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EU AND EGYPT HOLD JOINT COMMITTEE
MEETING ON
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FIST TIME IN EGYPT
20 JUNE 2007
Egypt and the EU will hold the Joint Committee meeting
on Science and Technology for the first time in Egypt on
Wednesday, 20th June 2007 at the Smart Village. This is
the second Joint Committee meeting of its kind since the
signature of the EU/Egypt Science and Technology
Co-operation Agreement in Egypt exactly two years ago.
The Joint Committee meeting will be co-chaired by the
H.E. Dr. Hany Helal, Minister of Higher Education and
Scientific Research; and Mrs. Mary Minch, European
Commission Director for International Research
Co-operation. The kick-off session will also attended by
H.E. Dr. Klaus Ebermann, Ambassador of the Delegation of
the European Commission in Egypt.
The first EU/Egyptian Joint Committee meeting was held
in June 2006 in Brussels, during which Egypt and the EU
approved the joint action plan for 2006-2007. This plan
identified common priorities and actions for a
reinforced co-operation on research and technological
development, in particular with regards to promoting the
participation of Egyptian researchers and other actors
in the 7th Framework Programme for RTD (FP7); the main
financial instrument to support RTD in Europe. Among the
areas identified are biotechnology, nanotechnology, ICT,
health, environment (water), as well as mobility
actions.
This second meeting to be held in Egypt is scheduled to
review the progress achieved in these areas over the
past year, as well as formulate actions for the future.
After one year of implementation of the EU/Egypt Science
and Technology Agreement, the fruits of co-operation are
already bountiful: over 88 Egyptians participated in 70
projects in partnership with EU institutions under the
FP6 programme, with a total of €6.6 million. In
addition, the establishment of new EU/Egypt Innovation
Fund of more than €6 million was recently signed.
Furthermore, a network of over 30 focal points was
established to disseminate information on FP7 in
Egyptian universities, research and technology centres.
Last but not least, a mobility portal for researchers in
Egypt is currently under preparation.
ENDS
Contact: Germaine Demian
Press and Information Officer
Delegation of the European Commission in Egypt
Tel: 3749 46 80
germaine.demian@ec.europa.eu |