Information Technology Industry Development Agency

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Situated on the outskirts of Cairo in the 600-acre modern business park Smart Village, the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) is dedicated to promoting, developing and growing Egypt’s information and communications technology industry with a particular focus on business process outsourcing. As a self sustainable agency, ITIDA plays a leading role in enhancing the Egyptian cyber security and data protection framework towards a more secure e-Business and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services positioning.

How do I become a member of ITIDA?

To become a member of ITIDA you have to register in ITIDA's Database

SECC

What does SECC stand for?

Software Engineering Competence Center

Where can I get information about SECC services?

You can call 16248 and choose SECC from the voice message,then you will be able to speak to a SECC representative or you can visit SECC website

How can I request a service from SECC?

Visit Order SECC Services and fill in a service request form.

What are the services SECC offers?

SECC offers training, consultation , assessment in the below set of services:

Capability Maturity Model Integration forDevelopment,CMMI-DEV.
Capability Maturity Model Integration for Services, CMMI-SVC.
Software Process Improvement Guide, SPIG.
Team Software Process/Personal Software Process, TSP/PSP.
Embedded Software.
Software Reuse.
Software Testing.
Information Technology Infrastructure Library, ITIL.
Agile.
Six Sigma.

Does SECC offer any international certifications?

Yes, as the sole ESTB Examination institute/Certification body for the ISTQB certificates, SECC offers the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) and the ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level (CTAL).

What is SPI for SME’s?

Software Process Improvement for Small and Medium businesses is a yearly program SECC launches to help the Small and Medium businesses improve their Software development process. The program’s modules are derived from the SEI® CMMI® model. During the program, SECC consultants will provide you with a complete software development methodology, the Software Process Improvement Guide (SPIG) Product Suite that was driven from the main concepts of the CMMI® model of the SEI®. Utilizing this product suite and many years of customization experience from SECC expertise, you will be able to improve your software development process to increase profitability and consequently customer satisfaction.

What is the project duration?

The SPIG services are delivered over a span of eleven months in one bundle collectively to a group of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in projects regularly entitled “SPI for SMEs” Programs that SECC initiates at the beginning of every year.

IPR

What are the services IPR office provides?

The Intellectual Property Rights office, IPR office, of ITIDA, provides the following services:

Deposit computer programs and databases and websites.
Grant licenses for software companies and cyber (Internet) cafés and computer games to start their activities.
Grant licenses for copying, selling and distributing software products.
Contain actions of licensing and operating software.
Support local economic courts through providing specialized training courses to prosecutors, police officers and judges besides providing technical expert reports to the assigned cases of violating Intellectual Property Law number 82 of the year 2002.

What are the fees and documents required to issue a Deposit Certificate for a new software product, or a new version of current software product?

The IPR Office requires the following documents to issue a "Deposit Certificate" for your new software product or a new version of your current one.

(1) Two copies of your software product saved on a storage medium (on two Flash Memories). Place a sticker on each Flash Memory with the version number and date of your software product.

(2) Print the first and last 10 pages of your software product programming code or what is equal to 10% of its source code. You should bring the entire code on a laptop for us to compare.

(3) Provide the main print screens of the program/software.

(4) Provide a description for the following:

The program/software.
Its functions.
How is it used.
Programming language used to develop it.
On which Operating System it can operate.

(5) All contracts related to licenses for financial exploitation of others in case of transferring the financial rights to a person other than the author/creator of the program/software.

(6) A CD that saves: all print screens, a scanned copy of the deposit form after being filled, as well as scanned copies of all the documents attached.

(7) An ID copy of the applicant (depositor).

(8) If the author/creator of program/software is an individual, bring a copy of his/her ID.

(9) In case the author/creator is a body corporate (companies, bodies, institutions, associations, etc.), bring a copy of the following: commercial register (or publicity decision), tax ID, company contract, responsible manager ID, and practicing license.

The fees to issue a "Deposit Certificate" for new software products are:

EGP 50 for non-educational software products
EGP 25 for educational software products.

What are the fees and documents required to issue a Restriction on Action License?

The IPR Office requires the following documents to issue a license of Restriction on Action:

(1) An ID copy of the applicant.

(2) If the acting parties are individuals (natural persons), ID copies are required.

(3) In case the acting parties are legal persons (companies, bodies, institutions, associations, etc.), we require scanned copies of the following:

commercial register (or publicity decision).
tax ID.
company contract.
responsible manager ID.
practicing license.

(4) The contract between the two parties, waived the financial rights of the software from one party to another and must be Certified.

(5) The original copy of the software deposit certificate.

Note: we require to see your original copies of the above mentioned when applying.

