Egypt and Italy have marked 50 years of a scientific and technological partnership at a workshop in Cairo, where officials and researchers from both countries discussed future collaboration in strategic sectors including energy and water management.
The event, organised by the Italian Embassy in Cairo and Egypt’s Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), reviewed the achievements of the long-standing cooperation agreement and outlined future plans.
In a statement from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Minister Ayman Ashour said the cooperation between Egypt and Italy was a distinguished model of an effective bilateral partnership. He said it reflected Egypt’s commitment to international cooperation and innovation to support its sustainable development plans and “Egypt Vision 2030.”
The event opened with remarks from Giuseppe Papalia, head of Economic, Scientific and Cultural Affairs for Italy in Egypt, and Walaa Sheta, the CEO of the STDF.
Sheta said the Egyptian-Italian executive programme had been one of the most successful models of bilateral cooperation, supporting joint research projects in strategic areas such as renewable energy, water management, smart cities, and cultural heritage protection. He added that the STDF would continue to support this cooperation to include more priority specialisations.
The workshop included video messages from international figures including Nasser Kamel, Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean, and Angelo Riccaboni, chairman of the PRIMA Foundation.
A session on the STDF’s strategic pillars outlined the main areas of cooperation with Italy within the 2024–2026 executive programme.
Egyptian researchers presented the results and applications of ongoing joint research projects in the fields of water management, agriculture, food technology, materials science and engineering, renewable and sustainable energy, and modern technologies applied to cultural and natural heritage.
A second session focused on opportunities for cooperation in international education, technology transfer, and the integration of scientific research with industry. Participants included Italian universities such as Trieste, Marche Polytechnic, Pegaso, and Calabria, alongside industrial firms including Leonardo Space, Eni, and El-Sewedy University of Technology.
The workshop concluded with a panel discussion on the future of cooperation in light of the bilateral agreement, Italy’s “Mattei Plan,” and the research policies of the European Union.
The event also featured an exhibition titled “Heritage and New Technologies,” which highlighted the role of archaeological missions in supporting Egyptian-Italian scientific cooperation.
