Prof. Mohamed Hussein, President of Tanta University, held an extensive meeting with representatives of 17 major companies in the dental industry sector, in the presence of Prof. Hatem Amin, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, Prof. Faten Abu Taleb, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, along with faculty deputies, a number of academic staff members, experts, and specialists.

   The meeting addressed ways to bridge the gap between educational and research outcomes and the needs of the labor market, with a focus on exchanging expertise and achieving mutual benefit between the academic and industrial sectors, in a manner that serves the advancement of the dental profession and supports the national economy.

   Prof. Mohamed Hussein stated that the meeting resulted in an agreement between both sides on the representation of the industrial sector in curriculum development committees and participation in formulating graduate specifications, ensuring that students’ skills are aligned with modern technical and practical requirements. He also announced the activation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research initiative through the secondment of a faculty member to each company in various fields, in order to provide the necessary technical support and innovative solutions that ensure the improvement and development of industrial products in accordance with precise scientific foundations and international standards.

   Prof. Hatem Amin added that the meeting was held on the sidelines of the regular session of the International Conference and Exhibition of the Faculty of Dentistry at Tanta University, held under the theme “Digital Dentistry: From Opinion to Evidence.” The conference was fully supported by sponsoring companies, without imposing any financial burden on the state budget or the university’s self-generated resources. The conference witnessed broad local and international participation, during which the latest technologies and innovations in the field were presented and discussed, providing a collaborative platform that links academic perspectives with industrial reality, thereby enhancing the university’s leadership in supporting applied scientific research.

   For her part, Prof. Faten Abu Taleb stated that the conference’s themes and sessions presented a comprehensive vision for the future of digital dentistry, focusing on a fundamental shift from traditional practices to technology-driven solutions supported by scientific evidence and clinical research findings. The scientific sessions, with the participation of 14 international experts, reviewed the latest digital diagnostic techniques based on artificial intelligence and three-dimensional imaging, as well as applications in digital treatment, implantology, guided surgery, smile design technologies, and 3D printing. The sessions also highlighted the importance of developing education and training systems through virtual simulation, and discussed the ethical and legal challenges posed by this technological advancement to ensure the quality and sustainability of healthcare.

   She further noted that the closing session witnessed the announcement of several recommendations based on the main themes and discussions held throughout the scientific and general sessions of the conference. She added that the conference also included a specialized scientific competition, which resulted in three postgraduate researchers winning monetary awards provided by the sponsoring companies, in recognition of the excellence of their submitted research.