The below fees apply for Actions on Restrictions:

Transfer of ownership to another: EGP 25.
The Certificate: EGP 50.

What are the fees and documents required to issue an Activity License for new software products, IT enterprises, net cafes, and computer games shops?

The IPR Office requires the following documents to issue an "Activity License":

(1) Copy of the commercial register (or publicity decision).

(2) Copy of the tax ID.

(3) Copy of the company contract.
(4) Copy of the responsible manager national ID.

(5) Criminal record.

(6) Copy of lease/ownership contract or allocation decision (valid covering the licensing period).

(7) 1 photograph of the responsible manager 4x6 colored with white background.

(8) A sketch for IT/programming companies or 2 photographs (outer and inner) of new cafes or games shops.

Note: we require to see your original copies of the above mentioned when applying.

The below fees apply for Activity Licenses:

Licenses for non-profit entities: EGP 100.
Licenses for-profit entities: EGP 150.

Is IPR office in charge of patents, trademarks and all aspects of copyrights?

No, the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) office, of ITIDA, is only responsible to enforce the Intellectual Property Law number 82 of the year 2002 concerning software and databases. The IPR Office (1) protects the intellectual property rights with regard to computer works, (2) raises awareness on the importance of such protection, (3) offers technical and legal advice in this regard, and (4) builds relations with all sides involved in IPR protection at various levels.

What are the working hours of the IPR office?

Sunday to Thursday from 8:30 AM till 2:30 PM

How can I get further information about the IPR services?

Call ITIDA hotline at 16248 and our representatives will gladly answer your questions or inquiries.

You may also email us at IPR@itida.gov.eg.

More information about us can be found in the IPR Office page.

ITAC

What is the mission of ITAC program and what projects does it fund?

The Information Technology Academia Collaboration (ITAC) is one of ITIDA's programs with a mission to bring value to the Egyptian ICT industry by fostering collaboration between industry and academia. ITAC aims at developing R&D based innovative products and services that put Egyptian ICT companies in a leading position in the ICT market, both locally and internationally.

Currently, ITAC funds the following:

1. Collaborative Funded Projects (also known as CFPs):

Preliminary Research Project (PRP)
Advanced Research Projects (ARP)
Product Development Projects (PDP)

2. The Egyptian Spanish IT Innovation Program (ESITIP)

University Student Projects (better known as USPs) fund student graduation projects of students enrolled in Egyptian universities.

What shall I do to apply for ITAC collaborative research project fund?

ITAC accepts proposals for Collaborative Funded Projects within the frame of rounds or calls announced around the year on our CFPs webpage.

On the same page, you can find the Resources section with ITAC Guides, Templates, Reports and Presentations and ICT R&D Newsletters.

What shall I do to apply for the graduation project fund?

ITAC accepts proposals for Collaborative Funded Projects within the frame of rounds or calls announced around the year on our CFPs webpage.

On the same page, you can find the Resources section with ITAC Guides, Templates, Reports and Presentations and ICT R&D Newsletters.

How can I learn about previously funded projects and their statistics?

ITAC issues ICT R&D newsletter in Egypt. Check the Newsletters section at the bottom of ITAC CFPs webpage.

Download the list of accepted graduation projects – round#15 (2019-2020).

Go to the Egyptian-Spanish IT Innovation Program webpage and learn more about ESITIP schedule.

Learn more about the List of Collaborative Funded Projects (R1:R27).

Can an ICT company have two concurrent ITAC Projects?

An ICT company cannot have two concurrent ITAC funded projects. However, it can submit a new proposal if the current funded project is approaching an end where the ICT company should return the due amount of "partial fund return" before receiving any further support from the program. Please visit Partial Fund Return Policy for more details.

About BPO

What Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services does Egypt offer?

One of the marked characteristics of the US$ 400 billion Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry globally over the last few years has been the evolution from cost to quality. As a comparatively new player in the market, Egypt has been able to emerge – with a strong value proposition - to take advantage of this new era in BPO.

Events

What is the Events program about?

ITIDA's events participation funding program helps promoting Egypt within the regional and global ICT sector. The Agency has an established events strategy of exhibiting at the world's leading industry events.

Our primary objective of this strategy is to raise awareness of Egypt's offering to local and multinational organizations and to showcase its dynamism as a world-class outsourcing location.

ITIDA aims at (1) supporting local companies penetrate international markets, (2) establishing new business leads, and (3) increasing exports of products and services.

Which services are covered under the Events program?

Collective Events Participation offers an opportunity for companies to participate under the Egyptian Pavilion in the most exposed and highly rated IT events around the world as part of the Egyptian delegation.

Companies are offered a particular package to participate as exhibitors under ITIDA's auspices in a branded country pavilion in specific events.

