In the implementation of the directives of Prof. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research, emphasizing the importance of supporting and empowering persons with disabilities in education, scientific research, and innovation—within the framework of the national strategy to provide an enabling environment for innovation and to transform their creative ideas into practical projects that serve society and strengthen the national economy—

The “innovate… start” program has been launched to empower students with disabilities to turn their ideas into successful and sustainable projects. The program offers hands-on training, specialized mentorship, and technical, commercial, and legal support. It is a partnership between the Ministry of Higher Education, the Innovators and Geniuses Support Fund, and the Empowerment Unit. It is implemented by ALX, a company specializing in innovation and entrepreneurship across Africa. The program targets 150 male and female entrepreneurs.

Applications are open until February 15, 2026.

To register and learn all the details, please scan the QR code or visit the following link:
https://forms.gle/Kw1322Fhg81r4Lym7

      President of Damietta University Participates in the Supreme Council of Universities Meeting at Port Said University

Prof. Dr. Hemdan Rabie Al-Metwally, President of Damietta University, participated today, Saturday, December 27, 2025, in the meeting of the Supreme Council of Universities, held at the headquarters of Port Said University, under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and in the presence of Dr. Mostafa Refaat, Secretary-General of the Council, along with university presidents and council members.

During the meeting, the Minister of Higher Education stressed the need for full preparedness for the first semester examinations of the current academic year, ensuring the regular presence of faculty members, teaching assistants, and administrative staff to guarantee the smooth running of examinations at universities and institutes.

The minister also emphasized the activation of the role of research centers, innovation incubators, and entrepreneurship within universities, encouraging international publication in prestigious scientific journals, as well as supporting applied scientific research aligned with sustainable development plans, within the framework of achieving the national strategy for sustainable innovation.

The council approved the guideline model for the strategic plan of the university education sector committees, in preparation for developing an integrated strategy for each sector committee. It also reviewed a report on the most prominent activities of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research during December.

The council expressed its thanks to Port Said University, headed by Dr. Sherif Saleh, for the warm hospitality and excellent organization. It also extended congratulations to Dr. Mahfouz Abdel Sattar on his appointment as President of Hurghada University.

The council discussed several important issues, including enhancing international cooperation, linking scientific research with industrial needs, improving the quality of the educational process, and reviewing a number of national initiatives and projects in the fields of higher education and scientific research.

At the conclusion of the meeting, several cooperation protocols were signed between Port Said University and a number of universities, research centers, and national institutions, contributing to supporting scientific research, training students, and aligning educational outcomes with labor market needs.

  The Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) has announced the opening of applications for the second call of the Momentum MSCA Premium Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme, a prestigious research fellowship that supports postdoctoral researchers from around the world to join research groups within the Lendület (Momentum) programme in Hungary. The fellowship is implemented under the Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) framework of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.

The programme aims to support international scientific excellence and strengthen research capacities by offering fellowships that include independent research projects, intensive professional development, and support for international mobility between leading research institutions. It also includes a mandatory international secondment period as part of the fellowship structure, opening broad opportunities for collaboration among research institutions across Europe and beyond.

The Academy explained that applications for the second call of the Momentum MSCA Programme are open until 31 January 2026. The programme will support the selection of between 16 and 18 outstanding fellows, with fellowships starting on one of the designated dates in September, October, or November 2026. Each fellowship will last up to 36 months, ensuring maximum scientific and professional benefit for the fellows.

The Momentum MSCA Programme is a five-year initiative (2025–2029) funded by the European Commission in cooperation with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. It aims to attract top research talent from around the world to work in a dynamic research environment within the Academy’s Lendület research groups, thereby enhancing the programme’s scientific and research impact at both regional and international levels.

Successful applicants will benefit from a comprehensive package of financial and training support, including competitive funding, mobility and living allowances, and professional development opportunities through a range of training courses and scientific workshops designed to enhance research skills and impact across multiple fields of science, technology, and the humanities.

Programme coordinators have invited researchers from all disciplines worldwide to review the details and application requirements via the official programme website:
https://momentummsca.mta.hu/
and to take advantage of this unique opportunity to advance their research careers and contribute to the European and global scientific innovation ecosystem.

  The Science, Technology, and Development Funding Authority (STDF), in cooperation with the European Union (EU), announces the launch of the second call of the Long-Term EU–Africa Partnership on Research and Innovation in Sustainable Energy (LEAP-SE 2026), with funding of up to €300,000 per project from the Egyptian side. The program aims to strengthen partnerships between Europe and Africa to support research and innovation in the following areas:

• Strategies for integrating renewable energy
• Management of the impacts of energy components and their recycling
• Development of smart systems and smart grids
• Innovation of clean cooking solutions and cold chain systems
• Sustainable utilization of green hydrogen
• Processes and devices for productive use (agriculture, mobility, and industry)

Applications are submitted in two stages:

• Stage 1 (Pre-Proposal): until 5 February 2026, at 5:00 PM
• Stage 2 (Full Proposal): 24 June 2026, at 5:00 PM

