EU strengthens R&D ties with Egypt

The European Union will offer EUR 20 million to Egypt to promote research and innovation, Ambassador of the European Delegation in Egypt Marc Franco announced at the first Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Marketplace in Heliopolis, Egypt in late January.

The funds will be earmarked for the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) programme that was established under the EC-EGYPT bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement in 2007.

The RDI programme, which has already been injected with EUR 11 million in EU support, launched the event under the patronage of Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif. The event also hosted the Euro-Mediterranean Innovation and Research Forum as well as the Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Exhibition.

The Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Marketplace is a communications platform and an information hub for researchers, inventors, academia and industry. With more than 200 exhibitors and 50 speakers representing diverse organisations 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.

Officials note that thanks to the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), which has a EUR 53 billion budget over a period of 7 years, government in Egypt will have more opportunities to obtain money for research.