ARTI Egitto definitivo - ARTI Puglia

October 2008
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
SYSTEM IN EGYPT
Scientific and technological
cooperation opportunities with
the Apulian innovation system

This report is based on a survey realized
for ARTI by the Center for Advancement
of Post-Graduate Studies and Research in
Engineering Sciences (CAPSCU), Faculty
of Engineering, Cairo University, Egypt, in
the person of Prof. Adel M. El-Nadi.
Il presente Quaderno si basa su un ampio
lavoro realizzato, su incarico dell’ARTI,
dal Center for Advancement of Post-
Graduate Studies and Research in
Engineering Sciences (CAPSCU), Facultà
di Ingegneria, Cairo University, Egitto,
nella persona del Prof. Adel M. El-Nadi.
2

ARTI International Booklets
ARTI, Regional Agency for Technology and Innovation, in agreement with the
Mediterranean and Economic Development Assessorships of the Apulia Region, has started
an activity aimed at the promotion of the scientific and technological cooperation among the
regional actors, both research and university centers and innovative enterprises, with their
counterparts in foreign countries, with a special focus on the Mediterranean and Balkan
areas.
The “ARTI International Booklets” series reports the studies carried out on the research and
innovation systems in the target countries. The Booklets are quick consultation tools that,
besides presenting a general information picture about the innovation systems structure
and governance, highlights a limited number of “excellent” organizations that represent the
best candidates – in terms of scientific competences, available research results and attitude
to international cooperation – for setting up bilateral partnerships with the Apulian scientific
and technological actors, in those technological areas that are of major relevance for the
Apulia region.
In the first phase of this project, the considered countries have been: Morocco, Tunisia,
Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestinian Territories, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Western
Balkans (Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia-Erzegovina, FYROM-Macedonia, Albania,
Bulgaria), Romania, Slovenia, Argentina and Chile.
Quaderni Internazionali ARTI
L’ARTI, Agenzia Regionale per la Tecnologia e l’Innovazione, in accordo con gli Assessorati
al Mediterraneo e allo Sviluppo Economico della Regione Puglia, ha avviato una attività
rivolta principalmente ai Paesi dell’area balcanica e mediterranea, finalizzata alla
promozione della cooperazione scientifica e tecnologica tra gli attori regionali, siano essi
imprese innovative o istituti universitari e di ricerca, e i loro omologhi nei Paesi stranieri.
La collana “Quaderni Internazionali dell’ARTI” nasce per raccogliere i rapporti sui sistemi
dell’innovazione e della ricerca dei Paesi considerati. I Quaderni sono strumenti di rapida
consultazione che, oltre a presentare un quadro informativo generale sulla struttura e i
sistemi di governance dell’innovazione, individuano un numero limitato di enti e
organizzazioni “eccellenti” – in termini di competenze scientifiche, risultati prodotti e
propensione alla collaborazione transnazionale – negli ambiti tecnologici di maggiore
interesse per la Regione Puglia, in modo da facilitare l’attivazione di contatti bilaterali e la
creazione di partnership.
Nella prima fase del progetto, i Paesi presi in esame sono: Marocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egitto,
Giordania, Libano e Territori Palestinesi, Israele, Turchia, Grecia, Balcani Occidentali
(Serbia, Montenegro, Croazia, Bosnia-Erzegovina, FYROM-Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria),
Romania, Slovenia, Argentina e Cile.
4

Contents
Part one: general framework
1. Egyptian Economy
1.1. Introduction
1.2. Reform Era
1.3. Land, Agriculture and Crops
1.4. Water Resources
1.5. Main Industries
1.6. Mineral and Energy Sources
1.7. External Trade
1.8. Public Finances
1.9. Exchange Rate policy
1.10. Investment
1.11. Challenges
1.12. Summary
2. Industry in Egypt
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Industrial Investment
2.3. Industrial Sectors Structure
2.4. Recent Industrial Programs
2.4.1. The one thousand factories program
2.4.2. Business market program
2.4.3. The Egyptian industry modernization Program
2.5. The Industrial Production Development
2.6. Improving The Quality of Egyptian Industrial Products
2.7. Industrial Exports
2.8. Summary
6

3. Education in Egypt
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Basic Education
3.3. High School Education
3.4. Modern Instructional Methods for Basic Education
3.5. International Cooperation Projects for Basic Education
3.6. Higher Education
3.7. Modernization of Higher Education
3.7.1. The Tempus Project Fund
3.7.2. The Higher Education Enhancement Project Fund (HEEPF)
4. SCIENCE IN EGYPT
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Science Centers
4.2.1. Cairo University
4.2.2. National Research Center (NRC)
4.2.3. Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute (CMRDI)
4.2.4. National Cancer Institute (NCI)
4.2.5. Agriculture Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI)
4.2.6. New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA)
4.2.7. Mubarak City for Scientific Research and Technology Applications
4.2.8. The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)
5. Research, Development and Innovation in Egypt
5.1. Introduction
5.2. The Structure
5.3. Egypt's Main Innovation Actors
5.3.1. Groups of Innovation Actors
5.3.2. The Supreme Council of Research Centers
5.3.3. The Academy of Sciences and Technology

5.3.4. The incubator
5.3.5. Mubarak Science City
5.3.6. The Industrial Modernization Center
5.4. The Governance System of R&D and Innovation in Egypt
5.5. The Performance Indicators
5.6. National Policy of Science and Innovation
5.7. Regional Policy of Science and Innovation
5.8. Governing Norms & Laws and Funding of of R&D and Innovation
5.9. International Cooperation Projects
5.9.1. European Union Projects
5.9.2. The Joint US-EGYPT Science and Technology Funds
Part two: research centers inventory
6. Introduction
7. Research centers forms
7.1. Aerospace
7.2. Agrofood
7.3. Mechatronics
7.4. Health
7.5. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
7.6. Renewable Energy
7.7. Other
8

Part one: general framework
10

1. Egyptian Economy
1.1. Introduction
Economic growth in Egypt has been held back by a severely limited amount of arable land
(less than 5% of the total area) as well as a large and rapidly growing population. After
1945, a large proportion of funds and energy were devoted to preparing the country for
regional warfare and later rebuilding . The country's industrial base increased considerably
in the 20th century, especially after 1952. The state owned much of the economy and
played a decisive role in its planning. However, in recent years Egypt has moved toward a
more decentralized, market-oriented economy, and there has been an increase in foreign
investments.
Table 1 - Government Ministries of Egypt
Administrative Development
Agriculture
Civil Aviation
Communication and Information Technology
Culture
Defense and Military Production
Economic Development
Education
Electricity and Energy
Environmental Affairs
Finance
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Trade and Industry
Health and Population
Higher Education and Scientific Research
Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities
Information
Interior affairs
International Cooperation
Investment
Irrigation and Water Resources
Justice
Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils
Local Development
Manpower and Immigration
Military Production
Petroleum
Social Solidarity
Tourism
Transport
Waqfs (Endowments)
A series of International Monetary Fund arrangements, coupled with massive external debt
relief resulting from Egypt's participation in the Gulf War coalition, helped Egypt improve its
macroeconomic performance during the 1990s. Egypt joined the World Trade Organization
(WTO) in mid-1995 and has since become one of the most open and free markets in Africa
and the Middle East.
12
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Through sound fiscal and monetary policies, the Government of Egypt tamed inflation,
slashed budget deficits, and built up foreign reserves. Structural reforms, such as
privatization and new business legislation Egypt's steps toward a more market-oriented
economy have prompted increased foreign investment. Hard currency inflows resulted
mainly from tourism, worker remittances, oil revenues, and Suez Canal tolls and by the late
1990s external payments were not in crisis.
At the turn of the millennium, monetary pressures have eased more with the continued oil
price rise since 2002, increased natural gas exploration and production and a moderate
rebound in the sensitive sector of tourism. Egypt's reform record has substantially improved
since Nazif government came to power in 1994. Egypt has made substantial progress in
developing its legal, tax and investment infrastructure. The reform programme is still a
work in Progress.
Four years into a robust economic expansion, this country has shaken off its history of
Arab state socialism and embraced the free market. A rush of construction is throwing up
office buildings. Sluggish state-owned companies from banks to department stores are
being sold to private investors, and foreign capital is flooding in, lured by the scent of
certain profit. Egypt today has all the earmarks of a gathering boom .Ambitious economic
reforms launched in 2004 have won plaudits from the business community . Economy
grows at an annual rate of about 7%..Egypt's reformist prime minister, Ahmed Nazif,
remains committed to the transition from a bloated state-centric economy to a more
market-oriented one.
1.2. Reform Era
Under comprehensive economic reforms initiated in 1991, Egypt has relaxed many price
controls, reduced subsidies, reduced inflation, cut taxes, and partially liberalized trade and
investment. Manufacturing become less dominated by the public sector, especially in heavy
industries. A process of public sector reform and privatization has begun to enhance
opportunities for the private sector. Agriculture, mainly in private hands, has been largely
deregulated, with the exception of cotton and sugar production. Construction, non-financial
services, and domestic wholesale and retail trades are largely private. This has promoted a
steady increase of GDP and the annual growth rate. The Government of Egypt tamed
inflation bringing it down from double-digit to a single digit. Currently, GDP is rising smartly
by 7% per annum due to successful diversification.
Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) increased
fourfold between 1981 and 2006, from US$ 1355 in 1981, to US$ 2525 in 1991, to US$
3686 in 2001 and to an estimated US$ 4535 in 2006. Based on national currency, GDP per
capita at constant 1999 prices increased from EGP 411 in 1981, to EGP 2098 in 1991, to
EGP 5493 in 2001 and to EGP 8708 in 2006. Based on the current US$ prices, GDP per
capita increased from US$ 587 in 1981, to US$ 869 in 1991, to US$ 1461 in 2001 and to an
estimated US$ 1518 (which translates to about US$ 130 per month) in 2006. According to
the World Bank Country Classification, Egypt has been promoted from the low income
category to lower middle income category.Average wages in 2007 hover around $8-10 per
day.
13
1. EGYPTIAN ECONOMY

The reform programme is a work in progress. Noteworthy that the reform record has
substantially improved since Nazif government came to power. Egypt has made substantial
progress in developing its legal, tax and investment infrastructure. Indeed, over the past 5
years, Egypt has passed, amended and admitted over 15 legislative pieces. The economy is
expected to grow by about 7%-8% in 2007/2008.
Table 2 - Egypt's Summary of Budget Financing (Billions of Euros and Fiscal years)
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Revenues 18,01 14,17 12,94 15,3 20,87 22,21 22,9 34,19
Taxes 11,68 8,86 8,53 10,45 13,49 14,01 14,89 20,65
Grants 0,98 0,52 0,64 0,3 0,33 0,47 0,39 0,57
Expenditures 26,58 20,24 18,54 22,3 28,68 27,36 29,95 42,2
Wages and
Compensations
7,02 5,38 4,73 5,73 6,45 6,61 7,39 10,17
Interest 5 4,11 3,9 4,52 5,08 6,51 6,45 6,56
Subsidies and
Social Benefits
4,15 3,28 3,14 4,1 9,51 6,69 7,99 16,57
Cash Deficit -8,56 -6,07 -5,6 -7 -7,8 -4,79 -7,05 8,02
Net Acquisition of
Financial Assets
-0,29 -0,89 -0,25 -0,12 0,85 -1,19 -0,24
Overall Deficit -8,85 -6,96 -5,85 -7,13 -6,95 -6,34 -7,29
Net Borrowing 8,76 6,95 5,85 7 6,94 6,28 7,17
Proceeds from
Privatization
Deficit as % of
GDP
0,96 0,006 0,002 0,14 0,02 0,06 0,12 1,24
-
10,20%
-
10,50% -9,50% -9,60% -8,20% -6,70% -6,90% -6,40%
Source: Ministry of Finance (Figures for 2008 and 2009 are budget estimates)
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Table 3 - GDP per capita (EGP = Egyptian Pounds)
Indicator 1981 1991 2001 2005 2006
GDP (PPP) per capita (US$) 1.354,81 2.524,99 3.685,98 4.316,59 4.534,82
GDP per capita at constant prices
(EGP)
GDP per capita at constant prices
(US$)
GDP per capita at current prices
(EGP)
GDP per capita at current prices
(US$)
Source: IMF WEO Online database
3.121,85 4.075,47 5.138,36 5.519,09 5.692,24
545,8 758,85 956,8 961,5 999,00
411,20 2.098,71 5.493,28 7.890,65 8.707,88
587,42 869,30 1.460,98 1.315,75 1.517,85
Surging domestic inflationary pressures from both economic growth and elevated
international food prices led the Central Bank of Egypt to increase the overnight lending and
deposit rates and the rates which currently stand at 10% and 12% respectively. Reform of
energy and food subsidies and inflation targeting are perhaps the most controversial
economic issues in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.
15
1. EGYPTIAN ECONOMY

Fig. 2 - Distribution of GDP in Egypt in 2001
Trade, Finance &
Insurance
21%
Hotels and
Restaurants
2%
Housing and Real
Estate
2%
Government
Services
7%
Transportation
9%
Construction
6%
Electricity
2%
Petroleum &
Products
8%
Industry & Mining
20%
Social and
Personal Services
7%
Agricolture
16%
Source: UNIDO
1.3. Land, Agriculture and Crops
Warm weather and plentiful water permit several crops a year. Land is worked intensively
and yields are high. Cotton, rice, wheat, corn, sugarcane, sugar beets, onions, and beans
are the principal crops. Increasingly, a few modern techniques are applied to producing
fruits, vegetables and flowers, in addition to cotton, for export. Further improvement is
possible. The most common traditional farms occupy one acre (4,000 m²) each, typically in
a canal-irrigated area along the banks of the Nile.
Several researchers questioned the domestic (and import) policies for dealing with the socalled
the "wheat game" since the former Minister of Agriculture Youssef Wali was in office.
16
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

In 2006, areas planted with wheat in Egypt exceeded 400 thousand acres (1,600 km²)
producing approximately 8 million metric tons. The domestic supply price farmers receive in
Egypt is 1200 (US$ 211) per ton compared to approximately EGP 1940 (US$ 340) per
ton for import from the USA, Egypt's main supplier of wheat and corn. Egypt is, in fact, the
U.S.'s largest market for wheat and corn sales, accounting for US$1 billion annually and
about 46% of Egypt's needs from imported wheat. Other sources of imported wheat,
include Kazakhstan, Canada, France, Syria, Argentina and Australia. There are plans to
increase the areas planted with wheat up to nearly 3 million acres (12,000 km²) by 2017 to
narrow the gap between domestic food supply and demand.
The Western Desert accounts for about two-thirds of the country's land area. For the most
part, it is a massive sandy plateau marked by seven major depressions. One of these,
Fayoum, was connected about 3,600 years ago to the Nile by canals. Today, it is an
important irrigated agricultural area.
Practically all Egyptian agriculture takes place in some 25,000 km² (6 million acres) of
fertile soil in the Nile Valley and Delta.
Some desert lands are being developed for agriculture, including the controversial but
ambitious Toshka project in Upper Egypt, but some other fertile lands in the Nile Valley and
Delta are being lost to urbanization and erosion. Larger modern farms are becoming more
important in the desert.
The agriculture objectives on the desert lands are often questioned; the desert farm lands
which were offered regularly at different levels and prices were restricted to a limited group
of elites selected very carefully, who later profiteered retailing the granted large desert
farm land by pieces. This allegedly transforms the desert farms to tourist resorts, hits all
government plans to develop and improve the conditions of the poor, and causes serious
negative impact on agriculture and the overall national economy over time. One company,
for example, bought over 70 hectare of large desert farm for a price as low as EGP 0.05
(US$ 0.01) per square meter and now sells for EGP 300 (US$ 66)per square meter. In
numbers, 70 hectares bought for about US$6,000 in 2000 sells for over US$3.7 million in
2007. Currently, no clear solution exists to deal with these activities.
Agriculture biomass, including agricultural wastes and animal manure, produce
approximately 30 million metric tons of dry material per year that could be massively and
decisively used, inter alia, for generating bioenergy and improve the quality of life in rural
Egypt. Unfortunately, this resource remain terribly underutilized.
1.4. Water Resources
"Egypt," wrote the Greek historian Herodotus 25 centuries ago, "is the gift of the Nile." The
land's seemingly inexhaustible resources of water and soil carried by this mighty river
created in the Nile Valley and Delta. Without the Nile, Egypt would be little more than a
desert wasteland.
17
1. EGYPTIAN ECONOMY

The river carves a narrow, cultivated floodplain, never more than 20 kilometers wide, as it
travels northward toward Cairo from Lake Nasser on the Sudanese border in front of the
Aswan High Dam. Just north of Cairo, the Nile spreads out to form a fertile delta about 250
kilometers (150 mi) wide at the seaward base and about 160 kilometers from south to
north.
Before the construction of dams on the Nile, particularly the Aswan High Dam (started in
1960, completed in 1970), the fertility of the Nile Valley was sustained by the water flow
and the silt deposited by the annual flood. Sediment is now obstructed by the Aswan High
Dam and retained in Lake Nasser. The interruption of yearly, natural fertilization and the
increasing salinity of the soil has been a manageable problem resulting from the dam. The
benefits remain impressive: more intensive farming on thousands of square kilometres of
land made possible by improved irrigation, prevention of flood damage, and the generation
of millions of gigajoules of electricity at low cost.
1.5. Main Industries
The main industries in Egypt are tourism, Iron and steel, cement, engineering industries,
petrochemicals, chemical industries (especially fertilizers and pharmaceuticals), plastic
products, military production, textiles, ICT and food industries. The ICT, Information and
Communication Technology, represents one of the newly emerging sectors in the Egyptian
industry. Egyptian Industry will be studied in a separate section.
1.6. Mineral and Energy Sources
Fig. 3 - Oil Production and Consumption
18
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Egypt's mineral and energy resources include petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, gold and
iron ore. Crude oil is found primarily in the Gulf of Suez and in the Western Desert. Natural
gas is found mainly in the Nile Delta, off the Mediterranean Sea shore, and in the Western
Desert. Oil and gas accounted for approximately 14.8 % of GDP in the year 2006. Crude oil
production has been in decline for several years since its peak level in 1993, from 941,000
bbl/d (149,600 m³/d) in 1993 to 873,000 bbl/d (138,800 m³/d) in 1997 and to 696,000
bbl/d (110,700 m³/d) in 2005. (See Figure). At the same time, the domestic consumption
of oil increased steadily (531,000 bbl/d and 616,000 bbl/d (97,900 m³/d) in 1997 and 2005
respectively . The Government of Egypt has been encouraging the exploration, production
and domestic consumption of natural gas. Natural gas output continues to increase and
reached 65.7 billion cubic meters in 2008. The main natural gas producer in Egypt is the
International Egyptian Oilfield Company (IEOC), a branch of Italian ENI-AGIP. Egypt's
excess of natural gas will more than meet its domestic demand for many years to come.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has established expanding the Egyptian
petrochemical industry and increasing exports of natural gas as its most significant strategic
objectives. Egypt and Jordan agreed to construct the Arab Gas Pipeline from Al Arish to
Aqaba to export natural gas to Jordan; with its completion in July 2003, Egypt began to
export 1.1 billion cubic feet (31,000,000 m³) of gas per year. Total investment in this
project is about $220 million. In 2003, Egypt, Jordan and Syria reached an agreement to
extend this pipeline to Syria, which possibly could mean a future connection with Turkey,
Lebanon and Cyprus.
Gold mining is more recently a fast growing industry with vast untapped gold reserves in
the Eastern Desert. There is already a gold rush and gold production facilities are now
reality from the Sukari Hills, located close to Marsa Alam in the Eastern Desert
With respect to nuclear energy, Egypt's President Mubarak on October 29, 2007, gave the
go ahead for building several nuclear power plants. Egypt's nuclear route is purely peaceful
and fully transparent and hopefully should not face technical and financing obstacles in the
future. Egypt is a member of the IAEA and has both signed and ratified the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). Currently, a draft Law on Nuclear Energy is being reviewed
by the IAEA and expected to be passed by the Egyptian Parliament in 2008. Many other
countries in the region, including Libya, Jordan, Morroco, and Yemen aspire to build nuclear
power plants.
1.7. External Trade
Egypt's main exports consist of natural gas, and non-petroleum products such as readymade
clothes, cotton textiles, medical and petrochemical products, citrus fruits, rice and
dried onion, and more recently cement, steel, and ceramics. Exports value rose to $24.22
billion f.o.b in 2006. Egypt's main imports consist of pharmaceuticals and non-petroleum
products such as wheat, maize, cars and cars'spare parts. Export partners were Italy
12.2%, US 11.4%, Spain 8.6%, UK 5.6%, France 5.4%, Syria 5.2%, Saudi Arabia 4.4 %,
Germany 4.2% . Egypt's Balance of Payments made a surplus of US$4478 million in FY2005
compared to a deficit of US$158 million in FY2004. Egypt's trade balance in goods and
services was US$(-3.87) billion in FY2006 (UN Data). In the Arab world, Egypt has the
largest non-oil GDP as of 2005. The gross external debt of Egypt, including the total public
19
1. EGYPTIAN ECONOMY

and private debt owed to non-residents repayable in foreign currency, goods, or services is
estimated at US$29,898 million at the end of FY 2007.
One major Egyptian success grew out of a provision in U.S. trade law designed to promote
Arab-Israeli reconciliation. In 2004, the U.S. approved plans for Egypt to export to the USA
products made in special export zones. So long as the goods derived at least 11.7% of their
value from Israeli inputs, they could enter the USA duty-free. Annual sales and workforce
of related companies nearly doubled.
1.8. Public Finances
On the revenues side, total revenues of the government were EGP 78.32 bn (€ 14.17 bn)in
FY2002 and are projected to reach EGP184.7bn (€ 22.9 bn)in FY2008. Much of the increase
came from a rise in tax revenues, particularly personal income and corporate taxes which
constituted the bulk of total domestic taxes, due to recent tax reforms. This trend is likely
to gradually widen the tax base in the forthcoming years. Revenues, however, have
remained more or less constant (about 21%)as a percentage of the GDP over the past few
years.
On the expenditures side, strong expenditure growth has remained a main feature of the
budget. This is mainly a result of continued strong expansion of (1) the public-sector wages
driven by government pledges. Wages and Compensations increased from EGP30.5 bn (€
7.02 bn) in FY2002 to EGP59.6 bn (€ 7.39 bn)in FY2008; (2) high interest payments on the
public debt stock. Interest payments rose from EGP21.8 bn (€ 5 bn)in FY2002 to EGP52.0
bn (€ 6.45 bn)in FY2008. Importantly, dramatic increase in domestic debt which is
projected to be roughly 62% of GDP in FY2008 up from 58.4% in FY2002; and (3) the costs
of food and energy subsidies, which rose from EGP18.0 bn (€ 4.15 bn)in FY2002 to
EGP64.5 bn (€ 8 bn)in FY2008.
The overall deficit, after adjusting for net acquisition of financial assets, remains almost
unchanged from the cash deficit. The budget’s overall deficit of EGP 43.8 bn (€ 10.07 bn)or
-10.2% of GDP for FY2002 has become 49.2 bn (€ 6.35 bn)in FY2007, so that is narrowed
to -6.7% of GDP. Deficit is financed largely by domestic borrowing and revenue from
privatization sales, which became a standard accounting practice in budget Egypt. The
government aims at more sales of assets in FY2008.
1.9. Exchange Rate policy
The exchange rate policy is linked to US Dollar. With the turn of the new millennium, Egypt
introduced a managed float regime and successfully unified the Pound exchange rate vis-àvis
foreign currencies. Currency black markets do not exist anymore.The transition to the
unified exchange rate regime was completed in December 2004. Shortly later, Egypt has
notified the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it has accepted the obligations of Article
VIII, Section 2, 3, and 4 of the IMF Articles of Agreement, with effect from January 2, 2005.
IMF members accepting the obligations of Article VIII undertake to refrain from imposing
restrictions on the making of payments and transfers for current international transactions,
or from engaging in discriminatory currency arrangements or multiple currency practices,
20
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

except with IMF approval. Egypt thus assured the international community that it will
pursue economic policies that will not impose restrictions on the making of payments and
transfers for current international transactions unnecessary, and will contribute to a
multilateral payments system free of restrictions.
In the fiscal year 2004 and over most of the fiscal year 2005, the pound depreciated
against the US Dollar. Since the second half of the fiscal year 2006 until the present time,
the pound graduallay appreciated to EGP 5.35 per USD.
1.10. Investment
Egypt's location astride trade routes linking Asia, the Middle East and Europe is a key selling
point when officials meet with potential investors. So far, the government has done well
competing against nations such as Turkey for the right to host companies looking for an
export platform to serve consumers in Africa and the Middle East.
From just $450 million five years ago, foreign direct investment rose to more than $10
billion last year. One key: Egypt has been among the principal beneficiaries of a torrent of
oil dollars coming from countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The
USA was the leading source of capital last year, though it ranks eighth in cumulative
investment. Major American corporations such as Citibank, General Motors and Procter &
Gamble have sizable stakes here.
A large share of foreign investment has originated with neighboring Arab states that are
putting their petrodollars into speculative real estate projects.
"The region is flush with money. Traditionally, this used to be destined for investments in
North America and Europe."Now, these investors are increasingly looking at opportunities
closer to home."
The largest U.S. investor is Apache Corp., a Houston-based energy company that first
began exploring for oil and gas deposits in 1994. About one-fifth of the company's $3.2
billion in first-quarter production revenue came from beneath the Egyptian desert.A
continuing flow of foreign capital is critical for the government's hopes of boosting
investment economy wide. Investment now equals about 22% of total output, up from 17%
three years ago, but still well below the government's goal of about 27%.Egypt's foreign
investment — once heavily concentrated in oil and gas — has grown more diverse as
investors have broken ground for factories producing fertilizers, chemicals and consumer
products. But last year, more than one-third of foreign investment went into privatizations
of large state-owned enterprises, such as the Bank of Alexandria and the Omar Effendi
department store. Such deals typically lead to substantial job losses as bloated state
payrolls are trimmed.
Turning to domestic investments,the Egyptian equity market is one of the most developed
in the region with more than 633 listed companies. Market capitalization on the exchange
doubled in 2005 from USD 47.2 billion to USD 93.5 billion, with turnover surging from USD
1.16 billion in January 2005 to USD 6 billion in January 2006.
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1. EGYPTIAN ECONOMY

