H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, witnessed the launch of the Egypt-EU Research and Innovation Week activities. The event was organized by the Delegation of the European Union to Egypt and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Joint Cooperation Agreement in the Field of Science and Technology between Egypt and the European Union.
The event was attended by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population; Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Dr. Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy; Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, Ambassador of the European Union to Egypt; and representatives from numerous relevant entities.
The Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation emphasized that the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement between Egypt and the EU reflects the sustainability and continued capacity of the program to drive development in both countries, making it an exemplary model for other nations.
Dr. Al-Mashat highlighted the close relations with the European Union and the recent summit held in Brussels, attended by H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This summit provided significant momentum for advancing strategic relations into a more comprehensive phase, with education, innovation, and scientific research featuring prominently on the agenda.
Dr. Al-Mashat congratulated the technical teams who have worked within the framework of the agreement over the past years for their significant efforts in strengthening the partnership in these vital fields. She noted that international reports confirm that countries can only overcome the middle-income trap through innovation, entrepreneurship, and supporting the scientific research ecosystem.
Minister Al-Mashat added: “A critically important aspect of the program relates to the development of human capital, which is the foundation for achieving any economic development. Egypt is pursuing this through the Ministerial Group for Human Development, which includes various relevant ministries and bodies, aiming to improve human development indicators and cater to citizens throughout their different life stages, thereby enabling the state to utilize its capabilities and potential.”
Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat further indicated that, in reinforcement of the Egypt-EU partnership, Egypt recently joined the “Horizon Europe” program for research and innovation. This is in addition to the cooperation under the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), which offers innovative solutions, initiatives, and ideas in the fields of water, energy, and production chains.
Minister Al-Mashat underscored that the private sector shows considerable interest in learning about and benefiting from these programs, pointing out that “Egypt’s Narrative for Economic Development” encompasses all these programs within the framework of the close partnership between Egypt and the European Union, as well as within the state's priorities focused on scientific research, innovation, and technology for transitioning to higher-productivity sectors and enhancing value-added.
Minister Al-Mashat noted that the increasing participation of the private sector represents one of the main pillars of this endeavor, as it plays a vital and growing role in promoting applied research, accelerating technology adoption, and bringing innovative solutions to the market. She added that through cooperation with the EU and other partners, companies, especially startups, SMEs, and technology-dependent firms, are enabled to access research partnerships, benefit from knowledge transfer, and participate in international innovation networks. This integration contributes to enhancing competitiveness, stimulating job creation, and solidifying Egypt's position within the emerging sectors of the global economy.
Minister Al-Mashat also mentioned the role of this partnership in fostering entrepreneurship in Egypt, at a time when the government, through the “Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship”, is working to stimulate the startup sector via a dedicated group comprising all stakeholders in the sector, in addition to investment fund representatives.
Dr. Al-Mashat concluded her remarks by stressing the comprehensive strategic relations between Egypt and the European Union, which are not merely a financial partnership but concern various developmental aspects that affect citizens' lives through influential programs being implemented across many governorates. This commitment underscores the concept that the citizen is at the heart of development efforts. She reaffirmed that Egypt's priorities regarding technology localization, innovation, and encouraging scientific research intersect with the EU's priorities related to water, food systems, climate change resilience, clean energy, digital transformation, and health, creating a unique foundation for joint solutions designed to address regional and global challenges.