Egypt's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel Ghaffar has arrived in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, to participate in the Europe-Africa Space Earth Observation High-Level Forum. The theme of the forum, which will be held on 10-11 June, is space as an enabler for digital and green transitions, with Earth observation fostering sustainable development, new skills, and job creation. The forum aims to foster European-African cooperation on advanced Earth observation (EO) and data processing systems, and their applications in a user-driven approach. Abdel Ghaffar will also visit the Champalimaud Foundation to discuss mechanisms of cooperation in the fields of biomedical research, alongside other scientific and research disciplines. He will also visit the Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE), where he will meet with the President of the University of Nova de Lisboa (UNL). The two sides are set to discuss aspects of cooperation between the university and Egypt's higher education institutions. The minister is also scheduled to visit the Pavilion of Knowledge, which is a science and technology museum that aims to stimulate scientific knowledge, and promote scientific culture among citizens. Abdel Ghaffar will also hold a bilateral meeting with Manuel Heitor, Portugal's Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, as well as the Vice President of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). The two sides will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance aspects of cooperation between Egypt and Portugal. The minister will also meet with the Council of Rectors of Portuguese Universities (CRUP), as well as the Portuguese Polytechnics Coordinating Council (CCISP).
