The British University in Egypt concluded its EU-funded research project Affordable Resources for Egypt’s Industrial Growth with a notable closing event that brought together esteemed government figures and prominent industry leaders along with academics and researchers to celebrate the success of the initiative.
Led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President for Research and Enterprise Professor Yehia Bahei-El-Din as principal investigator from The British University in Egypt, the social-impact project, also known as RIndustry, is funded by a European Union grant of €850,000 and is in line with Egypt’s goal to change the culture of resource utilization across the nation’s industry, enhance the economy and foster competitive practices.
The British University in Egypt partnered with the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREE), the Central Metallurgical Research and Development Institute (CMRDI) and ISIS Food Industries to target energy production, water treatment and rationalization across the nation, employing R&D-based, innovative and sustainable solutions.
Professor Mohamed Loutfi, Vice-Chancellor and President of the British University in Egypt, and Professor Bahei-El-Din welcomed Court Members Professor General Sayed Meshaal, Former Minister of Military Production, Professor Nadia Zakhary, Former Minister of Scientific Research and Professor at the National Cancer Institute, and Professor Ahmed Hamza, Research and Development Advisor to the President, to the gala event which was also attended by Major General Amr Abdel Wahab, Chairman of the Board and CEO of El Reef El Masry, Professor Mohamed El Khayyat, Executive Director of NREA, and Professor Rasha El Khouly, President of the National Water Research Center.
“The results of this project embody several aspects of collaboration,” said Professor Mohamed Loutfi in his keynote speech. “Notably, it consolidates The British University in Egypt’s role in supporting Egypt’s Vision 2030, which aligns with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s strategy to partner with universities to implement development initiatives. RIndustry is also in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals as it aims to ensure environmentally friendly resources, which in turn enhances industrial competitiveness and boosts the potential of our national products to compete in international markets.”
Marking the successful outcomes of the three-year project, Professor Bahei-El-Din presented the goals and activities undertaken by the RIndustry team, looking forward to further fruitful cooperation with partners in the field of renewable energy and water resources. “This EU-funded project was envisioned to encourage comprehensive growth and has successfully created job opportunities for youth and investments in small and medium enterprises, effectively enhancing the industrial sector. This has been made possible by connecting youth with SMEs and raising their awareness of technical development of their products, in addition to supporting growth of projects and their competitiveness through sustainable solutions to conserve energy and water resources,” he noted.
The closing event witnessed the signing of several MoUs with El-Reef El-Masry and the Water Research Center, among other national institutions, to foster collaborations and joint research projects in regional sustainability and water research.
