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Under the patronage of His Excellency Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Prof. Dr. Mona Mahmoud Abdel Latif, Director of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), the city organized a ceremony to celebrate its 25th anniversary (Silver Jubilee) as a beacon of science and innovation. The event was held on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, in the main hall of the city.

Prof. Dr. Mona Mahmoud Abdel Latif, Director of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, announced the outcomes of the city’s activities during the period from July 2024 to June 2025. She emphasized that the city continues to implement the strategies of the state and the orientations of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, focusing on developing innovative solutions to the challenges facing the country in various fields (education, health, energy, agriculture, water, environmental protection, information technology, and food security).The city also works on preparing specialized cadres through training programs and workshops to build a new generation of researchers and scientists capable of contributing to sustainable development. In addition, it strengthens cooperation between different research institutions inside Egypt and internationally to exchange expertise and knowledge, advance scientific research, and provide consultancy services to government institutions, the private sector, and industry in diverse fields, thereby improving their performance and efficiency.SRTA-City further encourages innovation and entrepreneurship by providing an incubating environment for startups and offering technical and financial support to researchers and entrepreneurs to create new job opportunities, thus boosting economic growth. The city also launches initiatives to raise awareness of societal issues, enhancing public scientific knowledge and ensuring that science plays an active role in improving quality of life.The city seeks to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with the pillars of Egypt’s National Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation 2030, focusing on several key areas, most notably increasing both the quantity and quality of international scientific publications. The city’s scientific research outputs published in high-impact international journals have attracted wide readership and citations, improving SRTA-City’s ranking in global indices.Between July 2024 and June 2025, SRTA-City published 507 international scientific papers, bringing the total number of its international publications to 4,404.Scientific Publications by QS Quartile Classification (507 papers total):Q1: 307 papers (60.55%)Q2: 95 papers (18.73%)Q3: 36 papers (7.10%)Q4: 13 papers (2.56%)Others: 56 papers (11.04%)Scientific Publications by National Strategy Pillars (507 papers total):Health and Population: 165 (32.5%)Agriculture and Food: 124 (24.5%)Environment and Natural Resources Protection: 61 (12%)Energy: 58 (11.5%)Technological Applications and Future Sciences: 51 (10%)Water: 29 (5.5%)ICT and Space: 19 (3.5%)The city has also improved the overall research ecosystem, not only in terms of international publications but also in citation counts, which reached 34,670 citations from 2021 until now. This reflects the effectiveness of the strategic plan designed to raise the quality of applied research outputs and improve Egypt’s indicators in global research rankings.International Rankings of SRTA-City1. Scimago Institutions Rankings (SIR) – 2025Global Position: 4,629 (47.4%) compared to 4,977 in 2024, marking a 7.6% improvement.Number of institutions increased from 9,054 (2024) to 9,756 (2025), intensifying global competition.SRTA-City was ranked within Q1 (top 25%) worldwide.Four institutes of the city were individually ranked in Q1:Institute of Arid Land Agriculture Research (3724 – 38.1%)Institute of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (5094 – 52.2%)Institute of Environmental & Natural Materials Research (5457 – 55.9%)Institute of Advanced Technology & New Materials Research (5719 – 58.6%)2. Scimago MENA Ranking – 2024Ranked 6th among 322 research institutions from 22 countries in the 3rd edition of the SIR-MENA 2024 ranking.Ranked 3rd in Egypt, and 2nd among research institutions of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.Total Score: 0.1664 (improved from 0.1367 in 2023, when the city ranked 7th regionally and 4th nationally).3. Stanford University Ranking – 2024/202512 researchers from SRTA-City were listed among the world’s top 2% most influential scientists across more than 50 scientific disciplines.Research Projects and PatentsOngoing Research Projects (2024–2025):5 projects funded by local and international organizations, bringing the cumulative total to 154 projects.Patents (2024–2025):2 granted patents3 patents under reviewBringing the cumulative total to 25 granted patents and 61 patents under examination.SRTA-City researchers also supervised numerous MSc and PhD theses across Egyptian universities, participated in local and international conferences, and conducted training programs and workshops.Key Scientific Achievements (2024–2025)Three New Thermoelectric Nanomaterials Registered in the ICDD DatabaseA joint Egyptian-Italian team identified and officially registered three new nanostructured thermoelectric compounds in May 2025 in the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD). These materials hold high scientific importance in renewable energy and thermoelectric applications.Discovery of a New Fungus Species – Trichoderma egyptiacumA research team at SRTA-City, in collaboration with Egyptian and international partners, discovered a new Trichoderma species (Harzianum group), officially named Trichoderma egyptiacum.Approved by the German Mycological Society (DGfM).Published in Mycological Progress (June 2025).Registered in MycoBank and included in global fungal databases.Potential applications: biocontrol of plant pathogens, biofertilization, sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals.Awards and