Private Equity has not been widely used in Egypt in the past as a source of funding for
businesses. The government, however, has instituted a number of policy changes and
reforms specifically intended to develop internal private equity funds and to attract private
equity funding from international sources.
The major industries include textiles, hydrocarbon and chemical production, and generic
pharmaceutical production. Unemployment is high at about 10 %.
Major fiscal reforms were introduced in 2005 in order to tackle the informal sector which
according to estimates represents somewhere between 30% to 60% of GDP. Significant tax
cuts for corporations were introduced for the first time in Egyptian history. The new Income
tax Law No 91 for 2005 reduced the tax rate from 40% to 20%. According to government
figures, tax filing by individuals and corporations increased by 100%.
Many changes were made to cut trade tariffs. Among the legislator’s goals were tackling the
black market, reducing bureaucracy and pushing through trade liberalization measures.
Amendments to Investment and Company law were introduced in order to attract foreign
investors. For example, the number of days required for establishing a company was
dramatically reduced.
Significant improvement to the domestic economic environment increased investors’
confidence in Egypt. The Cairo & Alexandria Stock Exchange is considered among the best
ten emerging markets in the world. The changes to the policy also attracted increased
levels of foreign direct investment in Egypt. According to the UN Conference on Trade and
Development’s World Investment Report, Egypt was ranked the second largest country in
attracting foreign investment in Africa.
Given the large number of amendments to laws and regulations, Egypt has succeeded to a
certain extent in conforming to international standards. Very recently the Cairo &
Alexandria Stock Exchange (CASE) was welcomed with full membership into the World
Federation of Exchanges (WFE)—the first Arab country to be invited.
In April 2008, The IFC — the private sector arm of the World Bank Group — signed a
memorandum of understanding with Egypt’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA) that
seeks to streamline and decentralize the process of obtaining industrial licenses, reducing
cost and time needed to register a company. Over the next two years, the project will help
create an integrated platform for business start-up procedures at the national level.
Managed by the IFC, the project will involve the government as well as the private sector in
identifying issues that hinder processes for obtaining licenses and permits. IFC will
introduce international best practices, replicate pilot reforms at the municipal level, and
streamline approval procedures required by public entities.
1.11. Challenges
The development of the Egyptian economy is facing some challenges which must be dealt
with. Some of these challenges are :
22
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- Living conditions of the average Egyptian must be improved as government subsidies are
abolished. It is taking time before improvements in the macro economy reaches the
population.about 19.6% of the Egyptian population have some degree of poverty.
Metropolitan areas are the least poor(5.7%). The government is currently employing
recently completed poverty map as tool for geographic targeting of public resources
- The past five years, the official unemployment rate has declined from 11% to about 9%.
Investments and privatization influence employment. Egypt must produce more than
600,000 new jobs each year just to keep pace with new entrants into the labor force.
- The global food crisis has a strong impact on the limited income group.
- Training to produce qualified workers must be strongly encouraged to meet the demands
of the growing private sector.
- The inflation rate must be controlled.
- Business transparency must be increased and bribery and unfair practices controlled.
1.12. Summary
Year 2006/07 will remain distinct in terms of economic performance and development in
Egypt. This is not only because this year has witnessed the highest economic growth rate
ever achieved in recent years (7.1%), but also because of the sustainability of this high rate
for the second consecutive year, after reaching 6.8% in 2005/06; which implies the
possibility of sustaining the momentum of economic growth . Also, the continued escalation
of the pace of development is not the only hallmark of the year 2006/07, but its
accomplishment is also shaped by the leading role of the basic sectors. For instance, the
industrial sector (in abroad definition) grew by 7.3 % and contributed by 30% of GDP
increase; the construction and transport sectors contributed together by 16%, and
agriculture by 13%. These developments ascertain the diversity and the balanced
production structure that feature the Egyptian economy.
The above characteristics reflect the increased effectiveness and efficiency of current
economic policy in ameliorating the business climate, and raising confidence in the
economic potential and prospects of the country. A sum of L.E. 155 billion of investments
have been pumped into the economy, raising the investment rate from 18.7% to 21.2%.
Private sector investments accounted for the largest share; amounting to about L.E. 96
billion during the year, a figure which is 45% higher than that of last year .The analysis of
GDP components reveals a 4% increase in real household consumption in 2006/07.
However, the real challenge remains in seeking ways of broadening the base of
beneficiaries from economic growth and consumption increase .The dynamic features
gained by the Egyptian economy during the last two years - and which have grown
substantially during the fiscal year 2006/07 -have contributed to the enlargement of the
absorptive capacity of the labor market. However, despite the large increase in the number
of employed persons and the slight reduction in unemployment rate; the most difficult
challenge that is still facing policy makers is how to speed up the growth of the economy
further to allow for the creation of 750 thousand jobs a year that would ensure full
eradication of unemployment.
23
1. EGYPTIAN ECONOMY

2. Industry in Egypt
2.1. Introduction
Egypt was known for ages as an agricultural country and the governors never paid attention
to industry till the beginning of 19th Century. Egypt witnessed a huge industrial revival
when Muhammad Ali created a great industrial base including textile, sugar, cooking oil
squeezing, rice mills and the military industries flourished. A shipyard and factories for
preparation of chemical materials were established. The industrial revival declined during
the following periods till the end of World War I.
Misr Bank was founded in 1920 with Egyptian capital led a campaign to revive the Egyptian
industry. The bank succeeded in establishing an industrial base that included a chain of
great companies and factories which succeeded in establishing an advanced Egyptian
industry. The July 1952 Revolution launched a number of pioneering heavy industry
projects such as iron and steel, mining, petroleum, chemical, spinning and weaving and
food industries.
The period from 1967 to 1973 negatively affected the performance of the industrial sector
due to war and it was revived again after 1973 when the open-door economy policy was
actively embraced.
As peace prevailed, Egypt began a new stage of industrial development. By virtue of the
economic reform policy that started in 1990s of the past century, the role of the private
sector increased in achieving industrial development. The industrial sector enjoyed a wide
variety of privileges and incentives to investors.
At the early beginning of 21st century, Egypt has started a stage of reviving the Egyptian
industry and both industry and both foreign and internal Trade under one ministry in the
government . Modernization of Egyptian industry was essential for quality improvement of
products in order to provide a stronger competition within the World economy. Besides, an
atmosphere suitable for industrial and commercial activities was necessary to encourage
the private sector in assuming the main role in achieving economic development.
2.2. Industrial Investment
Egypt has recently witnessed a marked improvement in the atmosphere of investment due
to several elements topped by amending customs tariffs, issuing the new tax law, launching
the Great Free Arab Trade Zone beginning January 2005, issuing the law of Investment No.
13 of 2005 that aims to facilitate the procedures of investment through establishing the
unified service centers, establishing the public Association of Industrial Development that is
in charge of the industrial developing policies and responsible for developing the industrial
areas which is qualified to attract industrial investment.
More land was allocated to the Industrial Development Authority which reduced the price of
land and facilitated bank lending. Reduction of the price of land and energy combined with
a low labor cost help to attract foreign industrial investment into Egypt.
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Egypt has 90 industrial areas which are considered attractive to investors due to the
offered privileges and incentives. The areas allocated to these cities reached about 657 km2
in 2005 spread all over the governorates. There are seven public free zones in Egypt
equipped with utilities and infrastructure. They enjoy good incentives, investment
privileges, guarantees and tax exemption . These zones are located near ports as 50
percent of their production must be exported.
Investment activity can be conducted in Egypt inside the private free zones provided that
the project has actually started its activity, will have satisfied rules specified by the
regulations and has generated exports of more than 50 percent of its production.
In 2005/06 the Industrial Development Authority agreed to allocate land for 120 industrial
projects with an investment cost of LE 2.7 billion providing about 70 thousand job
opportunities. 1,3 square kilometer was allocated to foreign investors who started 22
companies on 21 percent of the allocated area.
It should be noted that Egypt has a wealth of minerals. Copper, titanium, tin and
manganese, Iron, gold, tungsten, chrome, phosphate, talc, sulphur, gypsum, potassium
and sodium salts, quartz, glass sand, precious stones and ornamental stones are present at
commercial levels.
2.3. Industrial Sectors Structure
The past five years have witnessed a rise in the total number of industrial facilities. They
reached more than 27 thousand facilities in 2005 against 24.5 thousand in 2000 with an
increase rate 10 percent. The newly registered facilities in the first half of 2006 reached
2888 facilities.
The industrial sector structure is characterized by clear concentration on the micro facilities.
In 2005 there were 18868 micro facilities at a rate of 70% of the total facilities and 5065
small facilities with a rate of 19 percent while the large facilities represented 6 percent of
the total facilities .
Most of the working industrial facilities are specialized in weaving and textile, ready made
garments and leather with a rate of 22 percent .The tobacco, foods and beverages
industries with a rate of 20 percent for each.
The total of the investment costs in the registered industrial facilities reached L.E 309 billion
in 2005. The large industrial facilities netted 88 percent of the implemented industrial
investments, the average facilities 6 percent and small facilities 4 percent.
The industrial production amounted to L.E 254.1 billion in 2005. The volume of the large
facility production reached LE 203 billion with a rate of 79.8 percent .The average facilities
production reached L.E 25.4 billion with a rate of 10 percent and the volume of small
facilities production reached about L.E20 billion with a rate of 8 percent .
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2. INDUSTRY IN EGYPT

2.4. Recent Industrial Programs
2.4.1. The one thousand factories program
The program which will been carried out during 2006-11 aims at encouraging the
partnership between the private sector and the bank sector to build one thousand large
factories subject to international standards and expanding the present factories with
investments higher than LE 15 million.
The year 2006 has witnessed an involvement with 110 large factories with an
implementation rate of 122 percent within the period January – September.
The number of new factories that began production reached 62 factories while 48 factories
have witnessed expansion with a rate of 43% . The investment costs reached LE 5644
million. The cost of the new factories was LE 3599 and the expansion cost was about LE
2045 million. This activity provided 26128 extra jobs with 17197 jobs in the new factories .
2.4.2. Business market program
The program aims at financing 2000 small and overage projects in the fields of industry and
productive services that have the ability of quick operation. Their investments range from
LE 5 million to LE 15 million for the average project and less than LE 5 million for the small
one. The number implemented factories during the period January-September/2006
reached 436 projects.
2.4.3. The Egyptian industry modernization Program
In the framework of Egyptian –European partnership, Egypt began to implement the
modernization program since the fiscal year 2002/03. The program aims at increasing the
competitiveness of Egyptian products to allow the country to be integrated within the
global economy. This will lead to the increase of the industrial export volume and the
creation of more jobs.
The modernization program costs 437 million EURO, the European Union contributed 250
million euros or 59 percent of the total cost. The program has benefited 430 industrial
facilities during the first three years. The Industrial Modernization Center (IMC) has
assumed the full supervision on implementing the program since 2005/06. The center
succeeded in implementing the program in 3400 facilities within the modernization plan
with a financing volume of 146 million EURO during this year. 145.6 million EURO were
allocated to finance the modernization program during 2006/07 to allow a total of 7300
facilities to have benefited from the program.
The IMC, in cooperation with the Union of Industries and the banking system, plan to pump
LE 70 billion to finance the implementation of the 1000 factories program during
2005/2011. This will participate in raising the industrial growth rate from 5 percent to 9
percent within this period and will increase direct job opportunities by 1.5 million. The job
opportunities will thus increase from 2.4 million to 3.9 million. Industrial exports are
expected to increase from LE 18 billion to LE 42 billion within the mentioned period.
2.5. Protecting The Environment
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

In June 1997, the responsibility of Egypt's first full time Minister of State for Environmental
Affairs was assigned as stated in the Presidential Decree no.275/1997. From thereon, the
new ministry has focused, in close collaboration with the national and international
development partners, on defining environmental policies, setting priorities and
implementing initiatives within a context of sustainable development.
According to the Law 4/1994 for the Protection of the Environment, the Egyptian
Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) was restructured with the new mandate to substitute
the institution initially established in 1982. At the central level, EEAA represents the
executive arm of the Ministry. The Principal Functions of the Agency Include:
- Formulating environmental policies.
- Preparing the necessary plans for Environmental protection and Environmental
development projects, following up their implementation, and undertaking Pilot Projects.
- The Agency is the National Authority in charge of promoting environmental relations
between Egypt and other States, as well as Regional and International Organizations.
2.5. The Industrial Production Development
In the framework of the efforts exerted by industrial sector to support the Egyptian
industrial products in occupying a suitable position in international markets, the productivity
of a number of basic industries was significantly increased during the past twenty five
years. In addition, such new hi-tech fields such as micro-electronic industries were
introduced.
The industrial structure in Egypt is based on seven industries representing 80 percent of
the industrial facilities. The country's three top industries are textiles, food and beverages.
Furniture, minerals, chemicals and metallurgy are also major industries.
In regard to the distribution of industrial production sector in 2005, it was remarkable that
the engineering, electronic and electric industries ranked first with 30 present of the
industrial production volume. Then tobacco, foods and beverage sector with 23 percent, the
chemical industries with 15 percent and the weaving and spinning, clothing and leather
products with 10 percent.
These are the most important four sector in the Egyptian economy in terms of the number
of industrial facilities, their participation in the total industrial production and their capacity
to absorb labor force and offered wages level. In 2005 they obtained 78 percent of
industrial investments and 79 percent of labor force.
The volume of production has been regularly growing in many industries. In 2005/06 the
spinning and weaving industry produced 305 thousand tons and 315,1 million pieces of
ready-made garments. Construction and building material plants put out 33 million tons of
cement and fifty million tons of reinforcement steel . Considering the food industry, 1645
thousand tons of sugar were produced in the same fiscal year.
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2. INDUSTRY IN EGYPT

In the poultry area, fodder production was more than10 million tons. In the fertilizer
industry, 11 million tons of azotic fertilizers and about 1.4 million tons of phosphate
fertilizers were produced.
2.6. Improving The Quality of Egyptian Industrial Products
Ministry of foreign trade and Industry was mandated to emphasize the concept of “quality”
as a national motto to the next stage aiming to raise competitive capacity of the Egyptian
product, to standardize specifications of industrial products with the international ones and
identify the environmental specifications of such products for international demand and for
Europe in particular.
The ministry succeeded in putting and implementing an integrated plan to revive the quality
of the Egyptian products. The Egyptian standardized specifications were identified with the
international and European ones. Egyptian specifications were issued for food, engineering,
chemical spinning and weaving industries and covered 6000 items.
Setting the first electronic map of quality in Egypt and Launching it on the Internet to
introduce all the companies that obtained the quality measures and European safety mark
to the world. A national institute for quality was established in cooperation with the Arab
Academy for Modern Technology.
2.7. Industrial Exports
The five years (2001/05) have witnessed a remarkable increase in the total Egyptian
exports .The total export volume increased from $ 4.2 billion in 2001 to $ 10.7 billion in
2005 at a rate of 156 percent. The petroleum exports contributed the greatest share in the
volume of Egyptian exports reaching 49 percent of the total exports in 2005. The volume of
non-petroleum export increased from $ 2.3 billion in 2001 to $ 4.2 billion in 2005. Egyptian
exports increased to about $ 8.5 billion in May 2006 at a rate of increase 46 percent from
the targeted plan for the fiscal year 2005/06. this reflects the successful development of
new export methods which were laid by the councils of export and the Council for the
Developing of Export.
The foods industrial sector made a dramatic leap in its exports during the first half of the
fiscal year 2005/06 with an increase of 49 percent against the same period of the past year.
These exports reached LE 2.127 billion. The agricultural exports witnessed a remarkable
development reaching a growth rate of 54 percent during the last five years. Rice, potatoes
and orange make up 61 percent of Egypt's agricultural exports (except of cotton). Non
petroleum Communities witnessed a remarkable increase during (2001/05), they increased
at a rate of 84 percent to reach $ 3 billion in 2005 against $ 1.6 billion in 2001.
Italy topped the importer list of Egyptian products. USA, Italy and Spain rank the first of
trade volume with Egypt. The European Union represents the most important bloc in regard
to trade with Egypt with a rate of 25 percent in 2005. The Asian Countries rank second
with a rate of 18 percent, the Arab Countries rank third with 17 percent and the North
American Countries rank fourth with a rate of 9.5 percent.
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

2.8. Summary
With the appointment of the current cabinet of ministries in July 2004, the Government of
Egypt has revived a stalled economic reform program which was initially introduced in
1991. As a result, the cabinet economic team has simplified and reduced tariffs and taxes,
improved the transparency of the national budget, revived stalled privatizations of public
enterprises, and adopted policies to improve competitiveness. Consequently a moderate
revival started in 2004 with a 4.1% GDP growth rate, followed by a very dynamic and
sustained economic expansion recording a rate of more than 7% for 2007 . But inflation
and unemployment must be dealt with.
Despite the ongoing reforms, the economy is still hampered by government intervention,
substantial subsidies for food, housing & energy, and bloated public sector payrolls.
Moreover, the public sector still controls most of the heavy industry. Agriculture contributes
nearly 14% to the GDP and employs nearly one-third of the active population. Warm
weather and plentiful water (thanks to Nile river) permit several crops a year. The main
crops are cereals, cotton and sugarcane. In the manufacturing sector, food processing
industry has developed considerably and now contributes 17% to the GDP. However, the
Egyptian economy relies heavily on tourism, oil and gas exports and Suez Canal revenues.
Oil and gas sector accounts for approximately 12% of the GDP.
The Egyptian market has been opening up gradually, especially since the EU-Egypt
Association Agreement which came into force in June 2004. The top three export partners
are: Italy, the USA and Spain. Its top three import partners are: the USA, Germany and
China. Egypt mainly exports mineral fuels & oils, cotton, and iron & steel; while as it mainly
imports consumer electronic and capital goods, nuclear reactors and boilers, cereals, food
products, and Chemicals.
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2. INDUSTRY IN EGYPT

3. Education in Egypt
3.1. Introduction
Current educational philosophy in Egypt is the product of three cultural heritages: British,
secular (westernized) Egyptian, and Islamic (traditional) Egyptian. The British protectorate
in Egypt left an exclusionary, state-controlled education system structured to serve elite
(British) interests with little concern for the masses. The heritage was one of restricted
opportunity, unenforced limited education (generally of poor quality), and higher education
reserved mostly for the elite. Egyptians and non-English foreigners were left few options
but to expand private and religious education.
Muhammad Ali, regarded as the father of modern Egypt and its education system,
introduced a secular, modern, western educational philosophy complete with sciences.
Egyptian leaders since the bloodless revolution that ended the monarchy in 1952 have
espoused this approach, viewing it as essential to Egyptian development. Islamic education
remained in place and, eventually, the traditional Islamic and the western educational
tracks, with their differing orientations, created a dichotomized educational culture that
persists to the present.
The Islamic heritage provides an educational system, parallel to public education, that is
basically a system of transmitting culture.. The Arab/Muslim heritage carries an orientation
that transcends national boundaries to include all Arabs and Muslims. From 1952 on, Nasser
offered free education, not only for Egyptians, but also for students from other Muslim
countries. At the same time, Egypt sent teachers and administrators out to the rest of the
Arab world where they set up and staffed schools and universities on a large scale.
Egypt's educational system both reflects and augments the socio-economic status of its own
people. Historic conflicts between tradition and innovation, and between foreign and
national interests all influence contemporary Egyptian education. Education in Egypt has
political, social, and economic objectives, namely: education for strengthening democracy
and comprehensive development as a continuous process, within the framework of Arab
culture.
Throughout the past 40 years, the strong autocratic government sometimes conflicted with
the democratization efforts in schools; nevertheless, the number of schools and technical
schools increased even in times of economic downturns.
There is an abiding belief in Egyptian education. It is viewed as vital to the transmission of
cultural values and as a critical force in individual development and in national Egyptian
development. Pre-university education reflects the dual secular and religious philosophies
as it aims to develop the learner culturally, scientifically, and nationally at successive levels
"with the aim of developing the Egyptian individual who is faithful to his God, his homeland,
and to the values of good, truth, and humanity." Pre-university education is supervised by
the Ministry of Education while the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is
responsible for university and higher Institute level education.
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

The public education system consists of three stages: the basic education stage for 4-15
year-olds (kindergarten for two years followed by primary school for six years and
preparatory school for three years); the secondary school stage for three years, generally
for ages 15 to 18; and the university stage. Education is compulsory for 8 years between
the ages of 6 and 15. All levels of education are tuition-free at all government schools and
institutions. In 1993, more than 13.8 million people were enrolled in state education at all
levels. In five years, that figure grew by 5 million. Ninety-one percent of all school-age
children were enrolled in school in 1991. When this figure is adjusted for school dropouts
and students repeating grades, the enrollment figures drop to 70-84 percent. In 1996, the
total official enrollment in primary, preparatory, and secondary schools topped 14 million,
the equivalent of 88 percent of the school-age population (boys, 94 percent; girls, 82
percent). In 1998-1999, some 17 million students were enrolled.
Rural-urban inequities continue to persist; in 1991-1992, rural enrollments often did not
exceed 50 percent of the appropriate age group . Gender inequities also persist; fewer
female than male students are enrolled. Many girls drop out of school at the end of their
basic compulsory program either to work or to marry. A law prohibiting girls from marrying
prior to age 16 has slowly begun to affect the female dropout rates.
The planning process, especially at the basic education level, begins at the bottom as
governate officials submit new project proposals (schools, classrooms, equipment, and
teachers) and budget requests every year to the Ministry of Education.
3.2. Basic Education
Preschool education: Within the Ministry of Education, a Higher Council for Childhood
supervises and coordinates preschool education with other concerned authorities. By
ministerial decree, preschool education is intended to aid mental, physical, social, moral,
and emotional development; develop language skills and numerical and technical abilities,
especially creativity and imagination; raise children in a better environment; help children
develop good personalities; and help children gradually accept formal school life and
discipline.
In 1995-1996 there were 2,060 preschools staffed by 10,913 teachers, enrolling 266,502
students. Preschool enrollment included 80 percent of the children in the relevant age
group (boys, 86 percent, and girls, 74 percent). There are no periods in the preschool day;
days are filled with activities and experiences to help children develop their spiritual, moral,
physical, social, and emotional domains. Homework or outside duties are strongly
discouraged.
All preschool institutions, whether state run or privately operated, are under the Ministry of
Education, educationally, technically, and administratively. The Ministry selects and
distributes textbooks; the use of any additional textbooks is forbidden. Guidelines state that
each class is to have two teachers and a helper in addition to a music teacher. The
maximum class size is 45 students. No child less than 4-years-old is allowed in state
preschool classes or schools.
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3. EDUCATION IN EGYPT

