Higher Education Minister: Necessity of maximizing the utilization of scientific research findings and directing them to serve the state's priorities

Cairo – Ahmed Sabri

Dr. Abdelaziz Qansou, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture, chaired a meeting of the Board of Directors of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications. The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohamed Rashad, Acting Director of the City; Dr. Ahmed Adel Abdelhakim, Acting President of Alexandria University; Dr. Wael Sheta, Executive Director of the Science, Technology, and Innovation Funding Authority; Dr. Mamdouh Moawad, Head of the National Research Center and Acting Head of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology; Dr. Amad El-Din Mohamed, Acting Secretary-General of the Council of Research Centers, Institutes, and Institutions; and Dr. Yasser Refaat, the Minister’s Advisor for Governance, Planning, and Research Applications and Policies. Members of the Board and representatives from industrial entities were also present. The meeting was held at the City’s headquarters in Borg El-Arab, Alexandria.

The Minister affirmed the Ministry’s continued support for the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, considering it a vital national institution within the scientific research system. He highlighted the importance of strengthening its role in supporting innovation, transferring and localizing technology, and maximizing the utilization of its research and human resources to serve development goals and support the national economy. This comes in light of the state’s, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, strong emphasis on developing the scientific research and innovation system.

The Minister of Higher Education stressed that the current phase requires transitioning scientific research from knowledge production to achieving impact, by converting research outcomes into applications, solutions, and products that address the actual needs of society and the production and service sectors. He emphasized the necessity of directing the City’s research capabilities toward national priorities, foremost among them energy, water, agriculture, health, and industry, and linking research projects to real-world challenges to ensure the development of scalable applications that yield tangible economic and social returns.

Qansou also underscored the importance of setting clear implementation targets and measurable performance indicators to periodically assess the impact of research projects. This includes technology transfer, patents, partnerships with the industrial sector, and converting research outputs into usable and marketable applications and products. He further highlighted the need to leverage international cooperation programs, particularly the Egyptian-European partnership and the “Horizon Europe” program.

The Minister of Higher Education also affirmed the necessity of enhancing integration among the City of Scientific Research, universities, research centers and institutes, and the industrial sector. He called for forming multidisciplinary research teams and expanding partnerships with production and service institutions and international entities. These measures aim to support technology transfer and localization, direct scientific research toward real needs and challenges, and convert them into implementable and scalable projects and practical solutions.

The Minister pointed to the importance of supporting researchers, especially young ones, and fostering an environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. He advocated for encouraging the establishment of technology-based startups and linking researchers with funding bodies, incubators, and the industrial sector. This will help convert ideas and research outputs into projects and products with economic and social impact. He also emphasized the need to discover, support, and assist students in developing their ideas into innovative projects with economic viability.