CompetitionsEnvironmental Research Award (2023):Dr. Rehab Mohamed Ali, Assistant Research Professor at the Institute of Advanced Technology & New Materials, won the late Prof. Dr. Mostafa Kamal Tolba Award for the best applied work in environmental protection (Academy of Scientific Research & Technology).Entrepreneurship & Innovation Competitions:1st Place (Alexandria Region) – Egyptian Entrepreneurship League 2024.Multiple awards in the Startups Olympics 2024, including 1st and 2nd places in the researchers’ track.1st Prize – Best Poster (Project “MD Plast”) at Alexandria University’s Innovation Across Generations Forum.Cooperation Protocols & Agreements (2024–2025)SRTA-City signed 9 cooperation protocols, including:6 new agreements with Galala University, Theodore Bilharz Research Institute, Arab Academy for Science & Technology, Alamein International University, Robex Plastic Co., and Youthinkgreen-Egypt.3 renewals with Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Alexandria Water Company, and Alexandria Wastewater Company.Community ServicesSince its establishment, SRTA-City has provided consultancy and analytical services through its central laboratories and data center to universities, research centers, and industry.It has also:Trained and hosted 1,352 students from universities, schools, and STEM schools.Organized Winter and Summer Schools in 2024–2025, benefiting:515 students (on-site training)1,533 students (online training)Scientific Journal – SRTA-CityThe city’s peer-reviewed journal Future Prospectives of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Biotechnology was included in the Primo system.Published Issues: No. 2 (July 2024), No. 3 (Nov 2024), No. 4 (Feb 2025).Journal website: https://fpmpeb.journals.ekb.egAwareness Initiative – “Science and Society”Launched a series of short awareness videos presented by city researchers, addressing everyday life issues in simple, engaging language to raise public scientific awareness.Entrepreneurship & Innovation (2024–2025)Through its Entrepreneurship Club (E-Club), SRTA-City expanded efforts to foster entrepreneurship culture in line with Egypt’s Vision 2030.Key Achievements:Training & Awareness:4 design thinking boot camps2 annual Ideation Camps for students2 Entrepreneurship Weeks (workshops, exhibitions, interactive sessions)Startup Support:4 “Startup Weekend” events to transform ideas into prototypesInspirational lectures by successful entrepreneurs5 teams qualified for technology incubatorsInstitutional & Societal Impact:Strengthened entrepreneurship as a professional and societal choiceLinked research to economic feasibility and commercializationIntegrated entrepreneurship within student and research activities

Professor Dr. Mona Mahmoud Abdel Latif, Director of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, announced the discovery of a new fungal species belonging to the genus Trichoderma, which has been identified and named after Egypt as Trichoderma egyptiacum.This achievement comes within the city’s efforts to prioritize diverse scientific fields, provide expertise and support to researchers, and foster a stimulating and attractive environment for creativity and innovation. It also reflects the city’s pursuit of achieving sustainable agricultural development in line with the pillars of Egypt’s National Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation 2030.Professor Dr. Mona Mahmoud Abdel Latif emphasized that this discovery represents an important addition to the global taxonomic diversity of this fungal genus. It enriches scientific knowledge on fungal biodiversity and opens new horizons for future research in taxonomy, microbiology, and their biotechnological applications. Furthermore, this newly identified species presents a promising opportunity for use in biofertilization and biological control against various plant pathogens.Dr. Younes Mohamed Rashad, Associate Research Professor at the Desert Research Institute of the city and discoverer of the new fungus, highlighted the significant importance of this genus due to its extensive applications in biotechnological, industrial, medical, and agricultural fields. For instance, fungal species of this genus are widely valued in agriculture because of their efficiency in biofertilization and biological control against numerous plant diseases. Currently, more than 50% of commercial fungal biocontrol products worldwide are based on species of this genus.In a pioneering study—the first of its kind in Egypt—Dr. Rashad and his research team investigated the biodiversity of Trichoderma species in Egypt. The study included 60 fungal isolates obtained from 119 plant and rhizospheric soil samples representing five different ecological environments across the country. This research led to the discovery of a new species belonging to the Harzianum group, officially named:Y.M. Rashad, B. Natey & J.X. Deng, sp. nov. Trichoderma egyptiacumThis new species holds great promise for application in biofertilization and biological control of plant pathogens. Studying its biocontrol potential is crucial for promoting sustainable agriculture and reducing reliance on harmful chemical pesticides. It also presents valuable opportunities to investigate the properties of secondary metabolites produced by this fungus and their potential applications across biotechnological, industrial, and medical fields.The new species was formally validated and approved by the German Mycological Society (DGfM) and published in its official journal Mycological Progress in June 2025:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-025-02052-9Additionally, it has been registered in the international fungal database MycoBank, and the new name has been disseminated across all global fungal databases. MycoBank, based in Germany, serves as an online repository for documenting and registering new fungal names and classifications, providing associated information such as descriptions and illustrations. It is considered an essential service for the mycological and broader scientific community, ensuring the accuracy and standardization of fungal nomenclature.