Primary Education: Primary school is also concerned with physical, social, moral, and
emotional development, as well as with giving children the knowledge and technical skills
needed for a successful practical life. Students may attend non-government private schools,
religious schools, or government schools. Primary schools enroll 60 percent of the total
school population for all levels of schooling in Egypt. Approximately 45 percent of the
primary students are girls, and the majority of primary teachers are women. English and
French private schools are growing in popularity as bilingualism gives children social and
academic privileges and later lucrative employment. Primary schools served 7.5 million
students in 1995-1996. In the same year, the Al-Azhar Moslem system served 704,446
students in 1,912 primary schools with another 147,762 students enrolled in 1,030
preparatory schools.
Preparatory Education: An important function of preparatory education is to provide a
safeguard against illiteracy as early school dropouts tend to lapse back into illiteracy. The
enrollments in preparatory schools in the 1990s totaled 3,679,325, less than half that of
the primary schools. Preparatory schools reflect the attrition occurring in the final primary
year.
3.3. High School Education
The second tier of compulsory education (grades 7 through 9) lasts for three years.
Students completing the primary part of basic education can complete the second part in
general preparatory schools, in vocational training centers or schools, or in vocational
preparatory classes. Completion of this stage earns the Basic Education Completion
Certificate or the Certificate in Vocational Basic Education. There are two types of public
secondary education: general secondary education and technical secondary education. To
enter general secondary education, students must pass a national exam given at the end of
their preparatory stage. Secondary schools conduct examinations every month for the first
two years, and students take a national exam in the final year. Those who pass receive the
Certificate of General Secondary Education, a requirement for admission to the universities
(accompanied by a strong academic record). A wide range of social, cultural, athletic,
scientific, and artistic extra-curricular activities are available in secondary schools, usually
sponsored by the teachers. Enrollment expanded significantly between 1990-1991 and
1994-1995 in secondary school (47 percent in general secondary and 85 percent in
technical-vocational secondary). In 1994-1995, general secondary enrollment reached
894,400 students, while technical-vocational enrollment was more than twice as high at
1,893.800 students. In 1996 secondary school enrollment included 68 percent of the
appropriate age group (boys, 71 percent; girls, 64 percent). In 1995-1996 there were
2,753 secondary schools with 6,142,651 students and 369,107 teachers.
In the parallel Islamic educational system, known as the Al-Azhar system, girls and boys
attend separate schools. In 1995-1996, the Al-Azhar Moslem system operated 57
secondary schools with 165,829 students. The curriculum is identical to the normal public
curriculum with additional study of the Quran and Islamic sciences. Graduates are
automatically accepted into Al-Azhar University.
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Special Education: In the year 2000 approximately 10 to 12 percent of pre-university
students were special education students. Responsibility for the physically challenged is
shared by the Ministry of Education (concerned with the education of the blind and partially
sighted, deaf and partially deaf, and mentally retarded), the Ministry of Social Affairs
(provides rehabilitation services to all disabled persons), the Ministry of Health, and the
Ministry of Manpower. By 1994-1995, a total of 25 schools for the blind, 95 schools for the
hearing-impaired, and 107 schools for the mentally impaired students were operating.
Special schools and classes are provided at all levels, serving a total of 22,043 students in
1996-1997. English language study is part of the curricula in the preparatory stage of basic
special education .
Government-sponsored special education schools serve the gifted and talented and the
mentally retarded, as well as the physically challenged. Plans to identify gifted students in
the kindergarten stage and then to provide special learning experiences for them were
developed in 1996. In 1994-1995, some 699 new classrooms were established for 20,790
gifted secondary students. The Ein Shams University School for the gifted was developed
with 12 classes serving 261 children. Other special schools include private schools in
villages attached to mosques and private foreign schools where the language of instruction
is often not Arabic.
3.4. Modern Instructional Methods for Basic Education
In the early 1990s, The Center for Educational Technology was established within the
Ministry of Education. Technology equipment is considered "as a medium for developing
scientific thinking, problem solving, new modes of learning, and training and
communication." New technology planned for pre-university schools includes computers,
projectors, television and video sets, and CDI sets. A five-year plan to equip 10,000 schools
with this new technology was completed, and 2,000 computer instructors were appointed to
secondary schools. Advanced science laboratories were developed in secondary schools
(1,500 laboratories with 16,500 new computers).
By the mid-1990s, about 200 pre-university schools were linked to the Internet with one
pre-university school working on the Globe Project, which gathers environmentally-related
global data for sharing with other schools. The Center, in collaboration with the General
Department for Educational Aids, is implementing an integrated plan to enhance
educational aids such as transparencies, colored slides, still films, models, and microscopic
and biological samples; to produce laser CDs for various topics in the curriculum starting
with the very early years; and to produce videotapes and audio tapes—especially in the
language areas (Arabic, English, and French).
Training on the new equipment has been introduced in Cairo and will eventually take place
in educational technology centers closer to schools. In collaboration with Egyptian Radio
and Television, distance-training programs are being developed to assist teachers. Six
training centers throughout the country are being connected through a fiber optic network
to facilitate exchange of information and maximize the use of the technology. Multi-media
laboratories, the Internet, and language and computer laboratories are being introduced in
the colleges of education. The Egyptian University's Network (EUN) links university
33
3. EDUCATION IN EGYPT

computer centers and research institutes throughout Egypt and is the Egyptian gateway to
the Internet . Internet use is available to all universities, faculty members, and graduate
students (with about 1300 users in the mid-1990s). More than 80 organizations throughout
Egypt can also access it.
3.5. International Cooperation Projects for Basic Education
Extensive foreign influence is apparent throughout Egyptian education. Examples include
UNESCO and Fulbright support of overseas teacher training, World Bank engagement in
distance education and educational reform as part of loan programs, and technical and
scientific education aid using expertise, facilities, and equipment from Americans, French,
Germans, Italians, and Japanese. UNICEF aids in development of educational materials.
Teachers are sent overseas to the United States, the United Kingdom, and France for
training. The Egyptian-Swiss Fund for Development works to improve primary education.
Pan Arabic conferences set the aims and goals of education in Egypt and other nations.
3.6. Higher Education
Higher education is provided by universities and higher institutes of technical and
professional training, both public and private. Responsibility for higher education lies mainly
with the Ministry of Higher Education. Organization and administration, as well as academic
programs, are determined by laws, decrees and government regulations. The State
universities are under the authority of the Supreme Council of Universities. Universities
have full academic and administrative autonomy. They also carry out scientific research.
The higher institutes of professional and technical training award qualifications equivalent to
the first qualification conferred by the universities. Open college education was introduced
at the universities of Cairo, Alexandria and Assiut in 1991. Private universities are entitled
to implement their own criteria of admission and to set fees without intervention from the
Ministry. Besides, Some Egyptian universities have begun to establish certain modified
curricula which can be joined by students paying their own fees. This can represent and
important source of funding as most of the students are constitutionally granted free
education .
The higher education system in Egypt is made up of 18 public universities with more than
2.4 million students, 12 public non-university institutions, and 22 private universities
providing technical and professional training. Of the 12 non-university institutions, 8 are
two year upper secondary-level technical institutes (MTI), and four- or five year higher
education-level technical institutes. Those are joined by 115 private institutes giving the
same type of education. There are more than 63.000 teaching staff in the Egyptian higher
education.
The first stage of higher education consists of four to six years of multidisciplinary study in
basic subjects. They lead to the award of the Baccalaureate degree. In Medicine, studies
last for six years, with one additional year of practical work. The best graduates are usually
offered the positions of a teaching assistant.
34
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

The second stage is more specialized and comprises two to five years of training in
individual research work culminating in the submission of a thesis. The degree awarded is
the Master's degree. Teaching assistants are required to obtain their Master's degree in
Egypt to encourage local research. They will then be promoted to the position of Assistant
Lecturers.
The third stage leads to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) after at least two years' study
following the Master's Degree. It is awarded for advanced research work culminating in a
thesis. In Medicine, the degree of a Doctor in Medical Sciences may be prepared
concurrently with the degree of a professional Doctor of Medicine.
Assistant lecturers are usually able to obtain the necessary fellowships which allow them to
study abroad in order to obtain the PhD degree and further to have adequate postdoctoral
training. Upon returning home they will be appointed as lecturers. They need to attend
some courses in education to learn how to be a good teachers. After five years they will be
eligible for the position of an associate professor if they produce enough scientific
publications. It will take five years more and more publications to obtain the position of a
full professor.
It should be mentioned that many assistant lecturers do not return back home, causing a
brain drain problem. To face a difficult financial situation after returning home, many
university staff members obtain temporary university positions in neighboring countries,
usually extending for five years. This frequently has a negative effect on their research
potential.
Non-university education is offered by industrial, commercial, and technical institutes that
provide two-year courses leading to diplomas in accountancy, secretarial work, insurance,
computer or health sciences and electronics. Technical education schools provide five-year
courses leading to advanced technical education diplomas in commercial, industrial, and
agricultural fields.
There are three bodies for the governance and control of higher education in Egypt: the
Ministry of Higher Education, the Supreme Council of Universities (SCU), and the Central
Administration of Al-Azhar Institutes. The Ministry of Higher Education has jurisdiction over
higher education through the supervision and coordination of all post-secondary education,
planning, policy formulation, and quality control. It also oversees teacher training for basic
education. The Supreme Council of Universities, founded in 1950, formulates the overall
policy of university education and scientific research in universities and determines the
number of students to be admitted to each faculty in each university.
3.7. Modernization of Higher Education
Various projects were initiated to modernize the higher education system in Egypt.
Prominent among these projects are the Tempus and HEEPF projects.
3.7.1. The Tempus Project Fund
35
3. EDUCATION IN EGYPT

Since 2002, the EU Tempus project in Egypt, with most of the Egyptian Universities
participating in a total of 64 Tempus projects .The subject areas were: Urban and Regional
Planning, Microfinance, Health Care, Open and Distance Learning,European Studies,
Engineering and Technology, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, Bio-Chemistry, Cultural
Heritage, Pharmacy, Translation and Interpreting, Management and Business, Information
Technologies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Mechanical Engineering, Medicine and Surgery,
Tourism and Leisure, Physical Education, and Biology. Though this project aims at
encouraging cooperation between Egyptian, regional and international higher education
systems.
Tempus has had a strong influence on modernizing the Higher Education System in Egypt.
The program was very timely to accompany the implementation of the Higher Education
Enhancement Strategy that was introduced in 2000 and revised twice, in 2002 and
2004.The main objectives of this strategy were in line with the objectives of Tempus:
(modernization of curricula, Introduction of Quality Assurance in Higher Education, etc.).
Although the direct impact of Tempus projects on the Egyptian Higher Education system is
not directly visible, the program’s long term involvement in the country and the
introduction of competitiveness in Higher Education have been the main direct outcomes.
One of the main elements of impact of Tempus in Egypt is the introduction of quality
education through partnerships with EU member states in different disciplines, with more
than 170 IMG (individual Mobility Grants) grants being awarded to staff members from
Egypt. Such a mechanism was one of the most demanded in the country, and shows the
interest of Egyptian staff members in retraining and building bridges for cooperation. Many
JEP (joint European projects)projects introduced new concepts and program in the
education system and were considered as self sustainable success stories for the
modernization of Higher Education in Egypt. Tempus has also been one of the main
catalysts for the modernization.
3.7.2. The Higher Education Enhancement Project Fund (HEEPF)
Beside the Tempus project, the Higher Education Enhancement Project Fund (HEEPF) is
another mechanism within the national higher education enhancement strategic plan
(HEEP). HEEPF is part of the loan agreement dated April 2002, between the Egypt and the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to support and Finance priority
areas of the strategic plan of the higher Education Enhancement Project HEEP. The amount
of the loan allocated for HEEPF Grants equal to 12,000,000 USD that was increased to
13,000,000 USD. The project aims at an active participation in the implementation of the
strategic plan of continuous higher education enhancement through competitive
mechanisms to achieve distinction in Egyptian Education institutions and upgrade them to
reach the international standards.
By 2000, the universities generated 150,000 graduates a year. A two-semester system for
the school year was instituted in all universities in 1992. The university academic year is 30
working weeks. Arabic is the medium of instruction in humanities, social studies, education,
law, commerce, economics and political sciences, information, social service, tourism and
hotels. English is widely used in the faculties of medicine, pharmacology, dentistry science,
and engineering.
36
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Higher education includes non-university training in Egypt in engineering and technological
education institutes, education institutes, private institutes, technical industrial institutes,
and commercial and hotel institutes. Since the late 1970s, the government initiated policies
to reorient postsecondary education toward technical training programs in agriculture,
commerce, and a variety of other fields. Student subsidies were partially responsible for a
15 percent annual increase in enrollments in the country's five-year technical institutes. In
1993-1994, 49,703 students were enrolled in commerce institutes (24,906 women) and
31,259 in technical institutes (9,401 women). Female literacy in 1927 was only 5 percent;
fifty years later it was 38 percent (male literacy was 62 percent). The combined adult
literacy rate is estimated presently at 57 percent .
Both men and women have equal opportunity in pursuing higher education. Given that
education is state-sponsored and that progression through school is dependent on test
scores, the number of women in science and engineering colleges has increased
remarkably. The female students in year 2002 reached 55.4% in pharmacology, 45.5% in
medical schools, 58.1% in dentistry, 45.4% in veterinary, 45.8% in science colleges
(physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, and geology), 37.4% in computer science, and
24.5% in engineering as shown in Fig.2. Women getting accepted into science and
engineering schools are not likely to drop out because they have reached this position after
a tough competition that screened all students and proved that they are capable of
pursuing these studies. Moreover, higher education in Egypt is free.
Table 4 - Performance Indicators of the HEEPF University Education Project
HEEPF
Objectives
Output/Outcome
Performance Indicators
Create a
competitive
environment to
improve and
enhance Higher
Education
Institutes
• 563 proposals have been
submitted over 4 Cycles
where 158 projects were
selected for fund in
Egyptian universities are
funded. (41 in the 1st, 36 in
the 2nd, 36 in the 3rd and
45 in the 4th cycle).
• Contractual budget for the
funded projects
=13.884.096 US$
HE Institutions participated in
the HEEPF projects
Faculties participated in the
HEEPF projects
Direct beneficiaries
17 universities, 5
T/C & MOHE.
90
121.722
undergraduate
students and
100.915 other
categories
• 83 projects have been
successfully submitted.
Indirect beneficiaries
89.899
undergraduate
students and
209.747 other
categories
Faculty members participated in
the HEEPF Projects.
3.540
37
3. EDUCATION IN EGYPT

New under-graduate programs 5
New postgraduate programs 35
Upgraded under-graduate
curricula
Upgraded post-graduate
curricula
Upgraded and developed
courses
10
44
509
Laboratories upgrading 122
Simulation/Virtual labs
e-learning and on-line courses
71 Experiments
519 electronic
courses
Knowledge resources 7
IT projects 16
MIS, HMS & Database 9
Quality assurance systems 15
Management and reform of
higher education institutes.
9
Increase
collaboration with
the community
Establishment of relations
with the community
Specialized/interdisciplinary
centers have been incorporated
with HEEPF projects.
57
Cooperation protocols with
community organizations have
been signed and activated.
39
Specialized units for
sustainability purposes
64
Source: Ministry og Higher Education, Egypt
38
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

4. SCIENCE IN EGYPT
4.1. Introduction
Egypt is aiming to achieve a high standard of academic achievement while maintaining its
cultural heritage. This ambitious aim is built on a well-founded research structure and a
vast manpower resource of critical mass.. Historically, prior to the nineteenth century, the
ulama and Coptic clergy controlled Egypt's traditional education. The country's most
important institutes were theological seminaries, but most mosques and churches--even in
villages--operated basic schools where boys could learn to read and write Arabic, to do
simple arithmetic, and to memorize passages from the Quran or Bible. Muhammad Ali
established the system of modern secular education in the early nineteenth century to
provide technically trained cadres for his civil administration and military. His grandson,
Ismail, greatly expanded the system by creating a network of public schools at the primary,
secondary, and higher levels. Ismail's wife set up the first school for girls in 1873. Between
1882 and 1922, when the country was under British administration, state education did not
expand. However, numerous private schools, including Egypt's first secular university, were
established.
4.2. Science Centers
In the following lines a brief description of some of Egypt science facilities will be presented.
4.2.1. Cairo University
As detailed elsewhere in this report, Egypt at present has 18 state universities and twenty
two private universities. While offering students the opportunity of higher studies, they play
an important role as research centers. The presence of graduate studies in each
department allows faculty members to carry out research work while supervising Master's
and PhD degree student . Publishing in international journals is strongly encouraged. We
will offer more details regarding Cairo University, the oldest Egyptian University.
At the beginning of twentieth century, some Egyptian social thinkers called for the
establishment of an Egyptian University to act as a lighthouse of liberal thought and to be
the basis of a comprehensive academic revival in all the fields of knowledge in order to be
able to cope with the international scientific and academic advancement.
The university finally came into being and it was officially inaugurated on December 21,
1908. Study began at the university in the evening of the inauguration day in the form of
general lectures to be given in diverse places until an official location was found. The first
concern of the University was to send some of their distinguished students to Europe to
obtain their Ph.D. and then come back to teach at the university.
The University also established a library that contained invaluable books and treatises that
were authored by Egyptians and non-Egyptians alike. As a result of the University's
accomplishments, the government decided to establish a State University in 1917 and set
39
4. SCIENCE IN EGYPT

up committee to study the project. The committee suggested that the Higher Schools be
upgraded to the university level and annexed to the existing colleges. School of Law and
School of Medicine were thus annexed to the State University in February 12, 1923. It was
agreed that the old University would merge into new one, with the Faculty of Arts as the
core.
Fig.4 - Percentage of female university students in science colleges (2000/2001)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Medicine
Engineering
Science
Dendistry
Pharmacology
Veterinary
Computer
Science
Agriculture
Source: Global Alliance for Diversifying the Science and Engineering Workforce 1
Cairo University now has 20 faculties . These are :The Faculty of Agriculture, Archaeology,
Arts, Commerce, Computer and Information Sciences, Dar El-Ulum(Islamic Studies), Oral
Dental Medicine, Economics and Political Sciences, Engineering, Law, Mass
Communications, Medicine, Pharmacology, Physiotherapy, Regional and Urban Planning,
Science, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, Kindergarten Education and Specific Education.
Besides, Cairo University has an open learning center and four institutes :The Institute of
African Studies and Research, The Institute of Educational Studies and Research, The
National Cancer Institute and The National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences. The
suggestions and advice of Dr. Ahmed Zewail, the Egyptian Nobel Prize Winner, played an
1
http://www.globalalliancesmet.org/egypt_education.htm
40
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

important role in establishing the Laser Institute. The Open Learning Center allows
grownups who wish to obtain a university degree such an opportunity.
Each faculty allows student to choose from various specializations (departments). For
example, the Faculty of Engineering of Cairo University has the following Engineering
departments : Aeronautical and Aerospace, Architectural, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil,
Computer, Electric Power and Machines, Electronics and Electrical Communication,
Mathematics and Physics, Irrigation and Hydraulics, Mechanical Design and Production,
Mechanical Power Mining Petroleum and Metallurgical, Public Works and Structural
Engineering.
The Faculty of Engineering of Cairo University, again as an example, has the following
research Centers and Laboratories : Architectural and Engineering Design Center, Center
for Advancement of Post-Graduate Studies and research in Engineering Sciences
(CAPSCU), Center for Advanced Software and Biomedical Engineering Consultations, Center
of Studies and Design for Water Projects, Center of Studies and training, Civil Engineering
Center, Concrete Research Laboratory, Engineering Center for Archeology and Environment,
Energy research Center, High Tech Design and Consultation Center(ICT), Material Testing
Lab, Soil Mechanics and Foundation Research Lab, Technical Center for Job Promotion,
Center of Manufacturing Studies, Highway and Airport Engineering Research, Tribology and
Spare Parts Center and The Unit for Production and Management.
University staff members are usually experienced researchers, having obtained their PhD
degrees from prominent international centers and having gone through the usual
postdoctoral research experience.
This was just one example of education and research scientific activities at on Egyptian
university. Other comparable activities can be also found at other universities such as Ain
Shams, Alexandria, Mansoura, Assiut, the American University in Cairo, The German
University in Cairo, etc.
4.2.2. National Research Center (NRC)
The National Research Centre is the largest multidisciplinary R&D Center devoted to basic
applied research within the major fields of interest. It is the largest of all institutions
affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific research and employs about
70% of all scientists working in research institutions. It was established as an independent
public organization at 1956, with the aim "to foster basic and applied scientific research
particularly in industry, agriculture, public health and other sectors of national economy".
Between the sixties and eighties 6 divisions of NRC developed into independent research
institutes:
- The National Institute of Standards,
- Petroleum Research Institute,
- Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute,
- Theodore Bilharz Research Institute,
- Ophthalmology Research Institute, and
41
4. SCIENCE IN EGYPT

- Electronics Research Institute.
Since its establishment, the NRC has evolved through 3 distinct stages. The initial stage
extending from 1956 to 1968, focused on man power development and building research
capacity in basic sciences. The second stage (1968-1973) was characterized by a growing
interaction with the national production and services sectors. The third stage (1973 till now)
concentrated on customer oriented research serving specific needs of end users. The
scientific fields of interest span over Textile, Food and Nutrition, Pharmaceutical, Organic
Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Mineral Resources, Engineering, Renewable Energies,
Agriculture, Biology, Veterinary, Environmental Sciences, Medical Sciences, Genetic
Engineering,Human genetics, Biotechnology, Physics, and New Materials.
The NRC is marked by a basic orientation of its activities to customer- oriented research in
order to address the national needs more effectively through scientific and technical
research. So, it organizes its development-related activities almost into 8 major
multidisciplinary programs, namely:
- Environmental, Health, and Medical Research
- Biotechnology Research
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Industries Research.
- Chemical and Textile Industries Research.
- Material Sciences, Renewable Energies and Engineering Research.
- Food and Nutrition Industries Research
- Agricultural and Animal Research
- Natural & Basic Sciences
4.2.3. Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute (CMRDI)
CMRDI is a research center affiliated to the State Minister of Scientific Research. The
mission of the institute is to enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian industry and the
welfare of the society through technological development and technology transfer. CMRDI
offers services to industry covering research projects, consultancy, technical services,
training, testing and certification.
Over almost three decades of collaboration with Egyptian industry, these services have
been focused on the actual demands of the client and application in the company, giving
the institute a profile of needs pull rather than technology push.
CMRDI has a longstanding and successful collaboration with many national and overseas
R&D institutions, which guarantees a sound scientific basis. As a matter of fact, CMRDI
cooperates frequently with Egyptian industry and universities to enrich research in various
disciplines. One such case was the cooperation with the National Institute of Laser
Enhanced Sciences and the General Company for Automobile Manufacturing in the area of
laser material processing and how it can be applied in the car industry.
CMRDI has also largely benefited from cooperation with international agencies such as JICA
(Japan), TNO (Netherlands) and SIDA (Sweden). Thanks to this support, CMRDI was able to
42
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

play an effective role in transferring many technologies to the Egyptian industries as well as
other African and Middle-East countries.
4.2.4. National Cancer Institute (NCI)
The National Cancer Institute - Cairo University (NCI) is fortress of cancer control in Egypt
through developing and maintaining integrated quality programs in patient care, research,
education and prevention.
The NCI mission could only be accomplished by building and maintaining government and
public trust and support, together with national and international cooperation to reach the
state of the art in application of health care. NCI is committed to the multidisciplinary
approach in cancer management in which different treatment modalities cooperate rather
than compete. Professional and public educations are vital to solve the problem of the late
presentation of patients.
A network of cancer centers that covers all Egypt’s provinces was recently established. The
NCI extended its support to these cancer centers to recruit its wealth of trained scientists in
different disciplines of oncology diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The NCI extended
the support by sharing its specialized facilities, know-how, labs and centers not only
through conventional methods, but also through most advanced technologies such as
telemedicine. The Academic Program of the NCI offers advanced training and professional
degrees in different oncology disciplines. It is continuously being updated and upgraded to
satisfy the needs of the advancement in medical practice and the needs of the Egyptian
patients. The NCI views cancer as a disease that requires cost sharing and proper
management at cancer centers. The implementation of computerized hospital management
systems will be necessary to optimize the utilization and operation all cancer centers in
Egypt. Most patients are actually treated free of charge through government subsidies and
many generous public donations.
4.2.5. Agriculture Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI)
The Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI) is a discipline - oriented
institute within the Agricultural Research Center (ARC) of the Ministry of Agriculture & Land
Reclamation (MALR) - Arab Republic of Egypt.
AGERI is the primary institute which deals with agricultural genetic engineering in Egypt. It
aims at :
- Broadening the research and development capabilities and scope of the Agricultural
Research Center in the public and private sectors (i.e., initiation of new program areas
and application to a wider array of crop species).
- Expanding and diversifying the pool of highly qualified trained professionals in the area of
biotechnology.
- Promoting opportunities for private sector development.
- Enhancing cooperation with collaborative public and/or private projects with established
research units.
43
4. SCIENCE IN EGYPT

