CAIRO - The Zoweil City for Science and Technology, a project long-awaited but never implemented under the Mubarak regime, is now in need of all the support it can get. The project does not only represent the dream of its initiator, Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zoweil, but also that of the intelligentsia and ordinary public. The project outline is geared towards boosting scientific research in a country that possesses brains but lacks mechanism and finance. The project includes a university, a science and technology complex and is, therefore, looked upon as a springboard. In its capacity as a huge national non-profitable venture, it has motivated some Egyptian expatriate scientists to make generous financial contributions. The culture of contributing to civil activities has not always been an integral part of society. People might have showed an exceptional amount of enthusiasm in human-interest cases like 57357, a children cancer hospital, but not for cultural or scientific projects. The recent donation of LE250 million by a drug industry tycoon from Alexandria has actually reflected a new tendency in appreciating science and education. Ordinary citizens have also showed interest in the project, hoping that Zoweil's dream would become theirs. In this post-revolution period, people are convinced that big dreams will come true, thanks to efforts that don't depend on foreign aid and as long as corruption ceases to be a common practice.
