Ambassador Eichhorst's speech at the launch of the EU-Egypt R&I week

Ambassador Eichhorst's speech at the launch of the EU-Egypt R&I week

Dear researchers and innovators, colleagues, and friends,

It is a great honour to join you today as we celebrate twenty years of scientific cooperation between the European Union and Egypt-a milestone that reflects not only our longstanding partnership, but also its depth and shared purpose.
Twenty years ago, when the EU and Egypt signed the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, our vision was to build a bridge of knowledge, innovation, and shared prosperity. Over the past two decades, that bridge has grown stronger and wider, enabling thousands of researchers and innovators to collaborate, co-create, and shape solutions to common challenges.

The exhibition outside this room shows our cooperation with more than 350 operations over the years . Over the years:

• Hundreds of Egyptian researchers, innovators, private sector entities, civil society organizations, universities and institutions have participated in the European Framework Programmes-from FP6 and FP7 to Horizon 2020 and now Horizon Europe, the world's largest research and innovation programme.
• Joint projects have contributed knowledge generation in renewable energy, agriculture, clean water technologies, health, climate adaptation, archaeology, migration, and culture.
• More than 120 Egyptian beneficiaries participated in close to 100 projects under the Partnership in Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area - PRIMA contributing to addressing food security and water scarcity challenges.
• Hundreds of Egyptian researchers participated in Marie Skłodowska-Curie (the first woman to win a Nobel prize) Actions. This the EU flagship programme for doctoral and postdoctoral training, equipping researchers with new knowledge, skills and supporting brain circulation.
• Thousands of young Egyptians have benefited from Erasmus+ mobility, shaping a new generation of global scientific and policy leaders.

These successes are not just numbers; they represent ideas realised, and bridges built between our peoples. The stories of our joint programs can indeed change the course of destiny, but they are also stories of freedom, openness, learning, inventions, turning ideas and collaboration beyond leaders.

As we mark 20 years of cooperation, we also look forward. While we have done a lot, we are still very far.

Hendrik Lorentz the famous Dutch physicist and joint winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1902 said that 'The limits of the Sciences are like the horizon: the closer you approach them, the more they move away'. The limits of the impacts we can co-create are still endless and beyond imagination. We need to stand up for science together.

Let me highlight that our scientific cooperation does not stand alone; it forms a cornerstone of a broader strategic partnership that deepens every year.

This anniversary comes at a time when Egypt is a strategic partner of the European Union, and when research and innovation constitute a central pillar of our cooperation.

Our partnership rests on the belief that scientific freedom, integrity, and excellence are essential foundations of development.
I am glad to recall that this year marks biggest milestone ever in our cooperation with Egypt's association to Horizon Europe on 22 October, where the signature of the agreement was witnessed by both President El Sisi and President Von der Leyen.

In fact, association is the closet form of research and innovation cooperation that the EU can have with a non-EU country. Thank you Minister Dr Mohamed Ayman Ashour for the excellent cooperation.

It represents a leap in our cooperation opening doors for Egyptian entities to lead and coordinate projects, not just participate in them. They can create consortiums, shape projects design, and benefit from enhanced visibility at the European and global levels.
At a time of global challenges and regional challenges, our cooperation is more relevant than ever and Science diplomacy is not a luxury; it is a necessity.

Looking Ahead

As we enter the next chapter of EU-Egypt scientific cooperation, our ambition must be even greater.
Our shared challenge is to transform knowledge into impact. This week, together with Minister Ashor, I will open the EU liaison office at the Ministry of Higher education and Scientific Research. Supported with a 1.5 million EUR through a technical assistance contract, the office will aim to support:

Egypt participation in Horizon Europe as well as maximizing the impact of participation in the programme- the new calls for the next two years are expected to be published in December 2025

The creation of joint research and innovation ecosystems connecting Egyptian researchers, businesses, investors, and policymakers with counterparts in Europe.

Excellencies, colleagues, and friends,
Today, we do not simply mark an anniversary. We celebrate a story of partnership, of trust, and a future vision.

Today, we also launch the activities of the EU-Egypt R&I week co-organized with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific research, and in collaboration with EU Members States (thank you ambassadors for being here today) that are organizing events throughout the week.

In conclusion,

Let today be an acknowledgement of all researchers, innovators, policymakers, private sector entities and public and private institutions who shaped this journey. (there will be a screen outside showing many of them)

I extend my sincere congratulations to the Egyptian government, Ministers with us today, and to the vibrant Egyptian research and innovation community, and look forward to further cooperation.