- Providing opportunities for university- trained professionals (e.g. faculty, researchers and
teachers), the Ministry of Agriculture (professional researchers) and private venture
companies to cooperate in agricultural genetic engineering research.
- Achieving the desired level of self-reliance and self-financing within AGERI to mobilize the
funds necessary for the running costs of laboratories.
- Providing agricultural genetic engineering capabilities to meet Egypt's current problems.
- Advancing Egyptian agriculture using available genetic engineering capabilities.
Some of the main research areas are the enhancement of virus resistance, insect
resistance, fungal resistance and nematode resistance of plants beside enhancing their
stress tolerance. Other projects include genome mapping and bio-molecular engineering.
4.2.6. New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA)
Development and efficient management of primary energy resources are considered
important pillars for sustainable development in Egypt. Energy sources are classified into
conventional sources such as oil, natural gas and coal as well as renewable sources such as
hydro, solar, wind and biomass sources.
The New & Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) was established in 1986 to act as a national
focal point to introduce and promote renewable energy technologies for potential
applications, particularly generating electricity on a commercial scale together with
implementation of related energy conservation measures. Accordingly, renewable energy
plays a significant role in saving fossil fuel, reducing green house gas emissions, hence
contributing to preservation of the environment. Currently, the strategy targets at obtaining
3% of the local electric energy demand from renewable energy resources, mainly wind &
solar, by the year 2010, with additional contribution of other RE applications.
NREA is entrusted to plan and implement renewable energy programs in coordination with
other concerned national and international institutions within the framework of its mandate
which includes:
- Renewable energy resource assessment.
- Research, development, demonstration, testing and evaluation of the different RE
technologies focusing on solar, wind and biomass.
- Implementation of renewable energy projects.
- Proposing the Egyptian standard specifications for renewable energy equipment &
systems, and conducting tests to evaluate their performance, under the Egyptian
prevailing conditions, hence issuing respective licensing certificates to that effect.
- Rendering of consultancy services in the field of renewable energy.
- Technology transfer and development of local manufacturing of Renewable Energy
equipment.
- Education, training and information dissemination.
44
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

4.2.7. Mubarak City for Scientific Research and Technology Applications
Mubarak City for Scientific Research & Technology Applications is the newest addition of
research institutes in Egypt that was directed to the development and renovation of
industry.
A decision to develop a science park in the Alexandria region was reached in 1993 in order
to acquire and improve scientific technologies in different areas of human life. The City
occupies 250 acres in the industrial area located at New Borg El Arab City, west of
Alexandria. This region also embraces about 40% of the Egyptian industry. The science
park comprises 12 research centers to be developed at different intervals.
The objectives of the City institutes were clearly categorized to serve the development and
renovation of industry in Egypt. These objectives can be summarized as follows:
- Develop centers of scientific Excellence that can serve both economic and social
developments of the Egyptian society.
- Develop new technologies and provide new scientific methods in different fields of
industry in order to link research programs to national development plans.
- Provide training, consulting and technology transfer to different production and service
agents in Egypt.
- Conduct applicable projects to ensure better performance in different areas that can
benefit the Alexandria region and the national economy.
- Cooperation with different national and international institutes in the various areas of
technology.
4.2.8. The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)
ITIDA is a governmental entity that has been established through Law 15 of the year 2004.
This agency aims at paving the way for the diffusion of the e-business services in Egypt
capitalizing on different mandates of the authority such as activating the Egyptian e-
signature law and supporting an export-oriented IT sector in Egypt.
The main objectives of the ITIDA are:
- Increasing exports of ICT products and services.
- Regulating the electronic signature related activities.
- Supporting and encouraging e-business in Egypt, especially among the small and medium
enterprises.
- Guiding and encouraging investments in the ICT sector.
- Supporting R&D in the ICT sector and implementing its output.
The ITIDA’s services include:
- Issuing and renewing the licenses required for the certification service providers (CSP's)
in the field of e-signature services and electronic transactions.
45
4. SCIENCE IN EGYPT

- Addressing complaints and assisting in resolving legal conflicts related to the use of e-
signatures and electronic transactions.
- Offering technical counseling in disputes related to e-signatures and electronic
transactions.
- Functioning as the registration center for original computer software put forth by
organizations or individual publishers and producers to protect intellectual property and
other rights.
46
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

5. Research, Development and Innovation in Egypt
5.1. Introduction
The structure of research and innovation activities in Egypt is presently undergoing
significant changes. Until recently research funding suffered and strongly depended on
international grants. There was no clear national policy of research and researchers usually
continued to work along the same lines of research of their PhD advisors or group leaders,
with later being related to where and what the advisor studied himself more than to a
national plan. This resulted in research being considered by the community as a luxury and
by researchers only as a vehicle for foreign travel and promotion . The brain drain problem
was understandable . The lack of a national research policy whose objective is to solve local
industrial problems together with weak links between academia and industry and limited
funding were serious problems.
5.2. The Structure
Things began to change when new concepts such as the global marker began to emerge. It
became clear that research is the only means to compete. Besides, international funding
agencies donated grants for common research between Egyptian researchers and their
international counterparts, with strict measures for funding. Research was carried out in
Egypt and the brain drain problem was minimized. Egyptian research began to develop.
Some groups began to work on modernizing industry, some to develop ICT applications,
some began working on genetically-engineered agricultural products, etc. International
cooperation began to achieve positive results by working closely with different ministries
and industries.. This describes the present phase.
The problem was only partially solved that way. Local planning and funding of research
were left for a later stage.The prime minister of Egypt will himself chair a new 18-member
S&T council, modeled on a similar panel in Japan. The Supreme Council for Science and
Technology will include six scientists, eight Cabinet members with research portfolios, as
well as representatives of industry and finance. The funding shortage had to be faced . The
planned restructuring would transfer most grant-giving functions of Egypt’s massive
Academy of Scientific Research and Technology to the new granting agency, which will be
called the Egyptian National Funding Agency. The academy will allow important topics to be
investigated, but its future role will not be in funding research.
47
5. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN EGYPT

Fig.5 - Structure of Egypt's Innovation policy measures
Source: Medibtikar Programme 2
5.3. Egypt's Main Innovation Actors
The latest European charts on innovation shows that Egypt has an innovation policy
implemented via measures to stimulate investment, venture capital, business incubators,
industrial modernization, small and medium enterprises development and entrepreneurship.
There is no formal coordination body yet. The delivery of innovation policy is carried out via
the programs of related ministries often with assistance from donor organizations. An
2
http://www.medibtikar.eu/
48
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

important factor is the Social Fund for Development (SFD) which finances business centers
and incubators as well as the Industrial modernization Program(IMP) and GAFI, the General
Authority for Investment. The key drivers of innovation are industrial modernization and
privatization of state industry. The recent appointment of ministers with strong private
sector back grounds in the areas of finance, tourism and industry is a positive step.
The main innovation actors can be divided into four groups :
Fig. 6 - The four groups of Innovation Actors
Source: Medibtikar Programme 3
5.3.1. Groups of Innovation Actors
Table 5 - Group I Actors: Policy Development and Public Administration
Organisation Acronym Website
Ministry of Investment
The General Authority for Investment and Free
Trade Zones
GAFI
www.investment.gov.eg
www.gafinet.org
The Industrial Modernization Center IMC www.imc-egypt.org
The Information Society Development Office
The Cabinet Information and Decision Support
Centre
The National Competitiveness Council
Ministry for Communication & IT
Ministry of State for Administrative
Development
IDSC
www.isdo.gov.eg
www.idsc.gov.eg
www.encc.info
www.mcit.gov.eg
www.ad.gov.eg
3
http://www.medibtikar.eu/
49
5. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN EGYPT

National Education Technology Programme
The Ministry forHigher Education and Research
Egyptian Studies Network
The EU Delegation in Egypt
USAID in Egypt
Ministry of Trade & Industry
National Telecommunication Regulatory
Authority
NTRA
www.netp.gov.eg
www.egy-mhe.gov.eg
www.studies.idsc.gov.eg
www.eu-delegation.org.eg
www.usaidegypt.org
www.mfti.gov.eg
www.tra.gov.eg
Table 6 - Group II Actors: Industry and its Representatives
Organization Acronym Website
The Federation of Egyptian Industries FEI www.fei.org.eg
The Egyptian Capital Market Association ECMA www.ecma.org.eg
The Egyptian Investment Management
Association
EIMA
www.eima.org.eg
The Egyptian Businessmen Association EBA www.eba.org.eg
The Egyptian Association for Industrial
Development
EAID
www.eaid.org.eg
The Small Enterprise Development Organization SEDO www.sedo.org
The Social Fund for Development SFD www.sfdegypt.org
The E-learning and Business Solutions Union eLabs www.elabs.org.eg
Foreign companies
ALSTOM
Proctor and Gamble
Kraft
Chupachups
Public Companies
Egyptian Gas Company
Local Companies
Orascom
T-Shirt Egypt
Alfa-Electronics
IEC-Egypt
www.alstom.com.eg
www.pg.com.eg
www.kraft.com
www.chupachups.com.eg
www.egas.com.eg
www.orascom.com
www.t-shirtegypt.co
www.alfa-electronix.com
www.iec-egypt.com.eg
50
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Gharably Engineering Co.
El Nasr Clothing & Textile Co. (KABO)
www.gharably.com.eg
www.kabo.co
Table 7 - Group III Actors: Innovation Related Service Providers
Organisation Acronym Website
The European Information Correspondence Centre EICC
The Egyptian Center of Intellectual Property and
Information Technology
The Centre for Agricultural Technology Utilization
and Transfer
The Technology Development Programme
Pyramid Smart Village (MCIT)
Information Technology Industry Development
Agency
Science and Intelligence Park (MCIT)
Sinai Technology Valley
ECIPIT
TDP
ITIDA
www.eicc.org.eg
www.ecipit.org.eg
www.atut.gov.eg
www.smart-villages.com
www.itida.gov.eg
The Software Engineering Competence Center SECC www.secc.org.eg
Electronic Research Institute
National Telecommunication Institute
Egyptian National Committee on Irrigation and
Drainage
Central Metallurgical Research and Development
Institute
ERI
NTI
ENCID
CMRDI
www.nti.sci.eg
www.encid.org.eg
www.cmrdi.sci.eg
Egyptian Centre for Economic Studies ECES www.eces.org.eg
Economic Research Forum for Arab Countries, Iran
and Turkey
ERF
www.erf.org.eg
National Water Research Center ICWH www.icwh.gov.eg
The Central Laboratory for Agricultural Expert
Systems
The Egyptian Studies Network
ACTIS
Averroes Finance
EFG-Hermes
Credit Guarantee Company for Small Scale
CLAES
www.claes.sci.eg
www.act.is
www.proparco.fr
www.efg-hermes.com.eg
www.cgc.org.eg
51
5. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN EGYPT

Organisation Acronym Website
Enterprises
Egyptian Incubator Association
Egypt’s International Economic Forum
Centre D’études Et De Documentation
Economiques
A system of 116 research laboratories in 12
universities in addition to 70 R&D Centers
www.eia.org.eg
www.eieforum.org
www.cedej.org.eg
Table 8 - Group IV Actors: Educators and Information Providers
Organisation Acronym Website
The Egyptian University System
www.frcu.eun.eg
13 public Universities
8 private universities
Central Library of Alexandria University
www.auclib.edu.eg
5.3.2. The Supreme Council of Research Centers
In 2000 the Supreme Council of Research Centers was set up and meets once a month. Its
role is to improve the coordination of research efforts at national level and across all
ministries. It is co-chaired by the Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research . It
brings together representatives from the following ministries:
- Industry and technological development
- Water resources and irrigation
- Agriculture
- Transport
- Electricity and energy
- Health and habitation
- Communication
- Planning and International cooperatio
- National Defense and Arms.
5.3.3. The Academy of Sciences and Technology
The Academy of Sciences and Technology continues to play a key role. It represents Egypt
in WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) and manages research councils on:
52
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- Energy and Renewable Energy
- Nuclear Sciences and Technology
- Space Sciences & Technology.
- National Critical Technologies.
It has a team dedicated to Technology Forecasting. It finances the R&D activities of
university laboratories and research centers. Scientific research laboratories in universities
and research or technology centers depend mainly on ministries such as the Ministry for
Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry for Industry, the Ministry for
Agriculture, the Ministry for Health and the Ministry for Transport. Although many of these
centers have a strong problem solving orientation and have e built interfaces with industry
but they have not yet had a great impact.
5.3.4. The incubator
The SFD or Social Fund for Development finances the Enterprise Development Programme
or EDP. Among other things this provides support for the setting up of technology
incubators. The incubator programme was launched in 1995. The first incubator to become
functional was the Tala Incubator in 1998. A total of 8 are planned for locations such as
Sixth of October City, Tabbin, Mansoura, Asiut, Aswan, Ain Shams and Sharqiya in addition
to that in Tala. The EIA or Egyptian Incubator Association was established in 1995 to serve
as the executing agency for the SFD.
5.3.5. Mubarak Science City
This important science center, located in Alexandria, was established in 1993 with a plan to
house 12 research centers and institutes focused on domains such as IT, Genetic
Engineering, Fine Chemicals, Laser technologies, pharmaceuticals, new materials, small
scale industry development and engineering. The first four institutes were inaugurated in
August 2000. Mubarak Science City also hosts Biotechnology and Information Technology
Incubators that are managed in cooperation with the EIA.
5.3.6. The Industrial Modernization Center
Under the MEDA Program, the Industrial Modernisation Center was started though an initial
contribution of €250M from the EU supported by an Egyptian contribution. The objective is
to prepare the Egyptian Industry for the globalization era.
5.4. The Governance System of R&D and Innovation in Egypt
The governance system for research in Egypt at present is made up of four levels:
- The funding program
- The Institute to which the research group belongs.
- The ministry to which the institute belongs
- The supreme council of research centers.
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5. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN EGYPT

Usually there is no unified interplay between the four levels which applies to all research
projects. The governance of the funding program, which is usually based on various
performance indicators. The role of the supreme council is to bring together representatives
of different ministries to discuss research plans. The degree of governance exercised by the
institute and the ministry concerns the benefits gained from the reseach project.
5.5. The Performance Indicators
Previously research projects were judged by reviewers studing progress reports. Recently,
the importance of performance indicators was recognized the following performance
indicators are slowly being adopted:
- Graduates of research oriented post-graduate programs having higher starting salaries,
more job offers, and shorter waits for first employment .
- Number and impact of academia-industry collaborations.
- Number and amount of external funding (such as from industry)and awards
- Number of projects in progress
- Number of Publications in Journals with Impact Factor
- Annual Number of patents.
5.6. National Policy of Science and Innovation
Egypt has an innovation policy implemented via measures to stimulate investment, venture
capital, business incubators, industrial modernisation, better education, SME (small and
medium enterprises) development and entrepreneurship. Until recently there was no formal
coordinating body . The delivery of innovation policy was carried out via the programs of
the relevant ministries often implemented with assistance from donor organisations.
Important point of reference were the SFD (Social Fund for Development) which finances
business centres and incubators, the IMP or Industrial Modernisation Programme and GAFI
(the General Authority For Investment).
Recognizing the importance of improving science, technology and innovation to Egypt’s
competitiveness and development, Egypt is presently attempting to invigorate science and
innovation through stronger political support. This has been reflected in the announcement
made by the Egyptian President indicating the period 2007- 2016 as the Decade for Science
and Technology.
In addition, a structural reform for the R&D sector is taking place where two presidential
decrees were passed in February 2007. The first was concerned with the establishment of a
Supreme Council for Science and Technology chaired by the Prime Minister.. The second
decreed the establishment of a Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF) to
support the Egyptian innovation capabilities In addition, several initiatives have been taken
as an attempt to strengthen the R&D system in Egypt and to lay the ground for developing
an innovation system. This includes the creation of science parks, incubators and
technology valleys. Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has
prepared a reform strategy for the next five years (2007-2012). It is related to the restructuring
of science and technology governance, national initiative for the development of
54
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

human resources, priority of national projects, funding of science and technology, national
initiative for informal education, national initiative for innovation.
The national priorities will be: new and renewable energy, desalination and water
resources, nanotechnology, biotechnology, food and agriculture, biomedical sciences (liver
and kidney diseases and cancer) as well as information and communication technology.
Due to the very efficient network of FP7 focal points (involving key research actors, i.e.
universities, research centers, industry and other institutions) established under the
umbrella of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (HESR), Egypt was able
to significantly increase the participation of Egyptian researchers in the European
framework program of research. In addition, a national Joint Research-Industry Fund
supported by the Ministry of HESR and the Ministry of Trade and Industry was established
and a number of projects funded with the objective of promoting links between industry
and the research community in Egypt.
5.7. Regional Policy of Science and Innovation
No formal structure is yet avaikable for for cooperation with countries of the region in which
Egypt is located. The benefits of cooperation with technologically advanced partners usually
overshadow cooperation with developing countries. External funding tends to encourage
such cooperation and the ICTI (International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy)
partially funded laser research and applications colleges at Cairo University which was
attended by many African and Arab researchers. JICA, Japan International Research
Agency, instituted a trilateral cooperation program with the Egyptian Central Metallurgical
Research and Development Institute (CMRDI) to introduce metal processing technologies
(such as metal welding) to African countries. Many arab researchers spend their sabbatical
period in Egyptian Universities.
55
5. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN EGYPT

Fig. 7 - Number of R&D Units in some Arab Countries in 1999
Source: ESCWA (1999) Science and Technology Policies in the XXI Century
5.8. Governing Norms & Laws and Funding of of R&D and Innovation
While some local financial support is available through the Academy of Scientific Research
and Technology and the various government ministries, most research funding in Egypt is
available though international cooperation projects. Among the major foreign sponsors are
the United States of America, European countries, the European Union, Canada, Japan, the
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO). Having a partner in an academic or an industrial collaborator is usually necessary
while some innovation projects require a local connection between academia and industry.
Egyptian scientists are presently allowed to apply for an FP7 grant on equal footing with
European researchers, which is a great advantage. A planned restructuring would transfer
most grant-giving functions of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology to a new
granting agency, which will be called the Egyptian National Funding Agency.
56
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Fig.8 - Percentage of budget for scientific research
1
0,9
0,8
0,7
0,6
0,5
0,4
0,3
0,2
0,1
0
1981-1982 1993-1994 1996-1997 2002-2003 2006-2007
Source: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Egypt
5.9. International Cooperation Projects
The development of a dynamic and modern knowledge based society is undoubtedly one of
the hardest challenges that Egypt will face. Since 2003, UNDP Human Development Reports
- both for Egypt and the MENA (Middle East North Africa) region- have underlined this
challenge and called for concrete actions and initiatives to facilitate the production,
accumulation, dissemination and utilization of knowledge in the region, notably through
effective R&D and Innovation systems. This was further confirmed in the recent “Egypt
Human Development Report” published in February 2006.
5.9.1. European Union Projects
Egypt has many scientific research bodies including several universities. Research activities
are overwhelmingly carried out in public sector institutions, several of which have
participated in EC Research Framework Program V and VI. Furthermore, an agreement for
scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and Egypt was signed
in June 2005. Egyptian institutions will continue to participate on an equivalent basis with
European institutions in the actions of Framework Program. However, one of the most
hampering factors for the economy to innovate is the few direct links between research and
industry. While one can refer to a R&D system in Egypt, the same could not be said for
innovation. There are few innovative practices in industry and no systematic support for
innovation.
In order to help Egypt in meeting the “knowledge” challenge, the EU, given its large
experience in designing and implementing common research and innovation policies notably
through the EC R&D Framework Programs, will provide support to the Egyptian authorities.
The progressive integration of Egypt into the European Research Area (ERA) will be an
57
5. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN EGYPT

integral part of this support. A special Innovation fund will be established that aims at the
diffusion of innovation practices by assisting pilot actions from research output to industrial
production.
The MEDA Program (Euro-Mediterranean Partnership) was the main component of the
Euro-Mediterranean Partnership’s financial cooperation until 2007. It has been superseded
by the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI). This single funding
instrument will be given a budget of 12 billion euros for the 2007-2013 period (thus
representing a 32% increase in relation to the previous period). This new neighborhood
policy is designed to foster cooperation and the gradual economic integration between the
European Union and partner countries, to the benefit of the latter, notably through the
implementation of partnership, cooperation and association agreements, etc. Egypt is
considered as one of the target countries of ENPI in the Mediterranean area.
The overall objective of the RDI program is to contribute to the development of an
innovation culture for the benefit of the Egyptian industry and to support the progressive
move of the economy from low to medium technology. This will include the strengthening of
the links between universities/research institutions and industry, the supporting of
progressive integration of Egypt into the European Research Area and boosting Egypt's
invention and innovation efforts.
Another important project is the Grant Scheme 1, which is related to EEIF (Egypt
Environmental Initiatives Fund). The overall objective of the EEIF is to “Support research
outputs, exploitation and innovation with closer links to national or European industries. A
key component of the program is to establish an Innovation Fund aiming at supporting
research outputs, exploitation and innovation and the creation of closer links between and
European industries.
The Innovation Fund through its Grant Scheme 1 will support projects on competitive basis
for applied research, with an emphasis on innovation. Grants will be awarded to cooperative
projects that aim at enhancing the innovative capabilities of industrial companies and
notably the privately owned small and medium –sized enterprises (SME). To be granted,
project proposals must be submitted by a consortium that consists of at least one partner
from the industrial sector and one partner from the R&D sector (university and/or non
university). Applications and funding of large size projects will be encouraged as well as
those projects including an EU and/or MEDA partner from industry or research sector. The
financing institution is " The EU Development Projects".
The specific objectives of Grant Scheme 1 are to:
- Support initiatives and projects that contribute to the achievement of sustainable
development in Egypt.
- Increase capital investment, enhance technological innovation and improve
competitiveness of the different economic sectors in Egypt
- Provide a sustainable and effective tool to raise and channel resources to Egypt’s
innovation priorities
- Strengthen cooperation with European and regional counterparts and hence enable the
transfer of technology, know how, and best practices to Egyptian institutions.
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

The main research areas are energy, water, biotechnology(with applications in agriculture
and pharmaceuticals, Information and Communication technology, food and agriculture,
manufacturing industries, space applications including communication and remote sensing.
Environmental applications, materials (including nanotechnology applications and new
materials) and health related applications.
5.9.2. The Joint US-EGYPT Science and Technology Funds
Every year the U.S. - Egypt Joint Science and Technology Fund (Joint Fund) sponsors two
competitive grant programs - Joint Research Grants and the Junior Scientist Development
Visit Grants. These grants provide the opportunity to bring together American and Egyptian
scientists to work on a collaborative research project.
The Joint Fund was established under the U.S. - Egypt Science & Technology Cooperative
Agreement first signed in 1995, and then renewed in 2001 by the United States and the
Arab Republic of Egypt. The Joint Fund receives $3 million per year to distribute equally
between Egyptian and American scientists working together on Joint Fund activities.
The main goals of the Joint Fund: are the strengthening of the scientific and technological
capabilities of both countries., broadening and expanding relations between the scientific
and technical communities and the promotion of scientific and technological cooperation in
areas of mutual benefit for peaceful purposes.
Priority Areas for Research Grants are biotechnology, standards and metrology,
environmental Technologies, manufacturing Technologies, information technologies and
energy. Other Fields include geology, anthropology, new materials, nanotechnology,
economics, and other Social Sciences, etc.Èè
59
5. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN EGYPT