Prof. Dr. Mona Mahmoud Abdel-Latif, Director of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), announced that a joint research team from Egypt (SRTA-City and the Atomic Energy Authority) and Italy has successfully established the fingerprint and crystal identity of three novel thermoelectric nanomaterials of high scientific importance. These compounds were officially registered in May 2025 in the database of the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) after being published in an international research paper. The ICDD, headquartered in the United States, is a leading international scientific organization known for issuing the Powder Diffraction File (PDF) for crystalline materials.Prof. Dr. Mona Abdel-Latif emphasized that this achievement reflects the capabilities of SRTA-City’s research staff, supported by the city’s advanced facilities, in producing accurate and internationally recognized scientific data. These data serve as a trusted reference for researchers in universities and research institutions worldwide in fields such as materials technology, thermoelectric energy, and renewable energy. This milestone not only strengthens the city’s standing in global scientific databases but also opens new horizons for local and international research collaboration. Furthermore, it adds to the international record of achievements by Egyptian researchers.The research team included:Prof. Dr. Abdelhady Basheer Qashout, Research Professor at the Department of Electronic Materials Research,Dr. Shaimaa Abdallah Nour El-Din Al-Yemeni, (responsible for communication, coordination, and registering the research product in the ICDD database), Assistant Research Professor at the Department of Electronic Materials Research, Institute of Advanced Technology and New Materials at SRTA-City,Dr. Ne’ma Gomaa Emam, Assistant Research Professor at the Nuclear Research Center – Atomic Energy Authority,From Trieste, Italy: Dr. Giuliana Aquilanti at the Synchrotron Center, and Dr. Humberto Cabrera at the Optics and Theoretical Physics Center.Prof. Dr. Abdelhady Qashout highlighted that the Egyptian-Italian team succeeded in publishing their paper in the Journal of Materials Research and Technology, a prestigious Q1-ranked journal in Scopus published by Elsevier. The research focused on synthesizing three thermoelectric nanocompounds capable of converting thermal energy into electrical energy. These compounds demonstrated unique structural properties, leading ICDD officials, after a rigorous two-year review process, to add them to the globally recognized and exclusive ICDD Powder Diffraction File (PDF). This comprehensive database of diffraction data, used to identify and characterize materials, has been an essential tool for materials science research since 1937. He further explained that the distinctive crystal and morphological properties resulted from a fabrication method involving thermal melting inside a vacuum-sealed quartz tube, with controlled variations in the elemental ratios within the compound.Dr. Shaimaa Abdallah Nour El-Din Al-Yemeni noted that registering the crystal identities of the three compounds in the international database reflects the production of original research outputs with strong application value. These findings contribute to advancing knowledge in solid-state physics, metals, and nanomaterials, with direct applications in both industry and scientific research—particularly in the fields of energy, nanotechnology, and advanced materials. In the industrial sector, specialists rely on the crystalline identities of these compounds as references for quality control and production, ensuring compliance with global standards. She added that such research outputs enrich both the scientific and academic landscape, as the ICDD database provides researchers worldwide with access to certified XRD data, facilitating comparisons with their own results and enabling precise phase identification. Researchers across the globe can use these data to develop new applications in key areas such as energy and electronic devices.

