The United States and Egypt have renewed their Science and Technology Agreement, originally established in 1995, for another five years. This agreement has been a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation, contributing significantly to Egypt's economy and its development as a knowledge society. The extension was signed by U.S. Ambassador Stephen Beecroft and Assistant Foreign Minister Farid Mounib.
Ambassador Beecroft emphasized the importance of the agreement during the signing ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “Through the S&T Fund, Egyptian and American researchers have been able to work together to address global scientific problems and come up with real world solutions. These people-to-people activities strengthen our bilateral relationship." The fund has facilitated collaboration between over 10,000 scientists from both countries on more than 480 research projects.
Several notable projects have emerged from this partnership. Dr. Mostafa El-Sayed, a former grantee of the S&T Fund, received the National Medal of Science in 2008 for his pioneering work in nanomaterials. In another project, researchers studied an 18-meter whale skeleton from Whale Valley in Fayoum, Egypt.
Other initiatives include developing educational materials for agriculture students in Egypt and filing a patent for advanced ceramic materials made from waste silica fumes. Additionally, efforts have been made to mitigate lead exposure risks near a smelter plant in Cairo through safety training courses.
The S&T Fund is managed by a Joint Board composed of representatives from both nations' governments. Looking ahead, they plan to expand cooperation beyond basic research into areas like innovation and entrepreneurship training.