Part two: research centers inventory
60

6. Introduction
In Part 2 we will present profiles of 29 Egyptian research organizations who showed a
strong interest in cooperation with their counterparts in the Region of Apulia. We begin by
presenting the profile of the National Research Center (NRC), the main Egyptian research
organization. Consisting of 13 divisions and 106 departments, it covers many areas in
industry, health, environment, agriculture, basic science and engineering including the
areas of agro-food(Food Technology Department) and renewable energy (spread over
different Departments.). Work in these two areas will be specially marked within the
presented NRC profile .The Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute
(CMRDI) and the Electronics Research Institute, whose profiles are incorporated in this
study, were former divisions of the NRC before becoming independent. The profile of the
NRC will give a general idea to researchers in Apulia about some of the main research
activities in Egypt.
We then present the profile of Food Technology Research Institute, the main Agro-food
Institute in Egypt. As agro-food biotechnology is gaining in importance (with related
enterprises in Italy being nearly a quarter of all biotechnology enterprises) *, we included
the profile of the national Agricultural Genetic Research Institute.
As mentioned in the first part of this study, Information and Communication Technology is
presently the main growing industry in Egypt. The profiles of twelve related research
centers are included in the third section. It should be mentioned here that the Prime
Minister of Egypt was a Computer Engineering professor at Cairo University ! The fourth
section includes five centers working on renewable energy, including a private industrial
enterprise which produces Photovoltaic panels.
The fifth section deals with research on Mechanical Engineering and includes centers
working on mechatronics, combustion, new materials and manufacturing technology. We
mention in passing that the profile of Professor Habib's group, the eminent mechatronics
researcher at the American University in Cairo leads this section.
The following section deals with aerospace research activities. The Aeronautical Engineering
dept. of Cairo University has a heritage of a strong involvement with the Egyptian
Aerospace Industry during its period of strong activity. The flow visualization Laboratory is
involved in research on weather prediction, wind farm and solar energy among other fields.
The former head of the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences is active
in both groups. The third member of this group works in Helwan University on space
weather.
We finally included a very prominent medical professor who is both nationally and
internationally accredited for his research contributions. Professor M.Ghoneim established
the Urology and Nephrology Center of Mansoura University which is one of the prominent
medical research centers in Egypt having strong international ties. Cooperation with
Apulian medical counterparts is expected to be strongly rewarded.
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

7. Research centers forms
7.1. Aerospace
Aerospace Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University
Organization Details
Aerospace Department
Faculty of Engineering
Cairo University, Giza 12613
Egypt
Contact Person
Atef O. Sherif
Professor, Department of Aerospace
Faculty of Engineering
Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
aosherif@mailer.eun.eg
aosherif@eng.cu.edu.eg
(202) 35678643 (202) 35678656
Year of establishment
About 50 years ago
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- Department of Mechanical Design and Manufacturing
- Department of Mechanical Power
- Department of Electric and Electronics
- Department of Electric Power
- Department of Computers and Information
- Cairo University Center for Space Studies and Consultations
- The National Authority of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences
Geographical area of competence
Local and Regional
Main areas of activity
- Aerodynamics
- Propulsion Systems
- Analysis and Design of light structures (Air and Space Frames)
- Flight Mechanics (Performance, Stability and Control)
- Satellites and Space Technology
63
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Current research areas and topics
- Computational Fluid Mechanics for External and Internal Flows (Subsonic-transonic
and supersonic)
- Weather and Climate Change Modeling and Prediction
- Computational Fluid Mechanics Applications in Turbo- machinery (air-intakes,
compressors, reactive flows- turbines and nozzles)
- Design and Testing of injectors, combustion related devices
- Thermal and Modal analysis of Light structures (including satellite structures)
- Analysis and Design of structures using composite materials
- Orbit Determination and Satellite Tracking
- Satellite Navigation and Control
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
- Over 30 Staff members (13 Professors – 6 Associate Professors and 11 Assistant
Professors) and 10 Assistants
- Over 40 Students working on their post graduate degrees
Business model of the offered services
- Training: Fees
- Consultations: Consultation Fees and Contracts
- Research Projects: Grants and Contracts
- Industrial Support: Fees and Contracts
Participation to national and international networks
- National Network of the Supreme Council of Universities
- B&W University
Participation to international programmes and projects
- NSF USA Research Project
- NSF Co organizing International meeting
- UNESCO/EU Educational Project (joint R$D)
- ASME Co organizing International Conferences
- AIAA Conferences and Meetings
- IGARSS Conference
- JIAFS/GWU visits
- B&W University Canada Invited Professor
- Several Staff members on leave to Foreign Universities
Funding Sources
- Faculty and University Support
- Academy of Scientific Research and Technology Grants
- Government and Public Sector Consultations and R&D Contracts
- Private Sector Consultations and R& D Contracts
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

International cooperation interests
- Systems of Ground segment for Satellite Tracking and Observation.
- Satellite Sensors design and Technology
- Multi and Hyper Spectral Technologies
- Satellite Guidance and Navigation
- Technology of satellite propulsion
- Weather and Climate Modeling and Prediction
- High Performance Computing in Aerospace
- Wind and Solar Energy (Assessment, Analysis, and Management of Operations)
General Description and Comments
The Aerospace department-Faculty of Engineering-cairo University started in late40searly
50s as a specialization within the Department of Mechanical Engineering to provide
graduates to support the expanding air transportation aand activities. Then in the mid
50s the Department of Aeronautics was established with four specializations; -
Aerodynamics, - Propulsion Systems, Analysis and Design of light structures and Flight
Mechanics . The Department name was changed to Aerspace Department in the early
90s and a new specialization was then added namely Satellites and Space Technology.
The undergraduate program occupies 4 years (8 terms) after a preparatory year run by
the faculty. The department Staff is now over 30 members (13 Professors – 6 Associate
Professors and 11 Assistant Professors), assisted by about 10 teaching assistants and
demonstrators. The average number of students is 250 (4 * 60) in addition to about 40
Students working on their post graduate degrees
Interview Place and Date
Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, June 2008
Flow Visualization Laboratory, Aerospace Department, Faculty of Engineering,
Cairo University
Organization Details
Aerospace Department
Faculty of Engineering
Cairo University, Giza 12613
Egypt
Contact Person
Atef O. Sherif
Professor, Department of Aerospace
Faculty of Engineering
Cairo University, Giza 12613
Egypt
65
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

aosherif@mailer.eun.eg
aosherif@eng.cu.edu.eg
(202) 35678643 (202) 35678656
Year of establishment
1997
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- Department of Mechanical Design and Manufacturing
- Department of Mechanical Power
- Department of Electric and Electronics
- Department of Electric Power
- Department of Computers and Information
- Cairo University Center for Space Studies and Consultations
- The National Authority of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences
Geographical area of competence
Local and Regional
Main areas of activity
- Aerodynamics
- Computational Fluid Mechanics (CFD)
- High Performance Computing
- Weather and Climate Modeling
- MM Educational Courseware
Current research areas and topics
- Computational Fluid Mechanics for External and Internal Flows (Subsonic-transonic and
supersonic)
- Weather and Climate Change Modeling and Prediction
- Computational Fluid Mechanics Applications in Turbo-machinery (air-intakes,
compressors, reactive flows- turbines and nozzles)
- Flow visualization techniques
- Effects of Land use on local Climate change
- Thermal Inversion over Mega Cities
Future research areas and topics
- High Performance Computing in Aerodynamics
- Wind and Solar Energy as related to weather and climate modeling
- Large Scale image processing
- Increasing Effectiveness of Operation Planning of Wind Farms via Utilization of
Weather Prediction models
- Study Effects of Wind Farm energy Production on Network Load balancing
- Study the Potential and Means for the Local Manufacturing of Wind Generation
components and systems
- Air pollution in relation to thermal inversion over megacities
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Staff members (3 Professors – 2 Associate Professors and 3 Assistant Professors) and 3
Assistants - Over 15 Students working on their post graduate degrees
Offered services
- Training
- Consultation services
- Research and development Projects
- Feasibility studies and technical reports.
Business model of the offered services
- Training: Fees
- Consultations: Consultation Fees and Contracts
- Research Projects: Grants and Contracts
- Industrial Support: Fees and Contracts
Participation to national and international networks
- National Network of the Supreme Council of Universities
- B&W University
Participation to international programmes and projects
- NSF USA Research Project
- NSF Co organizing International meeting
- UNESCO/EU Educational Project (joint R$D)
- ASME Co organizing International Conferences
- AIAA Conferences and Meetings
- IGARSS Conference
- JIAFS/GWU visits
- B&W University Canada Invited Professor
- Several Staff members on leave to Foreign Universities
Funding Sources
- Faculty and University Support
- Academy of Scientific Research and Technology Grants
- Government and Public Sector Consultations and R&D Contracts
- Private Sector Consultations and R& D Contracts
International cooperation interests
- Weather and Climate Modeling and Prediction
- Multi and Hyper Spectral Technologies
- Flow Visualization Techniques
- Large scale Computing using HPC
- Large Scale image processing
67
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- High Performance Computing in Aerospace
- Wind and Solar Energy (Assessment, Analysis, and Management of Operations)
- Increasing Effectiveness of Operation Planning of Wind Farms via Utilization of
- Weather Prediction models (In Cooperation with EE Department)
- Effects of Wind Farm energy Production on Network Load balancing (In Cooperation
with EE Department)
- Potential and Means for the Local Manufacturing of Wind Generation components and
systems (In Cooperation with Mechanical Power and Mechanical Design and Production
Departments)
- Air pollution in relation to thermal inversion over megacities
General Description and Comments
The Flow Visualization Laboratory was established in 1997 within the Aerodynamics
branch of the Aerospace department-Faculty of Engineering-Cairo University. Its main
efforts are concentrated on both computational and experimental flow visualization
techniques.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, June 2008
Space Weather and Monitoring Center of Helwan University
Organization Details
Helwan University, Faculty of Science, Ain Helwan, 11795 Egypt
Contact Person
Dr. Ayman Mohamed Mahrous
Helwan university, Faculty of Science,
Ain Helwan, 11795 Egypt
Fax: 002-022-555-2468
amahrous@helwan.edu.eg
ayman.mahrous@gmail.com
Year of establishment
1985
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
Helwan University
Faculty of Science
Physics Department
Geographical area of competence
National
Main areas of activity
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- Space and Satellite Monitoring
- Ionosphere Monitoring
- Geomagnetism Monitoring
Current research areas and topics
Real-time monitoring of the ionospheric layer over Egypt.
Space weather predictions and now-casting.
High energy cosmic ray interactions with satellite detectors
Future research areas and topics
Water vapor monitoring with GPS satellites.
Accuracy modifications and corrections of GPS satellites.
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Total Employment : 20
Professors : 5
Researchers : 17
Offered services
Monitoring stations for ionosphere and geomagnetism.
Simulation codes for space weather predictions.
Linux operating system.
Network and cluster service.
Business model of the offered services
- Software (Commission)
- Integrated Hardware and Software (Commission)
- Training and consultation (Free)
Registered patents, licenses
Coherent Ionospheric Doppler Receiver (CIDR) Technique -Three stations – Deployment
License for Middle East.
Participation to national and international networks
- NASA (Peer reviewer member)
- ESA (European Space Agency) : Digisonde project
- CEOS (Committee on Earth Observation Satellites)
Participation to international programmes and projects
US-Egyptian joint board, Chain of CIDR network over Egypt.
Cyprus-Egyptian joint board, Link of ionospheric networks over the Mediterranean.
European project TEMPUS for physics refinements.
Funding Sources
US- Egyptian Joint Board
69
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Egyptian Academy of Science
US-NSF
Space Environment Research Center (SERC) of Japan
Helwan University (Egypt)
International cooperation interests
Systems of Ground Satellite Observation.
Global Positioning Systems GPS.
Space Weather forecasting.
Ionospheric Equatorial Anomaly monitoring
Geomagnetism monitoring
General Description and Comments
The main objective of the center is supporting the Egyptian space program with proper
information about the now-casting and forecasting of space weather changes. This will be
used also as a warning system for Egyptian satellite EgyptSat1. The center includes
several monitoring systems and stations distributed in several locations in Egypt for
detecting the ionospheric disturbance and geomagnetism by several satellites and
magnetometers respectively.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

7.2. Agrofood
Food Technology Research Institute (FTRI)
Organization Details
Food Technology Research Institute (FTRI)
Contact Person
Prof. Dr. Laila El-Mahdy.
Head of the institute
Tel: +202 35718324
Fax: +202 35684669
Mob: +2010 6688688
nlftri@ie-eg.com
Year of establishment
1992
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation
Egyptian Universities and Research Centers
Geographical area of competence
The Institute operates mainly inside Egypt.
Main areas of activity
Food science and Technology
Current research areas and topics
- Food Processing
- Food Safety
- Food quality
- Solar energy
- Nutrition
- Biotechnology
- Waste recycling
- Food Additives
Future research areas and topics
- Nanotechnology
- Biotechnology
- New trends in food preservation and processing
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
- Consultants: 20
71
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Professors: 38
- Ass. Professors: 66
- Lecture : 103
- Total: 227
Offered services
- Training extension and consultation in the field of food science and technology
- Technology transfer
- R & D for SMEs. (Small and Middle-sized Enterprises)
- Chemical and microbiological analysis
- Manufacturing food products
Business model of the offered services
- Research (Grants)
- Training (Fees)
- Consultation (Fees)
- Services (Fees)
Registered patents, licenses
- Dehydration of onion by solar energy.
- High lycopene tomato powder and bioavailability of iron
- Production of Balady bread (Main bread in Egypt) from 100% rice flour without yeast
- Method for the production of new types of processed cheese with fruit flavors
- Medical effects of jaw's mallow stems.(pending)
- Reusing of discarded deactivated bleaching earth in the bleaching of oils (pending)
- Medical effects of mushroom as food additives mixture (pending)
- Innovation technology for production of new snacks (pending)
Participation to national and international networks
National network of the Agricultural Research Center (ARC) that is linked to international
networks
Participation to international programmes and projects
- International Olive Council (IOC)
- American Association of cereal chemistry (AACC)
- Institute of Food Technology (IFT)
- International soybean program (INTSOY)
- Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- Ainia Center Technology Spain (AINIA)
- Korean food technology research institute (KFTRI)
- International Life Sciences institute (ILSI)
- Georgia Agricultural Experiment (GAES)
- School of public health (UCLA)
- International conferences
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- International meetings
- Projects
Funding Sources
- National
- Governmental
International cooperation interests
- Food science and Technology
- Food Processing
- Food Safety
- Food quality
- Solar energy
- Nutrition
- Biotechnology
- Waste recycling
- Food Additives
- Nanotechnology
- Biotechnology
- New trends in food preservation and processing
General Description and Comments
The institute has Eight departments, two research units, one information center, and a
semi commercial food manufacturing administration.
The Eight departments are :
1. bread and pasta
2. special food and nutrition
3. horticultural crops
4. field crops
5. fats and oils
6. fish and meat
7. milk and dairy products
8. food engineering and packaging
The two research units are :
1. economics unit for food processing
2. the experimental kitchen
The information center is :
- Egyptian Food Safety Information Center (EFSIC)
The General Administration of food Manufacturing (GAFM) has the main objective of
applying the research results and also works on a semi commercial basis:
- Soy bean products
- Balady bread
- Bakery products
73
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Dairy products
- Extraction and Distillation
- Dehydrated Products
- Juices & Jams
- Olive oil Production & Pickling
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, June 2008
Food Technology Research Institute (FTRI)
Organization Details
Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute,
9 Gamaa street, 12619 Giza, Egypt.
Tel: +202-35727831, FAX: +202-35689519.
Web: http://www.ageri.sci.eg
Contact Person
- Prof. Ahmed Bahieldine - Director
bahieldin55@gmail.com
- Prof. Osama Momtaz – Deputy Director
omomtaz@hotmail.com
Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute,
9 Gamaa street, 12619 Giza, Egypt.
Tel: +202-35727831, FAX: +202-35689519.
Web: http://www.ageri.sci.eg
Year of establishment
1990
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- Agricultural Research Center (ARC)
- Ministry of Agriculture (MOA)
Geographical area of competence
The Institute operates nationally and internationally
Main areas of activity
- Developing Genetically engineered economically important Crops.
- Developing biotechnology products (biopesticides, biofertilizers,,etc.)
- Conducting basic and applied GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) services
including research projects
Current research areas and topics
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- Molecular Virology
- Microbial Molecular Biology
- Molecular Entomology
- Plant Tissue Culture & Transformation
- Genome Mapping & Marker-Assisted Selection
- Genomics (Structural - Functional - Comparative)
- Proteomics
- Bioinformatics
- Signal Transduction
- Gene Silencing
- Immunology/ ELISA & Virus Diagnosis
- Bioremediation
- Fermentation
Future research areas and topics
- Genomics (Structural - Functional - Comparative)
- Proteomics
- Bioinformatics
- IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) implementation and dissemination
- Implementation of Biosafety risk assessments
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Total Employment : 191
Professors : 7
Associate and Assistant Professors : 7
Researchers : 70
Offered services
- Software preparation
- Integrated hardware and software
- Consultation service
- Research projects developments and implementation.
Business model of the offered services
- Molecular technologies (Fingerprinting, primer synthesis, …etc) (Commission)
- GMO Detection (Commission)
- Training courses, workshops, and conferences. (Commission)
Registered patents, licenses
- Kitinase gene for fungal and insect resistance – pending
- Dehidrin gene for drought tolerant – pending
- Specific promoter for maize plants – pending
- Biopesticide for main insect pest – approved
- Biopesticide for grasshopper – pending
- Biopesticide and biofertilizer - pending
75
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Participation to national and international networks
- FAO Interregional cotton biotechnology Network
- ARENINA Agricultural biotechnology network
International cooperation interests
- Molecular Virology
- Microbial Molecular Biology
- Molecular Entomology
- Plant Tissue Culture & Transformation
- Genome Mapping & Marker-Assisted Selection
- Genomics (Structural - Functional - Comparative)
- Proteomics
- Bioinformatics
- Signal Transduction
- Gene Silencing
- Immunology/ ELISA & Virus Diagnosis
- Bioremediation
- Fermentation
General Description and Comments
AGERI is now a discipline oriented institute within the Agricultural Research Center (ARC)
of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and is a center of excellence in
biotechnology, molecular biology and genetic engineering research and product
development in Africa & the West Asia-North Africa (WANA) region. The institute is
located within the ARC site in Giza which facilitates an interface with other ARC
institutes.
The main building, with a total net area of 2261 m2, consists of the administration
offices, 19 well-equipped laboratories including a new Genomics & Proteomics facility and
a BioComputing & Networks Unit, an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) office, an
auditorium and a conference room.
Recent expansion included the construction of a new 2-floors annex, adding a total net
area of 585m2 with infrastructure and license to construct additional 5 floors in response
to the internal growth and development of AGERI. The library, a central laboratory
facility, a supply and chemicals repository using advanced bar-code system in addition to
9 controlled environment chambers are now located in the new annex. The new annex
also houses Egypt Biotechnology Information Center (EBIC).
A containment facility, based upon a University of Arizona design and complying with the
biosafety and EPA (Environment Protection Agency) regulations has been constructed,
adding 412m2 of state-of-the-art space which allows the safe handling of materials in
experiments dealing with the degree of gene expression in transgenic plants.
A conventional multispan fiberglass greenhouse (307m2) are used to host the transgenic
plant material for acclimatization. An adjacent 1.5 acres of land serve as an open field
experimental station for field testing of genetically engineered plant material.
Interview Place and Date
Giza, Egypt, July 08.
76
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

7.3. Mechatronics
The Mechatronics Group, Mechanical Engineering Department, The American
University in Cairo (AUC)
Organization Details
Prof. Maki K. Habib
Robotics and Mechatronics Group
Mechanical Engineering Department
School of Sciences and Engineering
The American University in Cairo
113, Kasr El Eini St.
P.O.Box 2511, Cairo 11511, Egypt.
Tel: +202 2797 5724,
Web:
http://www.aucegypt.edu/ (for the University)
http://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/dept/meng/faculty/Documents/
PdfWebsiteMechanicalMaki%20Habib.pdf (Personal)
Contact Person
Prof. Maki K. Habib
Mechanical Engineering Department
School of Sciences and Engineering
The American University in Cairo
113, Kasr El Eini St.
P.O.Box 2511, Cairo 11511, Egypt.
Tel: +202 2797 5724,
maki@aucegypt.edu
maki@ieee.org
Year of establishment
1919
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
Saga University,
Saga Prefecture, Japan.
Geographical area of competence
National, Middle East, Africa and Asia
Main areas of activity
- Mechatronics and Robotics
- 3D vision and Navigation Strategies for Autonomous Robots
- Biomimetics and smart sensors
- Wireless sensor network
- Information Technology and Ambient Intelligence
77
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Humanitarian demining (Robotics and Sensors)
- Distributed Teleoperation and Collaborative Control
- Intelligent Control.
The head of the group has published 2 books (Ed), 7 book chapters, more than 37
International Journals, and more than 130 papers at International conferences.
Current research areas and topics
- 3D Fiber Grating based smart sensors supporting robot navigation and human tracking
- Multi Robotics Systems: strategies for reliable and robust Architecture, Communication,
Coordination, and Cooperation, Simulation of multi-robotic system.
- Intelligent and Autonomous Mobile Robots: Control Architecture, Navigation, Learning
and Intelligence, Sensing and Perception, etc.
- Flexible Mechanisms to enable robots to overcome difficult terrain and move on
ground, wall and ceiling surfaces. This includes Legged, wheeled, and Hybrid
Mechanisms.
- Autonomous demining robots with collective navigation strategies.
- Wall climbing robots with flexible mechanisms.
- Behavior based autonomous navigation system for intelligent mobile robots.
- Microprocessor based adaptive control
- Telecooperation as new paradigm for cooperation and efficient utilization of resources
beyond time and physical constraints. Examples: Virtual Office, E-learning(University),
Factory, and hospitals.
- Distributed Teleoperation, Collaborative Teleoperation, Collaborative Control and
Teleoperation through Shared Integrated Intelligent and collaborative Environments
supporting Mixed Realities over Vast Distances.
- Internet Based Smart House with Interactive Environment.
- Data acquisition system development for solar energy research.
- Traffic control based on a real time demand.
- Logic based algorithms development for design with Programmable Logic Array (PLA),
Programmable Logic device (PLD), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).
- Automatic recognition of hand written numerals.
- Fuzzy logic based motion control
- Sensor Fault Reconstruction Schemes on Real Physical Systems.
- Nonlinear Control of Rigid Rotor in Active Magnetic Bearing.
Future research areas and topics
- Biologically inspired control approaches based on central pattern generators (CPGs)
with neural oscillators.
- Developing embedded and real time systems facilitated by the development of smart
sensors for real time tracking, monitoring Intelligent robots and new control
architecture (Autonomous Mobile Robots, Humanoid Robot:
- Automate Chinese medical diagnoses
- Developing new aspect of cooperation between people and machines including
autonomous systems over the open network.
- Developing new strategies for Wireless Sensor Networks in relation to topologies,
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

protocols and power consumption and realizing new applications.
- Machine Assisted Humanitarian Mine Clearance: Mechanization and Robotization.
- Industrial Automation and Robotics. Analysis, modeling, design, economical
justifications.
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
The Mechanical Engineering Department has
Professors : 8
Visiting and Part-time Professor: 6
Associate Professor: 5
Assistant Professor: 3
Research and teaching assistance: 20
Offered services
- Continuous Education and Training
- Integrated hardware and software (industrial projects)
- Consultation service
- Feasibility studies and technical reports.
Business model of the offered services
- Research (Internal and External Grants)
- Industrial Consultation (Fees)
- Training and consultation (Free)
- Integrated hardware and software (No Charge-cooperation with the Industry through
student projects)
Registered patents, licenses
Two patents (pending)
- 3D Fiber grating vision sensor
- Automatic handwritten recognition
Participation to national and international networks
- Technical Research Management Team member (representing GMD Japan) at the
International Collaboration project jointly with IBM Watson USA, IBM Japan and GMD
SIT Germany
- Member of the International Network of " Excellence On Mine Action Technologies "
(MAT)
- Member of the Research Team, development of Intelligent City at Cyber-Jaya, Malaysia
- Member of the International Advanced Robotics Program (IARP)
- Steering committee member of the International network on Mechatronics Research
and Education
- Technical Advisor for Toyota group in Malaysia, (July 2001-2005)
Participation to international programmes and projects
Scientific and Professional Societies:
- IEEE Industrial Electronics and Robotics and Automation Societies, IEEE (Senior
Member), since 1988.
79
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Robot Society of Japan, since 1988.
- International Association of Unmanned -Systems (IAUS), since 1992.
- New York Academy of Science, since 1999.
- Intelligent and Autonomous Systems (IAS) since 2001.
Invited talks
Deliver invited professional talks, Keynotes at more than 30 international Universities.
Leadership and International Conferences
Chairperson, program co-chair and member of international program committees for
many international conferences (more than 40)
Developer of invited and organized sessions at international conferences
Organizing more than 20 invited and special sessions at international conferences.
Workshops and Tutorial organizer at international conferences
Organizing and delivering more than 10 international workshops and tutorials.
Session chair at international conferences
Chairing more than 30 sessions at international conferences
Funding Sources
- AUC funding
- External grants
International cooperation interests
- Robotics and Automation
- Bio-inspiration (Biomimetics)
- Autonomous and Intelligent Robots (Service robots)
- New Technologies and techniques for Humanitarian Demining
- Development of New Mechatronics Systems
- Intelligent Mechanism Design
- Configurations and Applications of Wireless Sensor Networks
- Development of Smart Sensors
- Telecooperation and ICT supporting Collaboration among Distributed people/systems
(E-Learning, Virtual manufacturing, Virtual hospitals, etc.)
- 3D Vision Systems (development and applications)
- Digital Logic Design and Minimization Techniques
General Description and Comments
Looking for closer and fruitful cooperation
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008.
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Mechatronics Group, Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of
Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo (Egypt)
Organization Details
Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University
1 El-Sarayat St., Abdou-Pasha Square, Abbassia
Cairo, Egypt, Postal Code: 11517
Web: http://eng.shams.edu.eg
Contact Person
Prof. Dr. Farid A. Tolba
Prof. Dr. Magdi M. Abdel-Hameed
Email: magdyma@gmx.net
Tel: +202-2682-1800
Fax: +202-2685-0617
Year of establishment
1950
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- Clausthal University, Germany
- Dresden, Germany
- Hanover University, Germany
- Drexel University, USA
- McMaster University, Canada
Average yearly turnover
US$ 0.7 millions
Geographical area of competence
National
Main areas of activity
Mechanical Eng. (Production, Power, Automotive and Mechatronics)
Current research areas and topics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronic Systems
- Robotics and Automation
- AI and Image Processing
- Automatic Control
- Design of Embedded Systems
Future research areas and topics
- Nano-mechatronics Systems
- Nano-systems (Sensors and actuators)
81
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Development of Flexible manufacturing Systems (FMS) and Computer Integrated
Manufacturing (CIM)
- AI and Image Processing
- Automatic Control
- Design of Embedded Systems
- Implementation of wave energy extraction system
- Implementation of direct steam generation system using solar energy
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Total : 25
Professors : 6
Associate Professors : 2
Assistant professors : 9
Research Assistants : 8
Offered services
- R & D in all Engineering activities
- Consultation services including feasibility studies
- Training courses
Business model of the offered services
- Projects with industry through contracts
- Technical Assistance agreements through agreements
- Collaboration with Research Centers & groups
Quality certifications obtained
Under final approval and accreditation
Participation to national and international networks
Academy of Scientific Research & Technology, Egypt
Participation to international programmes and projects
US – Egypt Science and Technology Board
Tempus projects
Many partnerships and collaborations with European and American Universities
Funding Sources
- Industry Modernization Center, Ministry of Industrial & International Trade
- Research project funding
- Ministry of Higher Education.
International cooperation interests
- Smart sensors and actuators
- HW and SW of ASIC, FPGA and IP
- Mobile robots and Autonomous systems
- MEMS and NEMS
General Description and Comments
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