Under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Mona Mahmoud Abdel-Latif, Director of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), and Prof. Dr. Nahla Ahmed Taha, Dean of the Institute of Advanced Technology and New Materials, the Department of Manufacturing Technology Research at the Institute organized a workshop entitled:"Magnetic Materials: Industrial Applications and Precise Analysis using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM)"The workshop was held during the period May 12–13, 2025, with the participation of a distinguished group of specialists and stakeholders from universities, research centers, and industrial companies, aiming to exchange knowledge and expertise and to foster constructive collaboration between scientific research and industry.Prof. Dr. Mona Abdel-Latif emphasized SRTA-City’s commitment to integration, exchange of expertise, and provision of technical and scientific consultations. She highlighted the importance of maximizing the use of the city’s research laboratories and scientific instruments. She also noted that SRTA-City is actively developing innovative technological solutions based on advanced technology and nanotechnology to address challenges in medical, industrial, agricultural, and environmental fields, while also building capacities in various technological domains. This contributes to applying scientific research, innovations, and technological progress in establishing a knowledge-based economy, supporting the development and modernization of Egyptian industries, as well as transferring, localizing, and advancing technology.Prof. Dr. Nahla Ahmed Taha pointed out that the workshop aimed to raise awareness in the scientific community about the importance of magnetic materials in their diverse forms for various technological applications. She also introduced the Magnetic Materials Laboratory (MML) at SRTA-City, which was established through a project funded by the Science, Technology & Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) under the Capacity Building Program, titled “Establishing the Magnetic Materials Laboratory”. The laboratory provides essential services for both scientific research and industry, offering the capabilities required to conduct research on magnetic materials—from preparation to precise characterization of their magnetic properties. A key feature of the laboratory is the VSM device, which enables measurement of a wide range of magnetic properties of materials to assess their efficiency in different industrial applications.The workshop featured several lecturers from SRTA-City:Prof. Dr. Abdelhady Qashout, Research Professor, Department of Electronic Materials ResearchDr. Marwa Awad, Assistant Research Professor, Department of Manufacturing Technology ResearchDr. Hesham Hamad, Assistant Research Professor, Department of Manufacturing Technology ResearchDr. Doaa Gamal Bassiouni, Researcher, Department of Manufacturing Technology ResearchDr. Aly Hashem, Chemist, Department of Modeling and Simulation Research, Institute of Advanced Technology and New MaterialsFrom the Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute (CMRDI):Prof. Dr. Mohamed Mohamed Rashad El-Sherbini, Research Professor and Dean of the Institute of Advanced Materials.From the United States of America:Dr. Kozmen Radu, Lake Shore Cryotronics Inc., Westerville, Ohio, USA.

Prof. Dr. Mona Mahmoud Abdel-Latif, Director of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), inaugurated the city’s periodic forum with industry under the title:“SRTA-City and its Research Outputs in the Service of National Industry”,in cooperation with the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) and organized by the city’s Entrepreneurship Club Office (E-Club).The event took place on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the city’s main conference hall, with the presence of Vice Presidents of research centers affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Rashad Abdel-Fattah, Vice Director of SRTA-City for Scientific and Research Affairs, deans of the research institutes at the city, Prof. Dr. Amr Salah Morsi, Executive Director of the E-Club Office, as well as chairmen, board members, and delegations from numerous industrial companies across various sectors, including: medical products, medicinal herbs, essential and extracted oils, food industries and additives, cosmetics, plastics and acrylics, and animal feed. The forum also witnessed the participation of a wide group of the city’s researchers and their associates.Prof. Dr. Mona Abdel-Latif stressed the importance of cooperation with the industrial sector in addressing the challenges facing economic growth and achieving sustainable development, through transforming prototypes and research ideas into products with real economic impact on society. She emphasized that the industrial sector is a cornerstone of the Egyptian economy and that applied scientific research is the foundation of industry. For this reason, the city organized this periodic forum with industry as part of the National Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation 2030, particularly the axis of investing in scientific research and building partnerships to support and develop applied research projects. The forum also supports the National Strategy for Higher Education and Scientific Research launched in March 2023, which includes the axis of innovation and entrepreneurship, and aligns with the announcement by Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, of the National Policy for Sustainable Innovation and the launch of the competitive call for the presidential initiative “Alliance and Development”. This policy positions Egypt as a regional hub for innovation, given its strong potential to meet the growing demand for innovation.Prof. Dr. Mona Abdel-Latif added that holding this forum reflects the city’s role as a driving force for research outputs and a source of human and material resources for scientific research and development. This qualifies the city to participate in supporting industry with the aim of enhancing and developing local production, boosting competitiveness, substituting imported raw materials with local alternatives, and reducing the import bill—thereby contributing to comprehensive economic development.During the forum, the city presented 24 innovative products and prototypes across several axes serving different fields, the most notable being: agriculture and food, energy, health and population, and strategic industries. Researchers showcased their products, followed by discussions with the attendees. Some industry leaders expressed their interest in collaborating with the city to market and manufacture these products, while one participant suggested establishing joint start-ups with SRTA-City to further develop technologies and innovations and apply them industrially.