The Minister of Higher Education affirmed:• The state, under the leadership of President Sisi, places special emphasis on enhancing the environment for innovation and scientific research.• The City of Scientific Research is a national landmark that promotes innovation and sustainable development.• The necessity of maximizing the utilization of research results to serve the state's priorities.• Energy, water, agriculture, health, and industry are at the forefront of scientific research priorities.• Strengthening cooperation between the City of Scientific Research, universities, and industry to achieve comprehensive development. Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, chaired the meeting of the Board of Directors of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications. The meeting was attended by Dr. Mona Abdel Latif, Director of the City; Dr. Gina El-Feky, Acting President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology; Dr. Walaa Sheta, CEO of the Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority; Dr. Walid El-Zawawy, Secretary-General of the Council of Research Centers, Institutes, and Bodies; and the members of the Board. The meeting took place at the City's headquarters in Borg El Arab, Alexandria, with participants attending both in person and via video conference. At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister affirmed the Ministry's commitment to supporting the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, considering it one of the most important research institutions in Egypt and the region, and a fundamental pillar for promoting innovation and the transfer and localization of technology. He noted that the City's achievements over the past period reflect its commitment to being a beacon of science and creativity and an active contributor to achieving sustainable development through its institutes and technology centers, which support the productive and service sectors and contribute to strengthening the national economy. Dr. Ayman Ashour emphasized the pivotal role played by the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications in supporting the applied scientific research system and serving the productive and service sectors. He highlighted the necessity of maximizing the utilization of research findings and directing them to serve the state's priorities in the fields of energy, water, agriculture, health, and industry, thereby contributing to enhancing sustainable development and achieving added value for the national economy. The minister affirmed the importance of integration and cooperation between the City, universities, research centers, and the industrial sector through joint projects that support the transition towards a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy. He also noted the ministry's commitment to strengthening regional alliances within the framework of the presidential initiative "Alliance and Development," which aims to achieve comprehensive development in different regions by utilizing the outcomes of scientific research to serve society and support industry, thus reinforcing the role of applied scientific research as a fundamental pillar for increasing local production and enhancing the country's competitiveness. The Minister also directed the need to expand international partnerships for the Scientific Research City, develop the capabilities of young researchers, and support the entrepreneurship ecosystem and startups to transform scientific research outcomes into marketable products. He concluded his speech by emphasizing the Egyptian state's commitment, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to developing the scientific research system and enhancing the innovation environment. The meeting included a presentation by Dr. Mona Abdel Latif on the most prominent activities and achievements of the Scientific Research City and Technological Applications during the past period, which included:• The inclusion of three new thermoelectric nanomaterials in the (ICDD) database, used in the fields of energy, nanotechnology, and advanced materials.• The discovery of a new species of fungus from the genus Trichoderma, certified by the German Mycological Society (DGfM) and registered in the international MycoBank database.• The inclusion of the scientific journal Future Perspectives of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Biotechnology in the global indexing system Primo.• The launch of the "Science and Society" initiative to simplify science through educational videos presented by the city's researchers.• Increased international publications in prestigious scientific journals in nationally prioritized fields.• An increase in the number of patents submitted by the city's researchers and the conversion of research into economic applications.• The city's progress in international rankings, with the city achieving an advanced global position in the 2025 SCImago ranking, and the inclusion of 19 researchers in Stanford University's list of the top 2% of the world's most influential scientists. The meeting also discussed a number of topics related to the affairs of faculty members in the various departments of the city, in addition to reviewing a number of new research and applied projects implemented by the city during the year, as part of its continuous efforts to support innovation and enhance the integration between scientific research and the needs of society. On the other hand, the minister conducted an inspection tour of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, which included an exhibition showcasing a number of prototypes and innovations implemented by the city in the fields of energy, water, agriculture, health, and industry. He emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to link scientific research with industry and supporting projects with economic viability and social impact, thereby contributing to achieving the goals of sustainable de
