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Contributing to Economic Diversification in AMENA Countries

AMENA Center for Entrepreneurship and Development at UC Berkeley

Sustainable Development Through Innovation and Entrepreneurship in AI and Advanced Technologies

We equip individuals from the broader Middle East region with state of the art technical, innovative thinking, creative problem-solving, and soft skills, emphasizing the disposition to view challenges as opportunities for generating ideas and the adoption of solutions into new products, processes, and services.

AMENA Center Overview
Leadership
Advisory
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Mission

We alleviate the AMENA region’s AI and advanced technologies innovation, entrepreneurship intrapreneurship, skills, and gender gaps through leveraging the strengths of UC Berkeley.

Services

We design and run the training and acceleration programs of AI innovation hubs, help startups enhance their innovation capacity, and teach short term certificate courses that enhance workforce capacity.
21+

boot camps, programs, and events  held per year

91%

of countries from the AMENA region participate

14
successful startup consulting engagements

Why UC Berkeley

Developing pathways to promote entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth in the AMENA region requires an interdisciplinary approach. With its world-class schools and departments, and its proximity to and extensive contacts with Silicon Valley, UC Berkeley has the expertise to make a meaningful difference.

Learn More

In 2021, Forbes ranked UC Berkeley as the best university in the United States.

According to US News & World Report, America’s longest standing and most widely-read  university rankings, UC Berkeley:

  • Is the #1 ranked public university in the world.
  • Has the #1 ranked computer science, electrical engineering, environmental/health engineering, civil engineering, chemistry, economics, physics, biological sciences, and ecology departments in the United States.
  • Has produced the most number of Nobel Laureates in the US after Harvard.

 

According to Networkworld.com, UC Berkeley is the #1 University for Producing US Technology Industry CEO’s. Also according to PitchBook 2020 university rankings, UC Berkeley ranks nationally as the #1 public and second-best university in the world  overall for programs that produce entrepreneurs who go on to obtain venture funding.

Top news

In Memoriam: Dr. Asadollah Aasaraai

February 11, 2026

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Asadollah Aasaraai, a distinguished scholar and visionary leader in the

In Memoriam: Dr. Osama Hassanein

January 18, 2026

The AMENA Center for Entrepreneurship and Development at UC Berkeley mourns the passing of Dr. Osama Hassanein, Honorary Chairman of the Center.

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