The vision of the Faculty of Engineering is to attain excellence in engineering education,
scientific research and community services through an integrated TQM linking with
different national and international institutions.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, Egypt, July 2008.
The Combustion Institute, Egyptian Section
Organization Details
Mechanical Engineering Department
Cairo University
Giza, Egypt
Contact Person
Prof. Mohy Mansour,
mansour@niles.edu.eg
Dean, National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences, NILES
Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
Year of establishment
1970
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- Cairo University
- Ain Shams University
- Alexandria University
- Helwan University
- 8 other Egyptian universities
- Individuals from the industrial sector
Geographical area of competence
International
Main areas of activity
Combustion
Current research areas and topics
- Combustion science and technology
- Fire prediction and control
- Explosion prediction and control
- Combustion systems(Engines, boilers, furnaces, )
Future research areas and topics
- Environmentally clean combustion systems
- Fuel Cells
83
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Renewable Energy
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Total : more than 50
Professors: 30
Assistants: 15
Researchers: 15
Offered services
- Training of Engineers (Public and Private sectors)
- Design of Industrial Combustion systems
- Monitoring Pollutant levels
- Adjustment of Combustion systems to meet environmental regulations
- Consultations
Business model of the offered services
- Training (Fees)
- Government Services (Free)
- Consultations (charge)
- Design (charge)
Registered patents, licenses
Individual members have local patents
Examples are : Bread oven design, Burner design
The Institute provides certificates to industry in the field of combustion (quality of
performance and environmental effects)
Participation to national and international networks
The Combustion Institute Network, USA
Participation to international programmes and projects
Mediterranean combustion Symposium (co- organized by Egypt, Turkey and Italy). It is
a biannual event, Started 1999.
Participation in International Combustion Symposium (Report Submission)
Funding Sources
Private Sector
International cooperation interests
- Combustion research
- Combustion system development
General Description and Comments
The Egyptian section of the combustion institute is an international organization. The
members are staff members from Egyptian universities and research centers. The aim of
this organization is to provide a link between several research groups in Egypt and the
international community in order to improve the quality research and technology in
Egypt.
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
Mechanical Engineering Department,
British University in Egypt
Organization Details
El Sherouk City, Misr-Ismailia Road, Cairo, Egypt.
Website:
Contact Person
Iman Salah El Din El Mahallawi
Prof. of Metallurgy and Material Engineering;
Department of Mechanical Engineering;
British University, El Sherouk City, Misr-Ismailia Road;
Cairo, Egypt, Postal code: 11837, P.O. box 43.
International: +202-2687-5890 / 1 / 2 / 3 or 2689-0000
Fax: +202-2687-5889 / 97; Cell: +2010-604-4661
Year of establishment
2005
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- Centre for Advanced Materials (CAM), Faculty of Engineering, British University in
Egypt, BUE
- The Centre for Advancement of Post-Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering
Sciences (CAPSCU), Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University
Geographical area of competence
National
Main areas of activity
- Advancements in developing new materials and new technologies for manufacturing.
- Energy related areas (renewable-alternative).
- Basic sciences and physics.
Current research areas and topics
Development of innovative materials and manufacturing methods in the field of nanostructured
materials.
Future research areas and topics
Energy related areas (renewable-alternative).
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
2 professors + 5 assistant professors + 10 researchers.
85
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Offered services
- Technical consultation
- Industrial research.
Business model of the offered services
Collaborating bodies: free.
Industry: payment.
Registered patents, licenses
3 patents (pending).
- Micropipette puller
- Wet spinning system for nano-fiber production
- New technology for producing nano-composites by casting.
Participation to international programmes and projects
- Multi-lateral project on nano-fibers for water treatment (to start soon) :
[Partners: 1.Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) Sweden,2. Masaryk University (MU)
Czech Republic, 3. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) Spain, 4 National
Institute of Chemistry (NIC) Slovenia, 5 The British University in Egypt (BUE) Egypt, 6
Nottingham University, (NU) United Kingdom, 7 LIFETECH Ltd. (LT) Czech Republic, 8.
EGMASA Spain)
- Bilateral project on nano-wires (awaiting funding approval) (Wright State University,
USA).
- Multilateral project on development of Nano-metal-matrix composites (NMMC’s) for
energy saving applications (awaiting funding approval). (with Freiberg Technical
Institute, Germany, Cairo University).
Funding Sources
Project funding: NSF for project number II, FP7 for project I.
International cooperation interests
Advancement in materials and manufacturing technology in the following areas:
- Solar Energy
- Fuel Cells
- Nano-materials and nano-composites
- Water purification and waste water treatment
- Ergonometric
- Robotics.
General Description and Comments
Though this is a new organization, almost all the BUE staff has a previous history of
research involvement with other national and international universities. That research is
emphasized to be the main educational tool is evidenced by current research budget
mounting up to a sum of about € 200,000 and $ 120,000 in different projects.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
86
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Manufacturing Technology Department, Central Metallurgical R & D Institute
(CMRDI)
Organization Details
P. O. Box: 87 Helwan, Cairo, Egypt
Contact Person
Prof. Dr. Eng. Abdel-Monem EL-BATAHGY,
Head of Manufacturing Technology Department, CMRDI
elbatahgy@yahoo.com
abatahgy@cmrdi.sci.eg
Year of establishment
1983
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
National Institute for Laser Enhanced Science, Cairo university
Geographical area of competence
National & International
Main areas of activity
- Fusion welding (arc and laser beam welding)
- Friction stir welding
- Laser materials processing
Current research areas and topics
- Arc and laser welding of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys
- Friction stir welding of non-ferrous alloys
- Laser surface hardening of tool steels
Future research areas and topics
- Laser beam welding of non-ferrous alloys including aluminum and titanium alloys
- Friction stir welding of non-ferrous (aluminum) and ferrous (steel) alloys
- Laser surface modification of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys
- Laser cutting of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Total : 10
Professors: 3
Researchers: 7
Offered services
- Applied research
- Technical support
- Technology transfer
87
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Consultations
Business model of the offered services
- Applied research : payment
- Technology transfer : payment
- Technical support : payment
- Consultations : free/payment
Participation to national and international networks
National Networks:
- Egyptian Society for Laser Industrial Applications (ESLIA)
- Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT)
Participation to international programmes and projects
- Cooperation project with Fraunhofer IWM [ Institute for Mechanics of Materials ]
(project concluded in the field of repair welding strategy of aluminum structures used
in transportation; e.g. train vehicles, yachts)
- Cooperation project with Penn State University in USA (project in progress in the field
of fusion welding of titanium alloys)
Funding Sources
- Ministry of scientific research
- Concerned industries
- Project funding (DAAD in Germany, NSF in USA)
International cooperation interests
- Laser welding of non-ferrous and ferrous alloys
- Friction stir welding of non-ferrous and ferrous alloys
- Laser surface modification of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys
- Laser cutting of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys
General Description and Comments
Research activities in the field of welding engineering at CMRDI began in 1985 with an
initial activity in the area of arc welding of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys.
Since 1994, research moved into new area concerned with laser materials processing
including welding, cutting and surface modification. Recently (Since 2003), friction stir
welding of different ferrous and non-ferrous alloys included in our activities.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, Egypt – July 2008
88
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

7.4. Health
Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
Organization Details
Gomhoria Street, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt
Mansoura, EGYPT.
Phone: +20 (50)2262222, Fax: +20 (50) 2263717
http://www.unc.edu.eg
Contact Person
Mohamed A Ghoneim
Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura, Egypt
Year of establishment
1983
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
University of Mansoura
Minyet Samanoud Hospital
Geographical area of competence
Regional
Current research areas and topics
- Urologic oncology
- Urinary diversion
- Stem cell research
Future research areas and topics
- Stem cell research in the treatment of diabetes
- Genomics of carcinoma of the bladder
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
34
Offered services
- Medical treatment
- Training
- Research
Business model of the offered services
Medical treatment (Mostly Free – Partial Fees)
Training(Fees)
Research(Grants)
89
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Registered patents, licenses
The new 'Patient Information System' (PIS), carried on a fiber optic local network
Quality certifications obtained
WHO corresponding center
Participation to national and international networks
The new 'Patient Information System' (PIS), carried on a fiber optic local network
Participation to international programmes and projects
In the Urology and Nephrology Center training is not less important than treating
patients. Over 100 master degrees and 48 MD degrees were presented by the urology
department. Since 1993 and until now, the center is well-known as WHO collaborating
for the training of junior urologists from all over the world. Through WHO, SIU and
direct communications with other urology departments worldwide, the Center has offered
more than 145 scholarships for Arab and International trainees. Over 300 publications in
reputable journals are the harvest of the intense research and academic activities
Funding Sources
Government support
Donations
Research grants
International cooperation interests
- Stem cell research in the treatment of diabetes
- Genomics of carcinoma of the bladder
General Description and Comments
In May 1983, the Urology & Nephrology Center was officially inaugurated. The
establishment of the center was an exemplary work of Dr. M. A Ghoneim and two of his
fellow urologists: Dr. A. Ashamallah and Dr. S. Hammady.
The Center between 1983 and 1998 provided 122 beds for the urologic service. 82 % of
surgeries are completely free and the rest is partially covered. Until 2002, over 75000
cases were surgically treated in-wards. Over 14000 cases outpatients, The outpatient
department has been visited by more than 1.765 million patients.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

7.5. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Information Technology Institute (ITI)
Organization Details
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)
Contact Person
- Dr. Mohamed Salem, Chairman
Information Technology Institute (ITI)
241 El Haram St., Giza, Egypt
Tel: +2 02 33868420; Fax: +2 02 33868429
msalem@mcit.gov.eg
- Dr. Rada Hussein, Deputy for R&D
Information Technology Institute (ITI)
241 El Haram St, Giza, Egypt
Tel: +2 02 33868420; Fax: +2 02 33868429
rahussein@mcit.gov.eg
Year of establishment
1993
Geographical area of competence
The Institute operates mainly inside Egypt.
Main areas of activity
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Current research areas and topics
- Software Engineering
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
- Multimedia.
- Computer networks
- Mechatronics
- Digital VLSI Design & Embedded Systems
- Biomedical Informatics
Future research areas and topics
Software Engineering
- Software Development
- Software Development
- Quality Assurance
- Main Frame
91
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Unix
- Java
- Mobile Application Development
- Enterprise Application Development
- EBusiness
- E-Business
- E-Learning
- Database
- Oracle DBA
- Oracle Business Suite, ERP
- SAP
Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Multimedia
- Multimedia
- Computer Graphics for Media Production.
Computer networks
- Computer Networks
- Media convergence
- Information Security
Mechatronics
Digital VLSI Design & Embedded Systems
- VLSI
- Embedded Systems
Biomedical Informatics
- Bioinformatics
- Imaging Informatics
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Total Employment : 152
Professors : 4
Researchers : 100
Offered services
- ICT training
- Software applications
- Consultation service
- Technical reports.
Business model of the offered services
- Software applications (Payment)
- Training and consultation (payment)
Quality certifications obtained
ISO 9001
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Participation to national and international networks
Collaboration activities include applied research through MSc and PhD studies, as well
as, internship programs with the following academic partners:
IT(Inc) (Egypt), Sunderland University (UK), Nottingham University (UK), Leipzig
University (Germany), Paderborn University (Germany), Lund University (Sweden),
Joseph Fourier University (France), Bergen University (Norway), Calgary University
(Canada), Oregon Health and Science (OHSU) (US), Institute of Health "Carlos III
(Spain)."
Participation to international programmes and projects
Holding an annual conference under the title of International Conference on Information
& Communications Technologies (ICICT) in cooperation with IEEE-Egypt (2003-09).
Applying for support from the EU programs (such as FP7, RDI, etc.) in different ICT
research sectors with various international networks.
International cooperation interests
- ICT
- Biomedical Informatics
General Description and Comments
Established in 1993, ITI provides specialized software development programs to
distinguished university graduates, as well as professional training programs and IT
courses for the Egyptian government, ministries, and business professionals.
Over the past 14 years, ITI has supplied the local, regional and international markets
with highly-trained professionals in various IT domains, following the 9-month intensive
training program. Those graduates make up the backbone of the IT workforce in Egypt .
In April 2005, the affiliation of ITI was transferred to the Ministry of Communications
and Information Technology (MCIT), and since then, ITI is stepping forward towards
several achievements and accomplishments addressing state-of-the-art ICT areas and
fields.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, June 2008
Computer Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University
Organization Details
Computer Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
12613
Contact Person
Prof. Samir Shaheen, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University
sshaheen@eng.cu.edu.eg
Prof. Nevin Darwish
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5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

ndarwish@ieee.org
Year of establishment
1990
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- The department has many relations with the Multi-national companies in the Computer
industry; namely; IBM, Cisco, Oracle, Microsoft, Intel, hp. These companies provide
training and job opportunities for graduates, as well as, Research and Development
projects.
- Moreover, the department has been granted several projects with the European union
through the Tempus project. Currently, an E-learning project is being conducted with
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen.
- The departmental labs provide full software support for the E-government program
conducted by the Egyptian Government.
Geographical area of competence
- In Egypt the department has relations with many of the national research centers, e.g.
Remote sensing Authority, National Academy of Science, Egyptian Standards
organization, and the industrial development agency.
- In the Middle East we have research and E-learning projects with Emirates, Yemen,
and Sudan
- The department has research projects and protocols with Germany, Sweden, France,
and UK.
Main areas of activity
- Machine Intelligence
- Machine learning and Time series forecasting
- Neural networks and Pattern classification
- Evolutionary Algorithms and their applications
- Image Processing
- Software Engineering
- E-Learning
- Parallel Processing
- Reconfigurable Computing and Compiler Optimization
- VLSI: Architectures and Design Tools
- Computer Networks
- Computer Vision
Current research areas and topics
- Intelligent Agents
- Natural Language Processing
- Neural Networks
- Pattern Classification
- Machine learning
- Time series forecasting
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- Evolutionary Algorithms
- Software Engineering
- E-Learning
- Parallel Processing
- Reconfigurable Computing
- Compiler Optimization
- Formal Verification
- Networks on Chip
- Electro-mechanical Σ∆ Modulators and the associated Decimation Filters
- Routing
- Mobile networks
- Sensor Networks
- Performance analysis and quality of service issues
- 3D Object Reconstruction
- 3D Object Recognition
Future research areas and topics
- Video Editing
- Image Annotations
- Shape Classifications
- Document Digitization
- GeoVisualization
- Data Mining
- Trusted Computing
- Vision-based Driver-Assistant
- Sensor Networks applications
- Motion Analysis
- Computer networks and robotics lab under establishment
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
- 8 professor (2 are currently Egypt prime minister and minister of administrative
development, the faculty Dean, and the Assistant to Minister for Communication and
Information Technology)
- 2 Associate professors
- 6 Assistant Professors.
- 25 Research and Teaching assistants
Offered services
- Education
- Training
- Research
- Consultations to various government ministries (ICT, Health, Etc) and to the business
community.
Business model of the offered services
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5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Protocols and contracts through faculty centers
- Direct financial requests from governmental bodies .
Registered patents, licenses
None
However two educational software packages are our propriety
Quality certifications obtained
- Peer review by national bodies.
- Cairo University is the top ranked university in Egypt and is among the top 500
universities in the world on the 2007 Shanghai Jaio Tong rankings
Participation to national and international networks
- Member of Egypt university network
- PROLEARN in France
Participation to international programmes and projects
- Currently the department is responsible for an EU TEMPUS project with Germany and
France
- The department organizes every year an International IEEE conference on Computer
Engineering.
- Strong cooperation with International Universities and Companies as described above.
Funding Sources
- Ministry of Higher Education
- Contracts and services with the community
- Research grants
- Two years ago, a credit- hour, interdisciplinary B.Sc. program (with the Electrical
Communication Department) started. Students pay their fees (which was new in
Egypt) allowing a better funding situation within the department.
International cooperation interests
- E-Learning
- Computer networks
- Computer vision
- Computational intelligence
General Description and Comments
- As mentioned above, some Faculty members of the Computer
- Engineering Department hold key positions in the current government.
- Graduates of the department usually work with multi-national
- IT companies (e.g. IBM, Microsoft)
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Faculty of Computers and Information – Cairo University
Organization Details
5 Dr. Ahmed Zewail Street, Postal Code: 12613, Orman, Giza, Egypt
webadmin@fci-cu.edu.eg
Contact Person
Prof. Aly Fahmy
Dean
Faculty of Computers and Information
Cairo University,
5 Ahmed Zoweil St., Dokki
Giza, Egypt
Tel: (+202) 3350107 (+2012) 3420162
Fax: (+202) 3350109
Email: a.fahmy@fci-cu.edu.eg>
Website: http://www.fci-cu.edu.eg
Personal e-mail: aly.fahmy@gmail.com
Year of establishment
1996
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT)
Geographical area of competence
The Institute operates mainly inside Egypt
Main areas of activity
Information Technology
Current research areas and topics
- Data and Text Mining.
- Natural Language Processing.
- E-Governance,
- E-Learning,
- Tutorials for Handwriting
- Speech Recognition
Future research areas and topics
- Mobile Computing,
- Software Testing
- Virtual Reality
- Information and Network Security
- Grid Computing
- Optimization (Decision Support)
- Futuristic Studies
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5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Staff members : > 30
TA Researchers : >100
Offered services
- Software development
- Consultation service
- Feasibility studies
- Training
Business model of the offered services
Through special entities, the institute provides:
- Software development (Commission and/or IPR)
- Consultation service (Commission)
- Feasibility studies (Commission)
- Training (Commission)
Quality certifications obtained
CMMI (application for Level2)
Participation to national and international networks
- Ministry of Communication and Information Technology
- Ministry of Administrative Development
- Norwegian Center of Excellence
- Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, CA, USA
- Institute for Futures Studies and Technology Assessment (IZT) Berlin
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Systems Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
- University Paris-1 Pantheon Sorbonne, France
- VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Czech Republic
- Imperial College Work place London University, London - UK
Participation to international programmes and projects
- Cooperation Program with ULM University, Germany
- Cooperation Program with Koeln University, Germany
- Cooperation Program with Charles University, Czech Republic
- E-Learning Project supported by UNISCO and EU
International cooperation interests
- Data and Text Mining.
- Natural Language Processing.
- E-Governance,
- E-Learning,
- Tutorials for Handwriting
- Speech Recognition
- Mobile Computing
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- Software Testing
- Virtual Reality
- Information and Network Security
- Grid Computing
- Optimization (Decision Support)
- Futuristic Studies
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
National Telecommunication Institute (NTI)
Organization Details
National Telecommunication Institute, Smart Village /Building 147 B/ Cairo -Alexandria
Desert Road
Cairo/ Egypt
Contact Person
Dr. Omayma Abdel Mohsen
Switching Department
National Telecommunication Institute
5 Mahmoud El Melighy street, Nasr City, Cairo,Egypt
omohsen@nti.sci.eg
oabdelmohsen@yahoo.com
phone: 02 22640156 / 02 24030657
Year of establishment
1983
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
NTI cooperates with most of the Egyptian universities and scientific and Research
Institutes. Also NTI has good contacts with Industrial organizations
Geographical area of competence
Egypt – Arab Countries - Africa
Main areas of activity
NTI is a main educational, training and research institution in the field of
telecommunica tions. It also provides consultancy services and support to the
telecommunications sectors in Egypt and neighboring countries.
Current research areas and topics
- Communication Systems
- Mobile Communications (CDMA, 3G, LTE)
- Microwave and Optical Communications
99
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Microwave Devices
- Optoelectronics
- Switching Systems
- VoIP, MPLS
- Networking
- Wireless Network
- Network Security
Future research areas and topics
- Next Generation Networks architecture, protocols and services
- Wireless Networks.
- Information and communications Network Security
- VLSI design
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
The academic and technical support staff comprises
- 3 Professors
- 5 Associate Professors
- 15 Assistant Professors
- 25 Teaching assistants and Researchers
- 20 Engineers
- 25 Technicians
Offered services
- NTI grants two years post graduate diploma in communications and information
engineering
- NTI offers more than 30 short-term telecommunication training course annually. These
courses are designed to upgrade the technical knowledge and skills of professional
engineers and include both theoretical lectures and practical hands-on exposure to
telecommunications, computers and electronics.
- The institute also offers customized training courses to major companies, where course
contents are designed to meet companies' needs.
- Consultancy Services to the telecommunications sectors in Egypt and neighboring
countries
- NTI manages and supervises the execution of the professional training program,
offered to new university graduates in the information and communications technology
(ICT) fields. This program is sponsored by the ministry of communications and
information technology (MCIT) in cooperation with a group of national and international
companies. This program aims at annually preparing 5000 professionals skilled in
information and communications technology fields.
Business model of the offered services
- NTI is a governmental organization with independent budget. Most of the education
and training programs are at low or reduced fees.
- NTI charges other services according to the nominal rates.
Participation to national and international networks
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

