Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi inaugurated on Saturday the National Conference for Scientific Research under the title “Launching the energies of Egyptians,” organized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Prime Minister Sharif Ismail, together with a large number of ministers, Egyptian scientists, researchers and innovators, attended the inauguration.
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said that the conference aims to review the priorities of scientific research within the framework of the unified national strategy for science, technology and innovation and vision of Egypt for sustainable development 2030.
He added that the conference also aims at linking scientific research to the needs of society and to contribute to solving urgent and pressing problems, and to serve the country’s development goals, especially the national megaprojects.
The minister pointed out that one of the objectives of the conference is also to develop the partnerships between scientific research institutions (universities, research centers and institutes), industry, the private sector and civil society, and to reach the best mechanisms for the development of national infrastructure and research capacities.
During his speech at the conference, Sisi stressed the role of science and scientists to overcome challenges to Egypt’s development.
“You, the educated community, the wise intellectuals, and the clever, we need you, your minds and your research to overcome Egypt’s problems, and Egypt will take its place only with knowledge and science, and we are and will be more careful now and in the coming years to make every effort […] to achieve the result,” Sisi said.
“In Egypt now, or two or three years ago, we moved towards real support for scientific research, so we claim the place that Egypt deserves with the number of its population and the capabilities of its diverse people,” Sisi went on.
He continued to say, “As a government, we do all that can be done to push this trend and […] the state will provide all real support to [the research community],” he added.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