This is in accordance with the detailed rules and conditions of the call published on the Authority’s website:

https://stdf.eg/web/grants/open

   The French Embassy, in collaboration with the Science, Technology, and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), is offering a partially funded grant to Egyptian researchers who wish to undertake a six-month research stay at a laboratory in France. The grant provides a monthly stipend ranging from €1,704 to €2,055, in the following fields:

1. Health and Medical Research
2. Earth and Space Sciences
3. Energy
4. Agriculture
5. Physics
6. Chemistry
7. Biology
8. Mathematics
9. Engineering Sciences
10. Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science
11. Data Science
12. Communication Technologies
13. Biotechnology
14. Nanotechnology

Application deadline: 18 January 2026

For more information and to apply:
https://stdf.eg/web/grants/open

  Opening of Applications for the Fulbright Research Grant in the United States
(for Promotion and Postdoctoral Research 2025–2026)

Within the framework of cooperation between the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) and Fulbright Egypt, the Academy is pleased to announce the Fulbright Research Grant in the United States, under the Scholar Grants / Research Grant Program, dedicated to promotion and postdoctoral research.

 Program Details:

• The 2025–2026 academic year grant covers all scientific fields.
• The grant duration ranges from three to nine months.

 Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicants must be Egyptian citizens residing in Egypt from the start of the application process until final selection.
• Must be a full-time faculty member at an Egyptian university or research center.
• Must hold a PhD degree.
• Must have proficiency in English.

For more details about the grant, application procedures, and eligibility requirements, please visit:
 https://fulbright-egypt.org/program/scholar/

For inquiries: scholar@bfce.eun.eg
 Phone: 01003380228

Note: Fulbright also offers other programs for Egyptian students and researchers, including Master’s programs, joint PhD projects, professional fellowships, and more. Details are available at:
 https://fulbright-egypt.org/programs-for-egyptians/

 The Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector (Central Administration of Missions), in cooperation with the French Embassy in Cairo, announces the availability of 20 jointly funded scholarships by the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the French Republic for PhD students for the 2025/2026 academic year, as follows:

• Six-month scholarships to conduct PhD research
• Twelve-month scholarships for PhD research under a joint supervision (cotutelle) system, divided into two periods of six months each, according to research needs
• Eighteen-month scholarships under the joint supervision (cotutelle) system, divided into three periods of six months each, according to research needs

For more information, please visit the following link:
https://cdm.mohesr.gov.eg/.../%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9

          Cairo University Honors the President of Damietta University During the Science Day Celebration in Recognition of His Distinguished Academic and Administrative Career.

Cairo University honored Professor Dr. Hemdan Rabie Al-Metwally, President of Damietta University, during its annual Science Day celebration, in recognition of his distinguished academic and administrative career, as one of Cairo University’s most prominent graduates who have significantly contributed to supporting the system of higher education and scientific research in Egypt.

This came during the celebration held today, Tuesday, December 23, 2025, in the Grand Celebration Hall at Cairo University, in the presence of Professor Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development Affairs and Minister of Health and Population; Professor Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Professor Dr. Hala El-Said, Advisor to the President of the Republic for Economic Development and former Minister of Planning and Economic Development; Professor Dr. Mohamed Sami Abdel Sadiq, President of Cairo University; and Professor Dr. Mostafa Refaat, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Universities, along with a number of governors, senior state officials, university presidents, leaders of the Ministry of Higher Education, distinguished scientists, faculty members, and prominent academic figures.

The celebration included official speeches highlighting the state's efforts to develop the higher education system, enhance the quality of university education according to the latest international standards, support scientific research, advance digital transformation, and provide a modern educational and research environment. It also praised the historical and scientific status of Cairo University as a beacon of knowledge and a cradle for intellectual and scientific leaders in Egypt and the Arab world.

The event also honored a distinguished elite of scientists and outstanding researchers, as well as a number of presidents of public, national, and private universities who are graduates of Cairo University. The honoring of Professor Dr. Hemdan Rabie Al-Metwally came in appreciation of his scientific and academic contributions, his pioneering efforts in developing institutional performance, enhancing the university’s role in community service, supporting scientific research, and strengthening the principles of modern university administration.

This honor represents the culmination of a rich academic and administrative journey, during which the President of Damietta University succeeded in making a clear impact on the development of the university system, raising academic and administrative performance efficiency, and supporting educational and community initiatives, contributing to strengthening Damietta University’s position locally, nationally, and internationally.

For his part, Professor Dr. Hemdan Rabie Al-Metwally expressed his deep pride in this honor, affirming that being honored by Cairo University — the “mother university” — is a badge of pride and appreciation for a career that has extended through years of hard work. He praised Cairo University’s vital role in preparing generations of scientists and intellectual leaders and its ongoing contributions to serving the nation and developing human capability.

The President of Damietta University emphasized that the Science Day celebration embodies the value of knowledge as the cornerstone of nation-building and future-making. He pointed out that the unprecedented development witnessed in higher education in Egypt comes under the support of the political leadership, which has placed education and scientific research at the forefront of national priorities, believing in their role in achieving sustainable development and building the New Republic.

He concluded his remarks by extending sincere thanks to Cairo University and its leadership, stressing that this honor reflects the depth of historical and academic relations between Egypt’s prestigious universities and represents a model of institutional integration in supporting the national strategy for higher education and achieving Egypt’s comprehensive development vision.