Khaberni - The world is recording an unprecedented acceleration in digital transformation and artificial intelligence applications, which opens broad horizons for economic development, yet at the same time, it imposes increasing challenges related to cybersecurity and cybercrimes.
The 35th annual International Association for Management of Technology (IAMOT 2026) conference, hosted by the Nile University in Cairo, revealed that the global cost of information crimes is set to reach about $10.5 trillion annually, a sign that reflects the rising digital risks concurrent with the significant expansion in the use of technology and artificial intelligence.
These warnings came at the end of the conference events, which was held with the participation of representatives from 45 countries and sponsored by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, where about 250 research papers discussing core issues including AI-driven innovation, Industry 4.0, green transformation, and cybersecurity were discussed. It is expected that the global market size for artificial intelligence will reach $1.8 trillion by 2030.
The technical president of the conference and assistant professor of technology management, Dr. Heba Qaoud, confirmed that the conference reflected the diversity and unprecedented acceleration in the field of technology management through more than 20 simultaneous research tracks designed to bridge the gap between academic research and practical application, with a focus on supporting young researchers and enhancing paths of responsible innovation and climate technology attracting massive global investments.
She added that the discussions highlighted the importance of technology management as a key driver for achieving economic growth and human prosperity, emphasizing that this growth will not be sustainable without building strong cybersecurity systems capable of facing increasing threats.
She explained that the conference concluded with a package of practical recommendations addressed to policymakers and academic and industrial institutions, aimed at achieving a balance between technological advancement and sustainable development requirements, including the necessity of developing flexible and dynamic legislation capable of keeping pace with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence agents and quantum computing, enhancing national readiness for a rapidly changing digital future.
She pointed to the importance of instilling a culture of research for impact, by turning scientific research outputs into economic value applications and products, alongside activating policy laboratories as experimental regulatory environments that allow testing innovations before widespread implementation, which accelerates technological sovereignty.
She also emphasized the need to enhance the system of technology marketing through supporting technology transfer offices and adopting international innovation management standards, which contributes to transforming patents into industrial projects, in addition to the importance of investing in local digital infrastructure to build a balanced digital sovereignty that reduces dependence on foreign sources.
She stressed the importance of developing education to meet future requirements through integrating skills of responsible artificial intelligence and technology management into various disciplines, along with supporting the transition toward digital financial systems, including readiness for central bank digital currencies and developing secure payment systems that support the green economy and global supply chains.
Dr. Heba Qaoud concluded by saying that these recommendations represent a strategic roadmap for Egypt and the region, noting that the success of any technological vision primarily depends on its ability to enhance the quality of human life, mentioning that investing in artificial intelligence skills can potentially increase global growth rates by up to 14% by 2030.
