Egypt has taken a significant step toward integrating scientific research with national industrial development through the launch of a new alliance under the country’s “Alliance and Development” initiative.
Chaired by Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Ayman Ashour, the latest Council of Research Centers, Institutes, and Bodies meeting brought together key stakeholders to unveil an ambitious roadmap for innovation-driven growth.
Held at the Ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, the meeting focused on strategies to strengthen the link between academia, research, and industrial application.
Dr. Ashour stressed the importance of shifting Egypt’s economy toward knowledge-based development, noting: “This map will serve as a guide for determining the work priorities of research centers, institutes, and entities during the next phase, in a manner that serves the country’s sustainable development plan.”
Central to the discussions was the signing of a joint cooperation protocol to establish the “Smart Energy Alliance”—a scientific, industrial, and commercial collaboration involving ten research, educational, and regulatory institutions.
The alliance will operate under the Ministry’s supervision and focus on sustainable industrial solutions using renewable and green energy to manufacture local alternatives to key petroleum and chemical imports.
Among the alliance’s members are the Petroleum Research Institute, the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality, Kader Advanced Industries Factory, the New and Renewable Energy Authority, the National Research Center, and the Faculty of Engineering at Badr University in Cairo.
Dr. Hossam Othman, Deputy Minister for Innovation, presented the outcomes of the initiative’s first phase, revealing that nearly one-third of submitted projects featured active research institution participation. These projects span critical sectors such as renewable energy, technology, pharmaceuticals, and textiles.
The Council approved three major programs: the Egypt Research Network Program to support tech startups, an Intellectual Property Protection Program to assist researchers filing under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, and a new AI application initiative establishing three specialized centers at national research institutions.
The meeting concluded with the formation of selection committees for leadership positions within research bodies and reaffirmed the Ministry’s 2025 innovation goals in alignment with Egypt’s Vision 2030.
Dr. Adel Abdel Ghaffar, the Ministry’s spokesperson, reiterated the strategic focus: “Promoting innovation by activating all programs and initiatives of the National Innovation Policy remains our top priority to serve the national economy.”
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