In celebration of the 50th anniversary of their bilateral Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement, Egypt and Italy hosted a major joint event this week to highlight the strength of their enduring research partnership.
The event, organized by the Italian Embassy in Cairo in collaboration with Egypt’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), gathered leading academics, researchers, and representatives from universities and research institutions across both countries.
In his keynote remarks, H.E. Dr. Ayman Ashour, Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, hailed the Egyptian-Italian partnership as a model of productive scientific diplomacy. He emphasized Egypt’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation in higher education, scientific innovation, and linking academic research to sustainable development—particularly in line with Egypt Vision 2030.
Research Collaboration: From Water to Space
The day opened with addresses by Giuseppe Papalia, Head of Economic, Scientific and Cultural Affairs at the Italian Embassy, and Dr. Waleed Shata, CEO of STDF. Dr. Shata praised the long-running executive program as one of the most successful bilateral research collaborations in the region, enabling joint research in renewable energy, water management, smart cities, and heritage preservation.
He affirmed STDF’s intent to broaden the partnership into new research areas and deepen academic exchange between Egyptian and Italian scholars to enhance Egypt’s global scientific competitiveness.
The event also featured video messages from international figures including H.E. Nasser Kamel, Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, Prof. Angelo Riccaboni, Chair of the PRIMA Foundation, and Maria Cristina Pedicchio, President of Italy’s Agency for the Promotion of European Research (APRE).
Panels, Projects, and Future Pathways
The first panel, “From Vision to Impact”, highlighted the strategic pillars of the STDF, introduced by Dr. Shaimaa Lazem, Egyptian-Italian Program Officer at STDF. She detailed collaborative themes outlined in the 2024–2026 Executive Program, such as multi-disciplinary partnerships and joint innovation initiatives.
Egyptian researchers presented ongoing projects in water resource management, sustainable agriculture, food technology, materials science, and heritage conservation—underscoring the applied dimension of the bilateral collaboration.
A second panel explored opportunities for academic internationalization, technology transfer, and industry-research integration, featuring Italian universities including Trieste, Pegaso, Calabria, and Marche Polytechnic, as well as major companies like Leonardo Space and Eni, and Egypt’s El Sewedy University of Technology.
Looking Ahead: From MATTÉI Plan to EU Synergies
The closing session addressed future cooperation in light of the Italy-Egypt science agreement, the Mattei Plan for Africa, and broader EU research policies. Discussions focused on how Egypt can continue to internationalize its research and higher education systems.
An accompanying exhibition, “Heritage and New Technologies”, showcased archaeological missions as a key pillar of Egyptian-Italian cooperation. It featured contributions from Prof. Ali Abdel Halim Ali, Director General of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and Prof. G. Ceccherini, Director of the Italian Archaeological Center in Egypt.
Notable attendees included Dr. Salma Yousry, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation, and Eng. Marwa Allaa, Director of Research Programs at STDF.
