EU-Egypt to sign €11 million RDI agreement

On Monday 18 June, the European Union and Egypt will sign a new €11 million grant financing agreement in support of the Egyptian government’s Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) initiatives.  Signing of the agreement will take place on the occasion of the Ministerial Conference on Higher Education and Scientific Research in Cairo.

This new four-year programme will facilitate the participation of Egypt in the European Research Area by encouraging and stimulating scientific linkages between Research Institutions and scientists from Egypt and the EU. Special attention will be given to maximising the potential for Egypt to fully benefit from the 7th EU Research Framework Programmes launched earlier this year. In addition, a €6.5 million joint Egypt/EU Innovation Fund will be established under the programme to finance competitive innovative projects.

Scientific co-operation is one of the main pillars of the Action Plan between Egypt and the EU under the European Neighbourhood Policy.

See details in the issue (volume 13) of Europ@, the monthly e-newsletter issued by the Delegation of the European Commission in Egypt. It includes information on the First Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Higher Education and Scientific Research which opens in Cairo on 18 June, with related articles on EU Programmes on Research and Higher Education, and Science and Technology in Egypt.

It includes also a report on the visit to Egypt by External Relations & ENP Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, when they attended the Iraq Neighbouring Countries Conference.