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EC Bilateral Cooperation (MEDA): Research, Development and Innovation Programme, RDI
The development of a dynamic and modern knowledge based society is undoubtedly one of the hardest challenges that Egypt will face. Since 2003, UNDP’s Human Development Reports - both for Egypt and the MENA region - have underlined this challenge and called for concrete actions and initiatives to facilitate the production, accumulation, dissemination and utilisation 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.
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 Programmes 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 Programmes. 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 cannot 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 Programmes, will provide support to the Egyptian authorities. The progressive integration of Egypt into the European Research Area (ERA) will be an integral part of this support. A special joint EC/GoE Innovation fund will be established that aims at the diffusion of innovation practices by assisting pilot actions from research output to industrial production.
The European Commission and Egypt signed in June 2007 the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) agreement with a grant of €11 million to support the Egyptian government’s Research, Development and Innovation initiatives.
A Programme Implementing Office established by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is responsible for implementing the Programme over a period of 3 years.
Objectives:
- Strengthening the link between research and development (R&D) sector and the industry while enhancing the innovation and technology transfer culture.
- Facilitate Egyptian participation in the European Research Area.
The RDI Programme Components:
1. The EU-Egypt Innovation Fund
2. Research, Development and Innovation Networking
3. Policies for Monitoring and Evaluating R&D Projects, Programmes and Institutions
Calls:
• Grant Scheme 1 (€100,000 – €500,000):
Objective: Supporting projects that aim Sustainable development in Egypt, via increasing the Capital investment, technological innovation and improving competitiveness of the different economic sectors. In addition to intensifying the cooperation between European and regional counterparts, in order to enable the transfer of technology.
Who may apply: At least one university / research institute and one large enterprise or SME.
Eligible Actions:
- Collaborative projects focusing on applied research.
- Self-contained Operations.
- Projects designed to cover the needs of the innovation system in Egypt.
• Grant Scheme 2 (€10,000 - €25,000):
Objectives: Aims to strengthen the link between the research community and the industry, in order to increase technological innovation. Also to stress upon the importance of R&D and innovation for solving technical problems. In addition to intensifying the cooperation between European and regional counterparts, in order to enable the transfer of technology.
Who May Apply: Individuals, entrepreneurs and researchers at universities and research institutes, as well as industrial organizations.
Eligible Action:
- Projects that aim at solving technical problems and/or developing innovative ideas/on going research.
- Projects that promote the R&D capabilities of the research to industry.
- Projects that aim at correlation between industry and academia, especially at promoting the researchers to work with industry to prepare proposals for Grant Scheme 1.
- Development and/or promotion of innovative ideas, products developed by researchers and/or entrepreneurs.
- Projects that aim to develop an Applied and R&D award at universities, research centers or the industry.
- Activities aiming to transfer knowledge and Technology to different partners, in cooperation with European professionals.
- Innovative and research starts-up projects sponsored by individual
For further information, please visit www.rdi.eg.net
To find out more about RDI, download this page
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