For more information about our annual events calendar, please check ITIDA's events webpage.

What kind of financial support is offered by ITIDA in the Events program?

ITIDA offers financial support directly to ICT companies through a variety of packages according to the chosen event. These packages cover a range from 50% to 80% of the total package cost.

Each package has its own unique support regardless of the company's size or its number of participants under ITIDA's support. Those packages are related to which image the company opts for.

What are the eligibility criteria for applying companies?

Companies participating in the events program should meet the following eligibility criteria:

- Egyptian-owned company with more than 50% Egyptian ownership (or under control of an Egyptian board for public companies).

- Headquartered in Egypt with at least 80% of company payroll based in Egypt.

- Have at least 10 registered full-time employees.

- Registered on ITIDA's online database. Unregistered companies can fill in ITIDA's registration form to be a member.

What are the companies’ selection criteria for participation in Collective Events Service?

In order to select the final participating companies, ITIDA applies the following criteria on all requested companies:

Relevancy of the company's activity versus exhibition specialization.
Relevancy of the company's activity versus IT strategy.
Experience of the company in the Egyptian market.
Export experience or export potential.
Availability of quality certifications

Each company, at the end of the selection process, will be granted a final score and companies are chosen as per the final scores and the required number of participants which varies from an event to another.

How to apply for any of the services of the program?

Collective Events

Registration for the collective events service is usually opened a couple of months before the event dates. Interested companies should check ITIDA's website on a regular basis for updated information about the registration dates. Also, companies registered on ITIDA's online database should receive email notifications with all the updates regarding the registration and available packages for the collective events service.

How can I reach the events team?

For any inquiries regarding the events program, please contact the events team at internationalevents@itida.gov.eg or call ITIDA hotline at 16248 .

Export-IT

What are ITIDA Export-IT Rebate Program’s Eligibility Criteria?

Beneficiary Company's Ownership

Direct Egyptian ownership (direct ownership of Egyptian individuals and/or Egyptian companies) should represent more than 50% of the beneficiary company's capital. Direct Egyptian ownership means that the beneficiary company should be more than 50% owned by Egyptians whether individuals or companies established in accordance with the Egyptian law.

Therefore, companies established abroad – whether partially or wholly owned by Egyptians - will not be eligible when calculating the percentage of the Egyptian ownership. Companies with floating shares are requested to submit report from Misr for Central Clearing, Depository and Registry (MCDR) شركة مصر للمقاصة والقيد والإيداع المركزي illustrating the percentage of Egyptian ownership as of end of program year.

Beneficiary Company Headquarters

Company should be headquartered in Egypt.

Egyptian IT startups (established since 5 years at maximum) are excluded from "headquarters in Egypt condition".

Notes

Companies established under the Egyptian law in Free Zones in Egypt could be eligible under the program.

Large companies as per ITIDA classification whose total annual revenues exceed EGP 200 million are not eligible for participation in the Export-IT Rebate program.

What are the Types of Services Eligible under the Export-IT Rebate Program?

Types of services eligible under the Export-IT Rebate program:

Software development.
Information and communication technology (ICT) services in addition to ICT-enabled services*.
Pure hardware exports are excluded.
Embedded software/devices includ ed in the export sales agreement or were considered necessary for the delivery of the service can be included in export support calculations based on export contract, program consultant review report and based on Export-IT committee's decision.

* Cases of ICT-enabled services would be presented to Export-IT committee on case-by-case basis for their review and decision on their eligibility under the program.

Note

Company's programs exported should be registered in ITIDA Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) office. Selling program licenses of other companies without any value added is not considered eligible for rebate under Export-IT program.

What Kind of Export Sales could be Eligible under the Export-IT Program?

All export sales of the above-mentioned services contracted and made prior to or in the program year can be eligible under the Export-IT Rebate program provided that the related export proceeds were transferred by importers and collected by the company in the program year as evidenced by the statement of company's bank account maintained in Egypt (i.e. cash-bases rather than accrual-bases).

Export proceeds should be "Traceable". Transfers to the company's bank account maintained in Egypt should be linked to export projects (for example: through invoices issued by company to importer, importer mentioned in the contract should be the one conducting the transfer, etc.).

Export sales should be realized by the company applying for the program (not by affiliate companies located abroad). Export proceeds should be accounted for in the company's financial statement.

Proceeds collected in company's branches/subsidiaries abroad and not further transferred to the company's bank account maintained in Egypt are excluded. It should be noted that export proceeds transferred in company's bank account should be traceable to export transactions.

Exports sales made by the applying company - even if contracted by the company's affiliate/subsidiary located abroad – can be eligible under the program provided that a proper invoicing system is applied and other program conditions are satisfied.

