EU Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst celebrated two decades of scientific cooperation between the European Union and Egypt, describing the milestone as a testament to the depth, purpose and enduring strength of their partnership.
Speaking at the anniversary event, she recalled the signing of the EU-Egypt Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement twenty years ago, an agreement designed to build “a bridge of knowledge, innovation and shared prosperity.” Since then, she said, that bridge has expanded steadily, enabling thousands of researchers and innovators to collaborate on shared challenges.
An accompanying exhibition highlighted more than 350 joint projects implemented over the years, with digital displays showcasing initiatives under Horizon Europe and PRIMA.
Eichhorst stressed the scale and diversity of cooperation, noting that hundreds of Egyptian researchers, innovators, private-sector and civil society actors, universities and institutions have taken part in EU research and innovation programmes, from FP6 and FP7 to Horizon 2020 and now Horizon Europe, the world’s largest research and innovation programme.
Joint projects have advanced work in renewable energy, agriculture, clean water technologies, health, climate adaptation, archaeology, migration and cultural heritage. More than 120 Egyptian beneficiaries have participated in nearly 100 PRIMA projects addressing food security and water scarcity. Hundreds of Egyptian researchers have taken part in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the EU’s flagship doctoral and postdoctoral training programme, while thousands of young Egyptians have benefited from Erasmus+ mobility opportunities.
“These achievements are more than numbers; they are ideas realised, and bridges built between our peoples,” she said.
Quoting Dutch Nobel laureate Hendrik Lorentz, Eichhorst emphasised that scientific frontiers are always expanding, saying “the limits of the impacts we can co-create are still endless and beyond imagination.”
She noted that scientific cooperation is a core pillar of the broader EU-Egypt strategic partnership, which has grown significantly in recent years. A key milestone was Egypt’s association to Horizon Europe on 22 October, in a ceremony witnessed by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“Association is the closest form of research and innovation cooperation the EU can have with a non-EU country,” she explained. It allows Egyptian research entities not only to participate in programmes, but also to lead and coordinate projects, build consortia and enhance their global visibility.
At a time of mounting global and regional challenges, Eichhorst stressed, “science diplomacy is not a luxury; it is a necessity.”
Looking ahead, she called for greater ambition in transforming knowledge into real-world impact. This week, she and Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister Mohamed Ashour will inaugurate an EU liaison office at the ministry. Funded through a EUR 1.5m technical assistance contract, the office will support Egypt’s participation in Horizon Europe, including upcoming calls expected in December 2025, and help build joint EU–Egypt research and innovation ecosystems.