NTI participates in a large number of research and developing committees nation wide.
Also NTI participates in several International events and activities
Participation to international programmes and projects
NTI has scientific and training protocols, agreements and cooperation programs with
several universities, research centers, international companies and organizations working
in the information and communications technology field.
NTI signed memorandums of understanding (MOU) with different universities and
institutes to cooperate in research activities and exchange of teaching staff and
researchers.
For Example:
- Thales Technological University- France.
- Balearic Islands University - Spain
- Tashkent university for information technologies, Uzbekistan
- International telecommunication union (ITU).
- Japan international cooperation Agency JICA).
- Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)
Also NTI signed MOUs with
- CISCO
- Siemens
- Alcatel
- Nortel
- ZTE
- HP
- Ericsson
- Cadence
- Mentor Graphics
To cooperate in developing the professional skills of recent graduate engineers and
young researchers.
Funding Sources
NTI is funded by the government . .NTI has its own budget as a governmental entity.
Part of the budget is self- generated through NTI activities (consultancy services,
education and training)
International cooperation interests
- Projects, Training, Consultation in the Information and Communications
Technology fields
- Research and Development
- Exchange of Experts
- Exchange of Professors and Teaching staff
- Developing education and training programs
General Description and Comments
NTI Scientific Departments
- Computer and System Department.
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5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Network planning Department
- Transmission Department
- Electronics Department
- Switching Department
NTI Specialized Labs
- CDMA, Computer networks, Network Management (14 Labs)
Interview Place and Date
July, 2008
Center for Wireless Studies (CWS), Electronics and Electrical Communications
Department.
Organization Details
Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
Web: http://eng.cu.edu.eg
Contact Person
- Dr. Mohamed Khairy
Electronics and communications Dept,
Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University
Giza 12613, Egypt
Email: mkhairy@ieee.org
- Dr. Mohamed Abdallah
Electronics and communications Dept,
Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University
Giza 12613, Egypt
Email: mabdalah@eng.cu.edu.eg
Year of establishment
2007
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- Cairo University
- The NTRA (National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority)
- The Nile university
- Qatar university
Geographical area of competence
National- Regional and International, as the CWS in involved in IEEE Standards
committees taking place all over the world.
Main areas of activity
- Telecommunications with the focus on next generation OFDMA-based system e.g.
WiMAX.
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- Wireless sensor networks.
- Information technology
- Digital design
- Antenna design for wireless applications
Current research areas and topics
- Active participation in the IEEE 802.16m standards meeting through contributing to the
standard by submitting contributions for physical layer specifications.
- Implementation of Wireless Communication systems
- Physical layer design and implementation
- Channel estimation algorithms for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access
(OFDMA) systems
- Turbo decoder implementation
- Multiple Antennas system design and implementation
- Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiplexing (SCFDM) systems design
- Physical layer algorithms for wireless sensor networks.
Future research areas and topics
- Software Defined Radio and Cognitive Radio systems
- Long term Evolution (LTE) systems for future mobile systems
- Wireless sensor networks with the focus on health and body monitor applications.
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
- Professors: 8
- Graduate students: 5
Offered services
- Design and implementation of Communication systems
- Integrated Hardware and Software
- Feasibility studies and technical reports
- Research projects
Business model of the offered services
- Research grants
- Training and consultation
- Industry collaboration
Registered patents, licenses
Applied for 2 patents :
- Guard Band Reduction in Mobile WiMAX systems via overlapped Windowing
- A novel frequency offset estimation techniques in Mobile WiMAX
Preparing 1 more patent.
Quality certifications obtained
Participation to national and international networks
- Consultants to the (National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority) NTRA of Egypt
- Cooperation with Qatar university.
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5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Participation to international programmes and projects
Attending and contributing to IEEE 802.16 standards meeting since May 2007
Funding Sources
- National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA) of Egypt
- Qatar university (funding graduate student research and studies)
International cooperation interests
- Collaborating with European universities and companies to design and implement
communication standards
- Field programmable field array (FPGA) and Application Specific ICs (ASIC) design for
Communication systems
- Research and development of different Mobile and fixed communication standards
including WiMaX, LTE and Zigbee
General Description and Comments
CWS is interested in all aspects of communication systems design and implementation.
One of the center's goal is to spin off companies in these different areas with the
collaboration of European or American partners.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
Communications & Electronics Systems Design Laboratory
Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University
Organization Details
Communications & Electronics Systems Design Laboratory,
Electronics & Communications Department,
Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University,
Giza, EGYPT 12613
Tel: +202 35678197 Fax: +202 35723486
Web: http://www.eng.cu.edu.eg/
Contact Person
- Professor Magdi Fikri
Electronics & Communications Department,
Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University
Giza, EGYPT 12613
Tel: +202 35678888 +2010 295 5722
Fax: +202 35723486
Email: magdi.fikri@gmail.com
- Professor Ahmed El Bialy
Systems & Biomedical Engineering Department,
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University
Giza, EGYPT 12613
Tel: +202 35678942 +2010 123 4080 Fax: +202 35723486
Email : abialy_86@yahoo.com
Year of establishment
1930
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
SCEU (Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities)
Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education
Geographical area of competence
The group operates mainly inside Egypt
Main areas of activity
- Digital Signal Processing
- Communication Systems
Current research areas and topics
- Biometric Security System based on Human Iris Recognition
- Medical Image Processing
- Synchronization in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)and Orthogonal
Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)
- Software Defined Radio (SDR)
- Digital Protection Relays
- Remote Meter Reading using Power Line Communications
- Lossless Image Compression
Future research areas and topics
- Object recognition and tracking in video streams
- Security systems based on video monitoring
- Wireless sensor networks
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Total Employment : 16
Professors : 4
Researchers : 6
Engineers: 6
Offered services
- Development of signal processing algorithms on DSPs (good experience with TI DSPs
C6416 and Davinci DM6446)
- Development of real-time embedded prototypes, including hardware and software,
based on several microcontrollers & DSPs
- Consultation services
- Algorithm development and simulations using MATLAB/SIMULINK
105
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Business model of the offered services
Contracting for well - defined jobs (Commission)
Partnership in research with financial support from research agencies
Registered patents, licenses
Egyptian Patents on:
- Digital Over-current Protection Relay
- Automatic Meter Reading System using PLC
Participation to national and international networks
National Supreme Council of Universities Network
Participation to international programmes and projects
- International conferences
- Cooperation with Schlumberger SCRC in Seismic Signal Processing project “Multichannel
Blind Deconvolution”
Funding Sources
- ITIDA (Information Technology Industry Development Association)
- Research Grants
- Income from contracting and business
International cooperation interests
- Biometric Security Systems.
- SDR
- Medical Image Processing
- Wireless Sensor Networks
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, October 2008
Signal Processing Group, Dept. of Computers and Systems, Electronics
Research Institute (ERI)
Organization Details
Electronics Research Institute
National Research Center Buildings
El Tahrir street, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
Contact Person
Samia Mashali
Electronics Research Institute
Computers and Systems Dept.
Signal Processing Group
El Tahrir st., Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Tel(202)33351631, (202)33310502
Fax☹202)33351631
samia@eri.sci.eg
smashaly@mcit.gov.eg
Year of establishment
1989
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- Academy of Scientific Research
- Ministry of Education and Scientific Research
- Egyptian Universities
Main areas of activity
Information and Communication Technology(ICT)
Current research areas and topics
- Optical Character Recognition(OCR)
- Biometrics
- Data Mining
- Image and Video Processing
- Bioinformatics
Future research areas and topics
- Handwritten Arabic OCR
- Fingerprint and Iris Recognition
- Data Mining in Telecommunication and Medical fields
- Video on Demand
- Early Detection of Breast Cancer
- Secondary Protein Structure Prediction
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Total : 200
Computers and Systems Dept,Professors and Researchers: 50
Signal Processing Group,Professors and Researchers: 15
Offered services
- Consultation Services
- Feasibility studies
- Research Projects
Business model of the offered services
-General University Research groups; payment
- Collaborating University research groups : free
- Industry : payment
- Consultation Services: payment
107
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Participation to national and international networks
Egyptian Universities Network
Participation to international programmes and projects
- Video Compression,NS, USA (project concluded)
- Remote Sensing, Ukraine (project in progress)
Funding Sources
- ERI
- Project Funding (NSF, Scientific Research Fund)
International cooperation interests
- Optical Character Recognition(OCR)
- Biometrics
- Data Mining
- Image and Video Processing
- Bioinformatics
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, October 2008
Electronics and Electrical Communications department Faculty of Engineering,
Ain Shams University .
Organization Details
Electronics and Electrical Communications department,Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams
University1 El-Sarayat St., Abdou-Pasha Square, Abbassia,Cairo, Egypt.
Postal Code: 11517
Web: http://eng.shams.edu.eg
Contact Person
Prof. Dr. Wagdi Anis
Prof. of Communications Eng.
Email: wagdianis@asunet.shams.edu.eg
Tel: +202-2682-1800
Fax: +202-2685-0617
Year of establishment
1990
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- Clausthal University, Germany
- Dresden, Germany
- Hanover University, Germany
- Drexel University, USA
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- McMaster University, Canada
Average yearly turnover
US$ 3.2 millions
Geographical area of competence
National
Main areas of activity
Electrical Eng. (Computer and Control Systems, Communication and Electronics)
Current research areas and topics
- Photovoltaic solar systems
- VLSI, analog and digital design
- Wireless communication systems.
Future research areas and topics
- Photovoltaic solar systems
- VLSI, analog and digital design
- Wireless communication systems.
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Total : 78
Professors : 23
Associate Professors : 4
Assistant professors : 7
Research Assistants : 44
Offered services
- R & D in all Engineering activities
- Consultation services including feasibility studies
- Training courses
Business model of the offered services
- Projects with industry through funding contracts
- Offered Technical Assistance agreements with public and private sectors
- Collaboration with Research Centers & groups and funding through agreements
Quality certifications obtained
Accreditation project for the Faculty (under final approval)
Participation to national and international networks
- Academy of Scientific Research & Technology, Egypt
- IEEE
Participation to international programmes and projects
US – Egypt Science and Technology Board
Tempus projects
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5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Many partnerships and collaborations with European and American Universities
Funding Sources
- Industry Modernization Center, Ministry of Trade
- Research project funding
- Ministry of Higher Education.
International cooperation interests
- Photovoltaic powered electric cells.
- Photovoltaic solar pumping systems for water pumping in rural areas.
- Photovoltaic powered small refrigerators for vaccines and medicament reservation in
rural areas.
- Photovoltaic powered lighting for roads in rural areas.
General Description and Comments
The vision of the Faculty of Engineering is to attain excellence in engineering education,
scientific research and community services through an integrated TQM linking with
different national and international institutions.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, Egypt, July 2008.
Laboratory for lasers and optical communication (LLOC)
Organization Details
Faculty of engineering, Ain Shams University, 1 Sarayat street, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt,
P.C. 11517
Contact Person
- Prof. M. H. Ahmad
mhahmed00@yahoo.com
- Prof. D. A Khalil
diaa.khalil@ieee.org
- Dr. A. H. Morshed
ahmorshed@ieee.org
Year of establishment
1975
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
Ain Shams University, National telecommunication Authority, Higher Education
Enhancement Project Fund, Information Technology Industrial Development Agency
Average yearly turnover
68.000 Euros
Geographical area of competence
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

International
Main areas of activity
Optoelectronics and optical engineering
Current research areas and topics
Optical fiber amplifiers and oscillators, Integrated optics/optical MEMS
Future research areas and topics
Optical fiber sensors, Optical MEMS, FT spectroscopy
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
3 Professors
2 Associate Professors
2 Assistant Professors
5 Assistants
1 Technicians
Offered services
Consultations, R&D projects
Business model of the offered services
Center of Excellence
Registered patents, licenses
5 patents+ 1 PPA
- Optical switching Matrix and its manufacturing method
Publication info: JP2004004713 - 2004-01-08
- Micromechanical based variable optical attenuator having moving walls with sloped V
shaped wall stops outside central optical fiber section
Publication info: FR2849217 - 2004-06-25
- Optical telecommunications switching having five optical switch connections providing
input intermediate outputs from four switches and fifth connection providing remaining
outputs
Publication info: FR2849015 - 2004-06-25
- Matrix of optical switches
Publication info: FR2838527 - 2003-10-17
- Variable optical attenuator and a matrix of such attenuators, comprises a mobile
structure and a coupling device linked to a detector for a higher precision control
Publication info: FR2837578 - 2003-09-26
Participation to international programmes and projects
- Institut de Microélectronique, Electromagnétisme et Photonique IMEP- INPG France.
MOU agreement with INPG and cooperation in research.
- Group ESIEE Paris, France. Research cooperation in Optical MEMS.
- Ottawa University, MOU agreement and research project on ROADM (Reconfigurable
Optical add drop Mux.)
111
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Funding Sources
Governmental and private institutions
International cooperation interests
- Development of optical fiber sensors
- Development of Optical MEMS Spectrometer
- Development of 40 GB/s optical network
General Description and Comments
The laboratory for laser and optical communications LLOC has begun its activity at the
Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University in late seventies with the objective of
promoting scientific research and building the technical background required for both the
educational as well as industrial levels in the field of optical communications and
optoelectronics. We believe that this is a field of strategic as well as economic interest of
Egypt and it has a very strong potential in the near future.
Our mission in the Lab is thus to be the leaders in the field of optical communications
and optoelectronics working in a centre of excellence in this domain that can serve
regional and worldwide industry, education and research.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
Microstrip and Microwave Engineering group.
Electronics Research Institute (ERI)
Organization Details
National Research Center Buildings
El –Behouth Street, Dokki
Zip code 12622
Cairo, Egypt
Contact Person
Prof. Esmat Abdel- Fattah Abdallah
Former President of Electronics Research Institute (ERI).
RF Communication, microwave engineering
Tel. +202 3337 4998 (Home), +202 3331 0506 (Office)
Fax +202 3336 8584 Mobile +2012 3290 406
esmataa2@hotmail.com
Year of establishment
Since 1963, the ERI was a part of the National Research Center (NRC) and since Jan.
1989, it became an independent institute.
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- The ERI is a governmental institute affiliated with the Ministry of scientific Research.
- Electronics and Electrical communication Depts., Faculties of Engineering at both
Cairo University and Ain Shams University
- Ministry of Communication and Information Technology
- Remote Sensing Organization
- The Holding Company for biological Products and Vaccines (VACERA) (Design and
calibration of the measuring instruments for virus detection in blood).
Geographical area of competence
Egypt – Middle East
Main areas of activity
- Microwave and Microstrip Engineering
- RF Communications
Current research areas and topics
- Antennas (conventional and compact)
- Transceivers
- Passive and Active Microwave components
- Nonreciprocal devices,
- Communication systems
Future research areas and topics
- Embedded antennas
- Compact and wide band microwave components
- MEMS
- Ultrawide band antennas
- Smart antennas
- EM bandgap structures
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Prof. 2
Ass. Prof. 4
researchers 7
Assistant Researchers 20
Offered services
- Training for both the service and production sectors in Egypt
- Development of Local Industry
- Research
- Consultations
Business model of the offered services
- Some projects with the private and public sectors in the field of industry is funded by
the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT)
- Cooperation with other departments in the ERI (free)
- Research other with universities and other research centers (free)
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5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Research Projects (research grants)
- Training courses for engineers (charge)
- Services to public and private sector (charge)
Registered patents, licenses
A patent was licensed in Egypt and in the process of licensed it in Europe in the field of
Holography
Participation to international programmes and projects
- Through the International cooperation agreement between USA (National Science
Foundation) and Egypt (ASRT). Examples of these projects are:
- Development of Three dimensional Human computer Interface System Using
Holography, with the University of California at Irvine (ended 2003).
- Miniaturization for Broadband Chip Size Antennas Using EBG Techniques for Wireless
Communications and Biomedical Applications, with the University of Hawai (in
progress).
- Joint research with the Fraunhofer Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBMT),
Germany through a project Funded by the EU (FP6) entitled " Rapid SPR for parallel
detection of pathogens in blood, etc. "
Funding Sources
- Government (Ministry of Scientific research) joint projects
- Training in the field of analysis, design and fabrication of microwave components
circuits and antennas for different private and public sectors
International cooperation interests
- Embedded antennas
- Wearable antennas
- Electromagnetic bandgap antennas
- Smart antennas
General Description and Comments
Electronics Research Institute (ERI) was established in 1989 and before that it was a part
of the National Research Centre. It now consists of seven departments namely, Power
Electronics and Energy Conversion, Computers and Systems, Microstrip, Microwave
Engineering, Microelectronics, Solar Cells and Informatics. The working force is made of
about two hundred research members (Professors, Associate and Assistant Prof.,
Researchers and Assistant Researcher).
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
Faculty of Computers and Information, Helwan University
Organization Details
Helwan University, Faculty of Computers and Information
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Ain Helwan, Helwan, Egypt
Tel: + 20 2 25481035 - +20 2 25481039
FAX: +20 2 25547975
Mobile: +20 10 5000 702
URL: www.helwan.edu.eg
Contact Person
Prof. A. Sharaf Eldin
profase2000

Business model of the offered services
Contractual
Participation to international programmes and projects
Tempus Projects (EU)
- Project SCM-M024A04-2004, The Development of QA Systems within Selected
Universities in Egypt
- Project CD_JEP-31053 – 2003, Medical and Bio-Informatics Master Program in Egypt
Funding Sources
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific research.
Research Grants
International cooperation interests
- Medical and Bio Informatics
- Mobile Computing
- Information Storage and Retrieval
- Software Development
General Description and Comments
The Faculty of computers and Information, Helwan University (FCI-HU) is actively
involved in research and development projects. We initiated the QA system in HU,
introduced medical and bio informatics in Egypt. Two of the staff members are among
the board of the National Committee for Informatics in Egypt. Some staff members and
students won international prizes.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
Cairo University – Faculty of Engineering
Organization Details
Faculty of Engineering – Cairo University – Giza - Egypt
Contact Person
- Dr. Ahmed El-Bialy
abialy_86@yahoo.com
- Dr. Ahmed Kandil
ahkandil_1@yahoo.com
Year of establishment
1976
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- Systems and Networks Lab. (SysNet Lab.)
- Center for Advanced Software and Biomedical Engineering
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Consultations (CASBEC)
Geographical area of competence
Egypt – Middle East - Africa
Main areas of activity
- Biomedical Engineering
- Health care services
- Software Development
- Pattern Recognition
Current research areas and topics
- Development of pattern recognition techniques for the Arabic language [Optical
Character Recognition(OCR)].
- Computer Assisted Learning using multimedia.
- Conversion of Arabic Text into Speech (to help persons with visual impairment). This
can be integrated with Speech Verification System for correcting the pronunciation of
people suffering from speech impairment. It can also be used to teach illiterate
people and to teach Arabic to foreign people.
- Robotics and Nonlinear control for Dynamical Systems.
- Current research includes a joint research project with the Dental School in the field of
Cephalometric analysis
- Automation of health care services – Medical Imaging and Visualization – Rehabilitation
based on speech and OCR techniques.
Future research areas and topics
- Dental Information System: A system that could provide dentists with their patient’s
information, their Examination, their medical images and the financial management of
the clinic. Information system is not only what automation could support dentists with
but also it may support them in taking decision about patient’s treatment plans. The
major objective of this project is to present a vision to computerize an Egyptian dental
clinic. In order to achieve such an objective, an Orthodontic Information System (OIS)
is established. The OIS includes the patient personal information, his medical history,
his complaints, and his photos (face) from different views and the X-RAY images. This
data is received over the treatment period to monitor the progress. The OIS is followed
by a Cephalometric analysis to extract a set of features (points, angles and distances)
from the X-RAY images. Such features are essential for the Orthodontic surgeon to
decide the set of point's displacements to get a final required face shape for the
patient. A pre-operative module is the Orthomorphing visualization to get a predictable
shape based on the decision of the surgeon. This module enables the surgeon to
evaluate his pre-planed actions before performing the operation. 3D Cephalometric
Analysis.
- Design an integrated Hospital Information System which complies with the
international standards and that can be applied in the Egyptian Hospitals.
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Total : 19
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5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Professors: 3
Researchers: 16
Offered services
- Software development.
- Development of integrated hardware and software
- Consultation service
- Feasibility studies and technical reports.
- Development of Hospital / clinic Information system.
- Clinical Engineering Information Systems (devices and equipment).
- Monitoring and Evaluation of Maintenance tasks for medical equipment performed by
companies and agents.
- Training and continuous education for students and professionals in the field of
medical devices, information systems, medical standards and software packages.
Business model of the offered services
- Software development (Commission)
- Integrated Hardware and Software development (Commission)
- Training and consultation (Fees)
- Enhancement of hospital / clinic services using Information Technology and quality
assurance of medical equipment performance(Commision).
Participation to national and international networks
National Network of the Supreme Council of Universities.
Participation to international programmes and projects
Project to develop a prototype for a myoelectric arm with its training kit (US Aid
Program)
Funding Sources
- Cairo University.
- Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)
- Center for Advanced Software and Biomedical Engineering Consultations (CASBEC)
International cooperation interests
- Design an integrated Hospital Information System which complies with the
international standards.
- Development of a Dental simulation system able to predict the final appearance of the
patient after the treatment . This system will get its data from CT scans and will
extract automatically all the necessary data. Such a system will consider the
properties of the bones and skin and the effect of any operation on these materials.
- Automatic Speech Verification System for correcting the pronunciation of people
suffering of speech impairment. It can be used to teach Arabic to foreign people .
General Description and Comments
The Systems and Biomedical Engineering Department in Faculty of Engineering, Cairo
University. This department was established in 1976, starting with three dedicated staff
members and 35 students. The department nowadays includes over 30 staff members,
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

800 under graduate students and over 100 postgraduate students. The research scope
in the department ranges from artificial limbs, medical image processing, medical signal
processing, speech processing, OCR, virtual orthodontic clinic and finite element
simulation of implant/bone interface.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, August 2008
119
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

7.6. Renewable Energy
Department of Power Electronics and Renewable Energy Systems.
Electronics Research Institute (ERI)
Organization Details
National Research Centre Buildings
El- Behouth Street
Dokki, 12622
Cairo, Egypt
Contact Person
Prof. Aziza Mahmoud Zaki
Power Electronics & Renewable Energy Systems
Chair of Power Electronics & Energy Conversion Dept., ERI
azizazaki@hotmail.com
aziza@eri.sci.eg
Year of establishment
Since 1963 as a part of the National Research centre (NRC) and as an Independent
institute since Jan 1989 .
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
Governmental institute affiliated to the Ministry of scientific Research-
Power and Machines dept, faculty of engineering, Cairo Univ. & Ain Shams University-
Power Eng . Dept, Helwan University- Remote sensing organization – Scientific
cooperation agreement with many foreign countries in Europe, Africa & Asia
Geographical area of competence
Egypt- Middle East
Main areas of activity
- Power Electronics
- Energy Conversion
- Renewable Energy systems
- Power Systems
Current research areas and topics
- Power Electronics Applications
- Electrical Drives
- Renewable Energy systems
- Power Quality
- Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS)
- Motion control in Industrial and Mobile Robots
Future research areas and topics
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- Fuel Cells
- Hybrid systems
- Electrical Vehicles
- New Drive systems
- Intelligent Control in Machine drives & power Systems Micro electro
- Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
11 Professors
5 Associate Professors
21 Assistant Professors
19 Researchers
Offered services
- Consultations
- Training courses for service & production sectors engineers -Joint projects through the
cooperation agreement between Egypt and USA (NSF)
- Joint research with the Electrical power & Electrical machines Depts., faculty of
engineering, Cairo University, Ain Shams University and Helwan University.
Business model of the offered services
- Service to any department in the institute (ERI) is offered free of charge, also joint
research activities with universities in Egypt are free.
- Projects to the private and public sectors in the field of industry through the Academy
of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) or through direct contract with
production or service sector or consultations are offered for suitable fees. Also, training
courses to engineers in the industry or service sector are with fees.
Participation to international programmes and projects
Joint projects funded from National Science Foundation (NSF) in the topics of power
electronics components cooling, Electrical machine analysis.
Proposal submitted to the European Union (EU) in the field of energy sustainability in
public buildings.
Funding Sources
- Government
- Joint projects (National and International)
- Training courses in power electronics, microprocessors, sensors, electrical drives,
renewable energy...
International cooperation interests
Ready for wide and deeper cooperation in the fields of power electronics applications,
electrical drives control, renewable energy systems & energy sustainability
General Description and Comments
ERI is the Electronics Research Institute. It was established in 1989 and before that it
was a part of the National Research Centre. It consists of 7 departments namely:
- Power Electronics & Energy Conversion
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5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Computers & Systems
- Informatics
- Microwave Engineering
- Microstrip circuits
- Solar cells
- Microelectronics
About 200 research members (Prof., Assoc. Prof., Assistant Prof., & Assistant
Researcher) are affiliated to ERI.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
SunPrism For Energy Technology
Organization Details
Factory address: Ismailia public zone
Mailing address: 9 Maarouf St. Kasr El Nile, Cairo 11522 Egypt
Contact Person
Sherif Bahnas
Tel : (202) 25798334
Fax : (202) 25795744
e-mail : sb@sun-prism.com
Year of establishment
2005
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
Private Sector
Joint R&D with Cairo University
Geographical area of competence
- Egypt
- European Union
- Light presence in Middle East and Africa
Main areas of activity
- Production of PV panels
- System integration
- Providing solutions for various applications in Egypt and the Middle East (e.g. Telecom,
Oil and Gas, Rural Electrification,…)
Current research areas and topics
- Improvement of system cost efficiency, through product innovation and testing
- Seeking cheaper complete reliable energy solutions
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Future research areas and topics
- Solar Thermal systems
- collector production
- Grid connected systems
- Thin film solar cells.
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
8 Engineers
74 Technicians
Offered services
- Manufacturing PV modules
- Installing PV Systems
Business model of the offered services
The company is a profit making organization, and services are provided for a fee.
However, the company does provide free training for selected individuals, subsidize
components and systems for students and research purposes.
Participation to international programmes and projects
Freiburg Exhibition 2007, Germany
Freiburg Exhibition 2008, Germany
Regular attendee of the European PV conference
Funding Sources
Private Sector
International cooperation interests
To cooperate with companies with the purpose of joint manufacturing in the PV
production field, or any of the future interests of the company.
General Description and Comments
Sun-Prism is a private enterprise specialized in the production of PV cells and in
providing full system integration
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, June 2008
Electrical Power Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University,
Cairo (Egypt)
Organization Details
Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University
1 El-Sarayat St., Abdou-Pasha Square, Abbassia
Cairo, Egypt, Postal Code: 11517
Web: http://eng.shams.edu.eg/
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5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