Proceeds collected in personal accounts of one or more of the company's owners are excluded even if the amounts were further transferred to the company's bank account.

Export proceeds collected in cash or transferred in EGP would not be eligible under the program.

Only services made to companies located outside Egypt - with the exception of services made to international organizations – are considered exports.

In case of the importer is an affiliate, sister company, has the same owner(s), etc., the applying company should present contracts, invoices and bank statements evidencing export transactions with the end client.

How is the Value Added Calculated?

For Micro, Small and Medium Companies (<50 M EGP)

The "Value Added" is the difference between eligible export sales proceeds collected in the company's bank account maintained in Egypt during the program year and all non-value adding costs directly related to the export transaction claimed under the program such as:

Cost of software licenses purchased for the export contracts.
Cost of connection circuits in the case of call center companies and the value of equipment.
The costs of travel and accommodation payed by the importer if expressly stated in the contract of sales or documents of the export operation.

Costs that are NOT deducted from export proceeds: salaries, operating and overhead costs are not excluded from the value of the collected export proceeds. Also, bank charges, Consultation and Outsourcing are not deducted from the collected amounts.

Exports subsidies include any contracts or agreements signed in the program year or earlier; however, the payment of export subsidies should be done on cash basis for only the program year, and after verification of receipt of the issuing company in the program year to its bank account in Egypt of the value of exports subsidized and not on an accrual basis.

For Medium (>50mn EGP) / Large (≤200mn EGP)

The "value added" of the current year – the value added of the previous year approved under the program.

Note

Medium-sized companies (total revenues more than 50 million) that export new services, especially technology Robotics Process Automation (RPA), Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI) or companies that have succeeded in opening new export markets) are excluded from this term.

How is the Support Value Calculated?

Main Support is 10% up to 20% maximum of exports value-added based on the company's size.

Additional Support

5% for companies exported e-Commerce, e-Design, e-Gaming and e-Health services.
5% for companies operating or having branches in one of the new technology parks (with EGP 500K maximum per year).
10% for new companies with a maximum of EGP 500K (without increase in the support ceiling).
10% for companies operating in governorates other than Cairo, Giza and Alexandria with a maximum of EGP 500K (without increase in the support ceiling).

Notes

Ceiling of EGP 2.5 million per company/holding co./companies with same owner(s).
Ceiling of EGP 3 million for companies operating or having branches in one of the new technology parks.
The subsidy granted to the company should not exceed the amount indicated/mentioned in admission form to the program.
Exact support percentage is announced at the end of the program according to the budget approved for the entire program and the applications received.
Support amount (if approved) will be disbursed to eligible companies in Egyptian pounds.
Support amount is NOT tax exempted.
Timeframe for receiving complaints is maximum 2 weeks from date of support announcement.

What are the Documents Required under the Export-IT Rebate Program?

The following is a brief list (details of requested documents are available in the Export-IT's Terms & Conditions document).

Export-IT Beneficiary Company Application Form.
Audited Financial Statements for the program year along with the threes certificates requested from the "external auditor": exports related cost, ownership and revenues.
Full income tax report.
Recent Commercial Register.
Tax Card.
Recent Article of Incorporation with all related amendments.
Copy of the company's social insurance printout including total number of insured employees استعلام عن بيانات منشأة قطاع خاص.
Activity Licenses for Software Companies.
Chamber Of Information Technology & Communication (CIT) or Digital Economy and Technology General Division (DETGD) membership receipt.
Signed export sales contracts, agreements, purchase orders, master agreements and all related amendments.
Related export sales invoices for exported items.
Related cost of revenue and purchase invoices for purchased materials (software licenses, etc.).
Consultancy contracts/agreements for external consultants (if any).
Evidence of Service/Product delivery, client acceptance and collection of revenue proceeds. This includes:

- Copy of overseas client sign off or acceptance statement for confirmation of receipt of goods and/or services.
- Statement of company's bank account maintained in Egypt illustrating receipt of export proceeds transferred by the importer (company account bank statements, swift transfers to company's account, credit advice to company's account, etc.). Bank documents should clearly include remitter (importer) name, transfer date, transfer amount and currency, beneficiary company name and account number.

- For telemarketing or electronically transmitted sales, company should submit copy of bank cheque issued in the name of the exporting company or company's bank account statement illustrating collection of proceeds related to the export transaction, report issued by system including transaction details as well as copy of transaction screenshot.

You can visit Export-IT 2019 & 2020 (11^th & 12^th Rounds) to see a sample of the documents required to register in Export-IT Rebate Program.

Notes

In case the importer is an affiliate, sister company, has the same owner(s), etc., the applying company should present contracts, invoices and bank statements evidencing export transactions with the end client.

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