Egypt and the European Union convened their inaugural Joint Committee Meeting under Egypt's Association to Horizon Europe alongside the ninth EU-Egypt Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee Meeting.
Hosted at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Cairo's New Administrative Capital, the gathering brought together senior officials from ministries, funding agencies, universities, and European Union institutions.
The opening session was led by Abdel Aziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt, and Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt. Maria Cristina Russo, Deputy Director-General of DG Research and Innovation, and Salma Yousry, Assistant Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for International Cooperation, co-chaired the discussions.
Participants reaffirmed that research and innovation serve as core pillars of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union. Officials noted that Egypt's integration into Horizon Europe allows for full participation across academia, industry, and public research organisations.
Progress and participation trends
The committee evaluated administrative and financial procedures, alongside initial engagement metrics. Egyptian institutions are currently involved in more than 50 Horizon Europe projects and over 120 PRIMA projects.
Discussions centered on expanding Egyptian participation by enhancing National Contact Points, building institutional capacity, engaging the private sector, and aligning with national funding mechanisms. The European Commission also outlined upcoming opportunities within the 2026 to 2027 programme.
Regional cooperation and next steps
Both delegations addressed cooperation through PRIMA, the Union for the Mediterranean, and the EU-African Union Research and Innovation Partnership to tackle shared regional obstacles. They also prepared for upcoming high-level events, including the second AU-EU Research and Innovation Ministerial Meeting scheduled for October 27 in Addis Ababa and the second Union for the Mediterranean ministerial meeting planned for March 2027.
Additional talks covered initiatives with the Joint Research Centre, focusing on research infrastructures, doctoral partnerships, and technology transfer.
- Increase Egyptian engagement in Horizon Europe via outreach, capacity building, and network strengthening
- Support the expansion of the Horizon Europe Office in Egypt and improve innovation ecosystem coordination
- Prepare for upcoming African Union and Union for the Mediterranean ministerial gatherings
