Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



EU gives Egypt ?20 mln to stimulate R&D
Published in Daily News Egypt on 28 - 01 - 2010

CAIRO: Egypt will receive ?20 million from the European Union in 2010 to stimulate research and innovation, Marc Franco, ambassador of the European Delegation in Egypt, said Wednesday.
The funds will go to the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Program which was established under the 2007 Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Egypt.
The European Union has already provided ?11 million to support the program.
"Innovation is key to recovery and to building more sustainable economy and society after the crisis, Franco said at the Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Marketplace, which took place in Cairo January 26-28.
The event was organized for the first time by the RDI Program, under the patronage of Prime Minister, and also hosted the Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Exhibition and the Euro-Mediterranean Innovation and Research Forum.
"With more than 200 exhibitors and 50 speakers representing diverse organizations from about 18 European and Mediterranean countries, the Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Marketplace offers a valuable platform for major science and innovation players to meet, network and further develop business ideas, projects and partnerships, "Abdelhamid El-Zoheiry, coordinator of RDI, said.
Hany Helal, minister of higher education and scientific research, said, "The Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Marketplace complements the strategy of the ministry to foster the culture of innovation in Egypt and strengthen cooperation channels with European and Mediterranean counterparts from both research and business sectors.
Helal and his ministry are responsible for the management of the RDI Program and its funds.
The key position of innovation in economic and societal development was underlined repeatedly at the conference. Yet, innovators in Egypt face quite a few difficulties in developing their ideas.
"We have a patent, but it's local, said Tarek El-Bagory and Mohamed El-Sayed, two inventors who were presenting a new testing station for national gas pipelines at the exhibition. "The guarantee for this patent is only in Egypt, not international, like in America
They explained that they are careful when presenting their invention in papers not to give too many details so that their idea is not stolen.
Another issue inventors face is lack of management training. "In our faculty we study about business engineering and management, but nothing specific for inventions. We need training in invention marketing, they said.
El-Sayed added that after two or three years of trying to market their invention, some people give up and scrap the idea altogether.
On the other hand, Dr Bahaa Shawky, professor of microbiological chemistry at the National Research Center, said that the government should be more active in searching for ideas and supporting them.
Shawky invented a solution which helps release biomass energy from cellulose-rich plants, key to the development of clean renewable energy.
"We should start a pilot plant which needs only half a million Egyptian pounds. I am waiting for these funds, he said. "I am a scientist; that means that I am in my lab. All this [research] is on the internet, he said, explaining that the government should be more aware of existing research which can help development.
Through the Seventh Framework Program for Research and Technological Development (FP7), the EU's main instrument for research funding, the Egyptian government will have even more opportunities for acquiring money for research.
The FP7's budget for the next seven years is ?53 billion. Egypt has access to cooperation projects in the fields of health, agriculture, ICT, nanotechnologies, energy, environment, transport, socio-economic science and humanities, security and space.
Additionally, Egyptian scientists and researchers are eligible for funding through fellowships for foreign researchers established by the EU.


Clic here to read the story from its source.