Contact Person
Prof. Dr. Ahmed El-Baz
Prof. of Power Engineering
Email: elbaz@link.net
Tel: +202-2682-1800
Fax: +202-2685-0617
Year of establishment
1950
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
Clausthal University, Germany
Dresden, Germany
Hanover University, Germany
Drexel University, USA
McMaster University, Canada
Average yearly turnover
US$ 0.4 millions
Geographical area of competence
National
Main areas of activity
Renewable Energy.
Current research areas and topics
- New techniques for utilization of wave energy
- Direct steam generation using solar energy
- Development of efficient wind turbines
Future research areas and topics
- Implementation of wave energy extraction system
- Implementation of direct steam generation system using solar energy
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Total : 64
Professors : 19
Associate Professors : 8
Assistant professors : 13
Research Assistants : 24
Offered services
- R & D in all Engineering activities
- Consultation services including feasibility studies
- Training courses
Business model of the offered services
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- Projects with industry (contracts)
- Technical Assistance agreements (Fees)
- Collaboration with Research Centers & groups (Grants)
Quality certifications obtained
Under final approval and accreditation
Participation to national and international networks
- Academy of Scientific Research & Technology, Egypt
- IEEE
Participation to international programmes and projects
US – Egypt Science and Technology Board
Partnerships and collaborations with European and American Universities as mentioned
earlier
Funding Sources
- Industry Modernization Center, Ministry of Industry & International Trade
- Research project funding
- Ministry of Higher Education.
International cooperation interests
- Solar energy related topics:
- Computational modeling of heat transfer and fluid flow in horizontal pipes used for
direct steam generation
- Development of new design of linear (Fresnel) solar collectors
- Modeling of a new receiver design for DSG system
- Wave energy related topics
- Wave energy surveying along northern coast
- Development of a new wave energy extraction device.
- Optimization of wave energy extraction device for northern coast conditions in Egypt
General Description and Comments
The vision of the Faculty of Engineering is to attain excellence in engineering education,
scientific research and community services through an integrated TQM linking with
different national and international institutions.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, Egypt
Electrical Power Engineering Dept.,Faculty of Engineering, Helwan University.
Organization Details
1 Sherief Street, Helwan, Egypt
Contact Person
125
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- Power Electronics
Prof. Dr. Amr Amin
Vice Dean, Faculty of Engineering
amrmaamin@yahoo.com
- Renewable Energy
Ass. Prof. Dr. Said Elmasry
Faculty of Engineering, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt.
saeedee@hotmail.com
Year of establishment
1960
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
Egyptian Renewable Energy Authority
Ministry of Higher Education
Geographical area of competence
Helwan and Cairo
Main areas of activity
- Photovoltaic solar systems
- Photovoltaic solar system applications in rural areas
- Power electronic equipment used with renewable energy systems
- Energy storage systems
Current research areas and topics
- Hybrid renewable energy systems :
- PV/diesel system
- PV/wind systems
Future research areas and topics
- Wind energy system with compressed air energy storage
- Grid connected photovoltaic solar system
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
Total of 7
Professors 2
Researchers 5
Offered services
- Consultations
– Training
– Simple Assembly and manufacturing
Business model of the offered services
- Regular salaries are paid by the government.
- Services are paid by the service- requesting organization.
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Participation to national and international networks
Sothwest Phalia University of Applied Science, Germany
Brunel, UK
Participation to international programmes and projects
Conferences
Workshops
Funding Sources
Ministry of Higher Education
TEMPUS, EU
DAAD, Germany
International cooperation interests
- Photovoltaic Solar Systems
- Wind Energy Systems
- Energy Storage Systems
- Power electronics
General Description and Comments
Research activities start in 1990 with an initial activity in the area of solar system
applications in the rural areas of Egypt.
Later the research included the power electronics used with renewable energy systems
and their storage elements.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
Research group "Materials for Renewable Energy", Material Science
Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria
University
Organization Details
163 Horrya Avenue
Postal Code 21526 Shatby
Alexandria, Egypt
Contact Person
Prof. Moataz Solioman
Material Science Department
Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University
msolinam2@yahoo.com
Tel +2-0106773366
Year of establishment
127
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

1983
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- Faculty of engineering, Alex. University
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Alex. University
- Faculty of Science, Alex. University
- Medical Research Institute, Alex. University
- Mubarak City for Applications of Scientific Research and Technology
Geographical area of competence
National
Main areas of activity
- Conducting and Bio Polymers
- Buliding Materials
- Corrosion Control
- Composite, Biomaterials - Recycling of Materials - wastewater treatment
Current research areas and topics
- Selective coating for solar collector
- Thin films solar cells
- Polymer solar cells
- Dye sensitized nanocrystalline solar cells
- Preparation of nanomaterials for drug delivery systems
- Sensing and photovoltaic applications
Future research areas and topics
- Materials for hydrogen Storage
- Fuel cells
- Biomaterials and biosensors
- Materials for water Desalination
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
- 5 Professors
- 2 Assistant Professors
- 2 Engineers
- 3 Chemists
Offered services
- Research
- Training
- Consultations
Business model of the offered services
- Research (Grants)
- Training courses (Fees)
- Consultations (Fees)
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

Quality certifications obtained
- Senior Member IEEE
- Certified Energy Management Engineer from AEE "American Energy Engineer
Association "
Participation to national and international networks
National Network of the Supreme Council of Universities
Participation to international programmes and projects
- Sixth Framework Programme, FP6, EU Project Acronym: Termisol, "New lowemmissivity,
and Long lasting paints for cost-effective Solar collectors" Proposal no.
031880
- Proposal for funding by Seventh Framework Programme," High solar Concentration on
Splitted cells By Moth-Eyed Fresnel Lenses"(Passed Second Evaluation).
Funding Sources
- Sixth Framework Programme, EU
- Alexandria University Research Enhancement Program
International cooperation interests
- Fabrication of Thin films solar cells by electrochemical deposition.
- Photovoltaic Training Center for training engineers on the installation, design, and
maintaining of photovoltaic systems
- Polymeric photovoltaic cells
- Dye sensitized nanocrytalline solar cells.
- Preparation of nanomaterials for sensing devices
- Preparation of nanomaterials for optoelectronic devices
- Materials for water desalination
General Description and Comments
At the Materials Science Department, we a have multidisciplinary staff "Engineers,
Physicists, Chemists". We have a central lab for material characterization. Study of the
effects of preparation parameters of materials on the device performance (mainly solar
cells and sensors) and tailoring the properties of the prepared materials are our main
interests.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
129
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

7.7. Other
National Research Center (NRC)
Organization Details
National Research Center
El-Buhouth St., Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
Email : www.nrc.sci.eg
Contact Person
Professor Dr. Esmat Abd El-Ghaffar
Vice president of NRC for Research.
Tel: +202 37482251
Fax: +202 33371718
E-mail: esmat_nrc@yahoo.com
Year of establishment
1956
Associated institutes/ bodies and stakeholders
- Ministry of State for Scientific Research Ministry of Trade and Industry
- Ministry of Health and Population
- Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation
- Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs
- Egyptian Universities and research Institutes
Geographical area of competence
International (Africa-Middle East-Asia- Europe-Canada-USA)
Main areas of activity
NRC Is the largest multidisciplinary R&D center in Egypt devoted to basic and applied
research within the major fields of interest . It includes the following Divisions, with each
division including up to 17 departments :
- Medical Sciences
- Genetic engineering and biotechnology
- Human Genetics and Genome
- Environmental Sciences
- Agriculture and Biology
- Veterinary research
- Physics
- Engineering research (mechanics, ICT, renewable energy, aerospace)
- Textile industries
- Food industry and nutrition [ Fats & oils, Food Sciences and Nutrition, Flavoring
Agents, Toxins and Food pollutants, Food technology (Agro-food) and Dairy Sciences]
- Pharmaceutical industries
- Organic chemical industries,
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- Inorganic chemical industries and mineral resources.
Current research areas and topics
- Biotechnology
- Nanotechnology
- Water desalination
- Renewable energy
- Food industries
- Engineering
- Agriculture Textile
- Health
Future research areas and topics
- Biotechnology
- Nanotechnology
- Water desalination
- Renewable energy
- Mechatronics
- ICT
Number and qualification of the employed personnel
2500 Ph.D. holders (Professors-Associate Professors- Researchers).
Offered services
To conduct research in different fields of natural sciences and advanced technologies to
serve the national economy and developmental plans.
Provide services and scientific technological consultations to productive units to solve
their problems and develop their capabilities.
Guide the national economy sectors to the requisite of technology and stimulate efforts
in the rapid assimilation and transfer of imported technologies.
Train young researchers in various scientific fields as a basis for balanced growth of
national technological capabilities.
Contribute to the national efforts for upgrading of science and dissemination of
knowledge.
Strengthen scientific linkages and cooperation through agreements with local and
international organizations.
Business model of the offered services
- Research contracts:
- Academic (grants)
- Industry (Fees)
- Industrial services (Fees)
- Consultation (Fees)
Registered patents, licenses
PC= Physical Chemistry; OC =Organic Chemistry; T = textile; F = Food Industry and
Nutrition; A = Agriculture; CE = Chemical Engineering; CiE = Civil Engineering;
131
5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

CE=Ceramics; ME = Mechanical Engineering;V=Veterinary science; P =Pharmacy,
G=Genetics; R=renewable Energy; E=Environmental Studies; M=Medicine; IC =
Inorganic Chemistry; Ph =Physics
The recently accepted patents
1. A Method for Preparation of Molybdenum Doped Alumina as Anticorrosive Pigment
(PC)
2. A new method for regeneration of nickel catalyst used for hydrogenation of edible
oil(PC)
3. Isolation of Soya oil from the crude commercial lecithin and decolourisation of the
pure lecithin using simple and economic method (OC)
4. A simple efficient and generally applicable method for grafting of vinyl monomers
onto nylon-6 fibers (T)
5. Novel free formaldehyde adhesive system for production of environmentally friendly
composites from agricultural waste (Artificial wood) (F)
6. Preparation of Na-A Zeolite from Egyptian kaolin(PC)
7. Preparation of Na-Pzeolita form Egyptian kaolin(PC)
8. Preparation of (Na-Faujasite) Zeolite from Egyptian kaolin(PC)
9. New method for preserving fresh cuts of potatoes, onion and carrots during storage
and marketing (A)
10. A Process for improvement of rheological and physical properties of natural rubber by
adding a filler comprised of molybdenum-doped alumina(PC)
11. New classes of environmentally friendly scale inhibitors(OC)
12. Production and application of environmental friendly biopolymers from toxic
formaldehyde of wood –product adhesive(OC)
13. Preparation for polyamide membranes via casting technique(CE)
14. Developing a multi-function apparatus for reinforced earth testing(CiE)
15. Low fusion opaque porcelain for coating chromium- nickel containing alloys(Ce)
16. Air lift pump (ME)
17. Synthesis of PH papers(T)
18. Injection fertilization as full nutrition technique for trees and shrubs(A)
19. Method and equipment for detection of helminthes’ eggs in human and animals(V)
20. Low fusion translucent porcelain with novel composition and good mach inability for
dental crown application(C)
21. A textile cationic softener contain urethane groups(T)
22. A New method for preparation of Ni catalyst used in Hydrogenation of edible oils (PC)
23. Oxygen evaluation electrode(PC)
24. Anode for electrochemical reaction(PC)
25. A novel approach for the control of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus
(f) using mirosporidia (A)
26. Production of natural herbal white cheese(F)
27. A new way to extract Alstrovansidin for the treatment of congestive heart drop seeds
mallow(P)
Quality certifications obtained
132
THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

- Center of excellence by the COMSATS.
- Interim regional hub in biosciences for North Africa by NEPAD.
- Islamic bank award for being the institute that realizes scientific achievement or
prominent technical development of the country.
- 4 Mubarak prizes for science and advanced technology.
- 8 State Merit prizes for basic sciences.
- 4 Superiority prizes for science and advanced technology.
- 22 State prizes for basic & applied sciences.
- 12 Organizations’ prizes.
- 2 Environmental prizes
Participation to national and international networks
- Consortia of FP7
- Partnership in USA, Spanish, Italian, Greece, Swedish projects
Participation to international programmes and projects
FP6 projects:
- Tailored strategies for the conservation and restoration of archaeological value Cubased
artifacts from Mediterranean countries. EFFESTUS. (Project partner Prof. Dr.
Venus Kamel Gouda, former)
- Innovative conservation approaches from monitoring and protecting ancient and
historic metals collections from the Mediterranean basin. PROMET (Project partner Prof.
Dr. Venus Kamel Gouda).
- Mediterranean conservation alliance. MEDAL (Project partner Prof. Dr. Venus Kamel
Gouda).
- Cost effect renewable energy for rural areas in the Mediterranean region. MEDRES
(Project partner Prof. Dr. Kamel Abed). (R)
- Sustainable Concepts towards A Zero flow Municipality (Zero-M) (Project Partner Dr.
Hussin Abed EL Shafey).
- Promotion and Focusing of current Research Activities of membrane Technology in
water treatment in the Mediterranean region.
- (Pro-Membrane) (Project Partner Dr. Hussin Abed EL Shafey).
European Projects:
- Micro-Nutrients and Plant Nutrition Problem in Egypt Dr. Mohamed M. El Fooly, DSE,
Germany (1977)(A)
- Trace Elements with Special Attention to Zink and Copper in Edible Vegetation As
Related to Egyptian Geographical Distribution And Environmental Surroundings, Dr.
Mohamed M. El Fooly, GTZ, Germany (1985)(A)
- New DNA techniques for Identification of mutations in the Beta globin gene in Egyptian
betaThalassemia patients, Dr. Samia Temtamy Elunido Austria (1993-2001).(G)
- Establishment of a germplasm collection of Mediterranean Pistacia, Dr. Nabiel
A.M.Saleh University of Gent Belgium (1995).(P)
- Improving the Productivity of Grain Sorghum in Upper Egypt, Dr. Nabih Ashour,
European commission (1996-2001)(A).
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5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS

- In Vitro Multiplication Molecular Characterization and Sex Determination of Date Palm,
Dr. Hamdy Abdel-Aziz, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology,
Italy (1997). (G)
- Capacity Building on Wastewater Valorization for Agricultural Production in the Middle
East Area by using Low-cost Treatment Technologies, Dr. Fatma EL Gohary,
Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands (1997-2006).(E)
- Salination Control : Control of Salination and Desertification Effects in the Combating
Mediterranean Region, Dr. Mostafa M. El Fooly, European commission (1999-2003).(A)
- Evaluation and Methods of Analysis for Determining Mycotoxins Contamination of
Egyptian food & feed, Dr. Hassan Amra, International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna
Austria (1999-2003). (F)
- Natural Products With Potential Cancer static Activity, Dr. Mohamed Hany El Gamal,
DFG – GTZ, Germany (1999-2001).(P)
- Development of Cost – effective reclamation technologies for domestic wastewater
and the appropriate agricultural use of the treated effluent under arid climate
conditions, Dr. Fatma EL Gohry, European commission (2000-2005).(E)
- Towards Transgenic Date palm Resistant to notorious pests Dr. Mahmoud M.Saker,
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Italy (2000-2003).(G)
- Novel Catalytic Technologies for the Treatment of Wastewater from Agro-Food and
Industrial Production in Med. Countries, Dr. Fatma EL Gohry, European commission
(2003-2006). (E)
- Medicina Genetica per I Paesi del Mediterraneo (Med Gen Med), Dr. Samia Temtamy,
M. E. Italy (2006-2008).(G)
- Euro-Mediterranean Network for Genetic Services (Med Ge Net), Dr. Samia Temtamy,
European commission (2006-2008).(G)
- A small Hybrid Power System for Nobareya Farm, Dr. Kamal Ahmed Abed, European
commission (2007-2010).(R)
- Program Support Unit (PSU) Of the South Sinai Regional Development Program
(SSRDP), Dr. Gamal Abd El Nasser European commission (2007-2010).(M)
- Development of Technologies to grow innovative cash crops and use of agricultural
waste products in South Sinai, Dr. Omima Sawaan, European commission (2007-
2010).(A)
- Preparation of Nanocellul .OSic fillers from Agricultural residues and their application in
polymer nanocomposites, Dr. Mohamed Lotfy Hassan Sweden (2007-2010).(IC)
- A role of domestic animals in the contamination of water resources with zoonotic
viruses, Dr. Waled Morsy Sweden (2008).(E)
- Quantitative detection of HAV and nor viruses in Egyptian agriculture products
associated with irrigated water., Dr.Waleed Morsy, Spain (2008).(E)
U.S. Egypt Partnership:
- An Anchored Comparative Map of the River Buffalo Genon (V)
- Improving Growth and Productivity of Bean and Soybean Using Biofertilizer
Technology.(A)
- Synthesis Characterization and Application of reactive size to cotton warps(T)
- Material energy conservation and Waste reduction in pretreatment of cellulosic textiles
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THE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SYSTEM IN EGYPT

(T)
- Development of Innovative Technology for utilization of Tire Wastes of The
Transportation and Engineering Co.(En)
- High Yield Pulping of Rice Straw and / or cotton Stalks(OC)
- Salination Control : Control of Salination and Desertification Effects in the Combating
Mediterranean Region(E)
- New Reclaimable size for Improved high Speed weaving and reduced pollution(T)
- Development of a management system to treat waste water Effluent and use clean
Technology for Chromium recovery from the Egyptian leather company(E)
- Design and Manufacture of Stitch Bonded Thermoplastic Textile Composites.(T)
- An Anchored Comparative map of the River Buffalo Genome(V)
- Formulation and Evaluation of Environmentally Friendly paints(E)
- Geo-physical Electromagnetic prospecting for Ground Water and Economic
Minerals.(En)
- Upgrading of Over Loaded Stabilization Ponds In Rural Areas(E)
- Isolation and Characterization of Triazophos (Hostathion)Degrading From Egyptian Soil
for the Development of Biosensors(OC)
- Feasibility of Electric Car Powered By Fuel Cell (R)
- Development of a Multifunction Geosynthetic Testing Apparatus(IC)
- Preparation and Evaluation of New Environmentally Friendly “Lignocellulosic
Composites” from Waste Agricultural Products(OC)
- Development of Synthetic Core/Cotton Sheath Friction – Spun Yams Suitable For
Specialty Industrial Fabrics(T)
- Mechanism of Phototropism of Complexes Useful for Commercial Application(IC)
- Investigation and Optimization of the Design Parameters in Photo catalytic Solar
Hydrogen Production System(R)
- Polygene Mapping of Hormones that Control Potato Tuber Sprouting(A)
- Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)Detection and Development of New Therapies Hepatitis C Virus
(HCV)Detection and Development of New Therapies(M)
- New Fibers through Spinning of Modified chitosan Modified Cellulose(T)
- Evaluation Molecular Analysis and Development of Molecular Markers Linked to Pest
Resistance Genes in Barley Population(G)
- Alternative Cap and Liner Systems for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills(E)
- Production & Application of Novel Insecticide & Antimicrobial Textiles(T)
- Synthesis of Nan crystalline sensing oxides(IC)
- Renewable Energy : Wind, concentrator Technologies Photovoltaic, &Biomass (R)
- Highly Durable, Sensitive and Selective Chemical and Optical Sensors on the Basis of
Covalently Attached Ionospheres(Ph)
- Conversion of Agricultural Residues Into Ethanol and Microcrystalline cellulose(OC)
- Effect of elevated temperature and Fire on Structural Elements Retrofitted by carbon
Fiber Reinforced Polymers(OC)
- The Development of a Stationary Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM)Fuel cell Power
System for Buildings(R)
- New Environmental Friendly Development for Reusing Currently and potentially
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Contaminated and Toxic Bio fibers for production(OC)
- Verification of oocytes and \Embryos for conservation of Animal genetic resources(V)
- Preparation and Sintering of Nano-Sic from Waste Silica Fume via an Integrated
Mechanical and Thermal Activation Process(OC)
- Modeling and Analysis of Geogrid- Reinforced Earth Structures under Earthquake
loading(Ge)
- Developing a basis for commercial biological control tactics for IPM in citrus (A)
- The Improvement of fertility during heat stress season in cows and buffaloes(V)
- Catalytic gasification of biomass For synthesis gas(R)
- Influence of Structures on drainage patterns in the Tushka region south west Egypt(G)
- Ionic Cross linking-A Novel Method for Fabric stabilization(T)
- Synthesis of Benzoxazole Derivatives with Potential Antitumor and Antiviral Activity(P)
- An Integrated Approach to Hydrogen Production and Seawater Desalination using
renewable resources (R)
- Preparation of rice-waste reinforced urea-formaldehyde composites with improved
moisture resistance(OC)
- Improving oocyte maturation and embryo culture by comparing global expression
profiles of in vivo and in vitro embryos in cattle and buffalo Improving oocyte
maturation and embryo culture by comparing global expression profiles of in vivo and
in vitro embryos in cattle and buffalo(V)
- Use of Gene transfer techniques for production of new tomato and strawberry variety
tolerant to nematodes Use of Gene transfer techniques for production of new tomato
and strawberry variety tolerant to nematodes (G)
- Improving Healing performance by using chitosan/cellulose nanofibers(T)
- A study of the flow structures near a stationary and an oscillating impingement plate in
a semi-confined impinging jet(En)
- Production of novel probiotic dairy products rich in conjugated linoleic acid(F)
- Genetic transformation of some pathogensis related genes for fungal resistance into
grain legumes (fava bean and pea) (G)
- Delivery of antioxidants with cancer-suppressing properties in Egyptian and American
baked goods(F)
- Development and evaluation of grass sward filtration system (GSFS) for bioremediation
of contaminated water(E)
- Size effect of fire and heat exposure on structural concrete elements (CiE)
- Studies of Xenorhabdus and photohabdus spp. Antibiotic activity against pathogens of
medical and veterinary importance(P)
- The molecular basis for host range restriction and pathogenicity of avian influenza
(H5N1) virus: Approaches toward vaccine development(M)
- Mapping and cloning of genes controlling insect resistance in barely(G)
- Syntheses of novel nitrogenous heterocycles of potential biological and/or
pharmacological importance(Ph)
- Formulating a Rule for Moding Optimal Application Strategies for IPM Citrus(A)
- Development and optimization of pesticide industry effluent treatment system using
Nanofiltration (NF) and oxidation technologies(OC)
- Size and shape dependence of exchange-bias in ferromagnetic/ antiferromagnetic
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nanoparticles for high density data storage media(IC)
- Functionalized membranes for acid catalysis Functionalized membranes for acid
catalysis (OC)
- Possible role of transcription factors in controlling development competence of in vitro
produced buffalo and bovine embryos Possible role of transcription factors in
controlling development competence of in vitro produced buffalo and bovine embryos
(V)
- Annual scientific missions to Europe and USA done by NRC staff .
- Travel of young students to Europe, USA, and Japan to get their PhD degrees.
Funding Sources
- National (Ministry of scientific research)
- International cooperation.
International cooperation interests
- Projects like FP7 or joint projects with Europe, USA, China, Korea and Japan .
- Scientific mission exchange between NRC scientists and similar scientists of these
countries.
General Description and Comments
NRC is the largest multidisciplinary R&D Center in Egypt devoted to basic and applied
research within the major fields of interest. It consists of 14 divisions and 106
departments covering the major areas of industry, health, environment, agriculture,
basic sciences and engineering. The Center is headed by a president with ministerial
status, assisted by two vice presidents, one for research and the other for technical
affairs. The minister of state for Scientific Research is the higher president of NRC.
Interview Place and Date
Cairo, July 2008
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5. RESEARCH CENTERS FORMS