Ghali, Vice President of the University for Education and Student Affairs; H.E. Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt, Ambassador of Sweden to Egypt; Thomas Baumgartner, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt; Prof. Mohamed Salheen, Vice President of Ain Shams National University for Academic Affairs; Prof. Amr Shaat, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering; and Ahmed Hammad, Chairman of ABB Egypt, along with ABB executives and a number of partners and guests from academic and industrial institutions.

In his remarks, Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen emphasized that the collaboration represents an outstanding model of university-industry partnership, noting that advancing higher education requires engagement with leading institutions and benefiting from their expertise. He pointed out that the two newly upgraded laboratories provide a practical training environment aligned with the latest developments in engineering, technology, and automation, offering students a valuable opportunity to bridge academic knowledge with modern industrial applications.

He further explained that the 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing Building represents a significant addition to the faculty’s education and innovation ecosystem, supporting creativity, design, and prototyping while opening new horizons for students and researchers to transform their ideas into tangible prototypes and real-world applications.

He stressed that the mission of a modern university extends beyond transferring knowledge to generating and applying it in ways that serve society through meaningful partnerships with industry. Such partnerships, he noted, contribute to preparing competitive graduates equipped with future-ready skills. He also underscored the importance of sustaining this collaboration in training, scientific research, and technology transfer.

Concluding his remarks, the University President expressed his appreciation to ABB for its support in renovating and upgrading the laboratories, as well as to the Faculty of Engineering, its leadership, faculty members, and staff. He also thanked the ambassadors and international partners in attendance and expressed his aspiration for broader cooperation and further partnerships in the coming period.

Prof. Amr Shaat, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Ain Shams University, explained that the inaugurations form part of the faculty’s comprehensive plan to develop its educational and research infrastructure.

The new facilities include a specialized 3D printing laboratory equipped with 17 printers featuring a range of technologies capable of printing with metals, ceramics, polymers, and composite materials, in addition to a 3D scanner and processing equipment. The laboratory is designed to serve as a platform for hands-on education, scientific research, and innovation in additive manufacturing. The development also included upgrading the Motor Automation, Digital Control, and Electrical Fundamentals Laboratories to provide practical training in advanced technologies related to motor control, HVAC systems, energy, and smart buildings. Prof. Shaat explained that the new equipment includes variable speed drives (VSDs), HVAC training tools, and a KNX smart control system for lighting, air conditioning, and window blinds, noting that these technologies are expected to improve energy efficiency by 30–40%.

The Dean highlighted ABB’s pivotal role in developing the Faculty’s electrical laboratories, noting that the company has been a strategic partner of the Faculty since 1999—more than a quarter of a century. He emphasized that the partnership has gone beyond the provision of equipment to encompass technology transfer and the integration of industrial expertise into the educational environment, making it a model of university-industry collaboration in support of hands-on training.

In a related context, Prof. Amr Shaat highlighted the faculty’s international partnerships with prestigious universities, including the University of East London in the United Kingdom, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria in Italy, Ulm University in Germany, and the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. He also reviewed a number of outstanding achievements recently secured by Faculty students in international competitions in electric vehicles, earthquake-resistant engineering, wind turbines, and HVAC systems, where they earned leading positions in competitions held in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.

Concluding his remarks, the Dean emphasized that upgrading the laboratories is not merely about modernizing equipment but represents a genuine investment in students. The goal, he said, is to prepare engineers capable of turning knowledge into practical applications, challenges into solutions, and ideas into innovations that can compete globally, reflecting the faculty’s ambition to remain an institution that combines the legacy of the past with the technologies of the future.

Prof. Shaat extended his appreciation to Ain Shams University and its leadership, ABB and all partners, as well as the faculty’s academic staff, teaching assistants, and administrative personnel. He described the inaugurations as another milestone in the faculty’s development journey and reiterated his call for continued and expanded cooperation to achieve further success.

Ahmed Hammad, Chairman of ABB Egypt, stated that this year marks an exceptional and historic milestone for the company as it celebrates 100 years of presence in the Egyptian market and a century of diverse partnerships. He noted that ABB is a global leader in electrification and building solutions, adding that its century-long success has been built on genuine and effective partnerships with a wide range of institutions.

He explained that ABB continues to invest in developing human capital through the inauguration of two new Electrical Fundamentals and Automation Laboratories at the Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University. The initiative aims to provide advanced technological solutions that contribute to preparing a new generation of innovative professionals and ensuring that educational outcomes are aligned with internationally recognized standards across industrial sectors.

He added that the renovation and development of the laboratories have expanded their capacity to benefit approximately 2,000 students annually, making them an effective hands-on model for bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. The facilities will also equip students with the skills required to lead digital transformation and implement smart energy solutions in the future.

As part of ABB’s ongoing partnership with the Faculty of Engineering at Ain Shams University, Ahmed Hammad announced the continuation of the company’s support for scholarships through the Jürgen Dormann Foundation, enabling high-achieving and eligible students to pursue their education. He also highlighted ABB’s support for Faculty of Engineering students transitioning from the general education system to the credit-hour system, alongside continuous follow-up on their academic progress.