Scientific and Technological Development of Egypt and Prospects for Cooperation with Russia

   The article is devoted to the features of scientific and technological development of Egypt and prospects for cooperation with Russia. Egypt is committed to develop science, technology and innovation in order to solve its social and economic problems. Scientific and technological development of Egypt is determined by historically more developed scientific infrastructure compared to other Arab states, but chronic overpopulation (105 million people), budget deficit, dependence on foreign imports and external debt. The work analyzes the current state, priorities and management of the scientific and technological sphere of Egypt. In this regard, the author provides an analysis of the main regulatory documents governing Egypt’s science and technology strategy, including the Sustainable Development Strategy: Egypt. Vision 2030 and the National Strategy for Science, Technology, and Innovation until 2030 (as of 2019). The government’s objectives include the construction of science cities, the promotion of scientific and technological partnerships that combine the capabilities of science and business, and the creation of a favorable regulatory environment. Egypt strives to strengthen its position as a leader in scientific and technological progress in Africa. Current challenges include the need to increase funding and strengthen the material base for science and technology development; increase publication activity, the number of researchers, and their salaries; and create favorable conditions for the commercialization of scientific achievements. Egypt is heavily dependent on foreign research centers in scientific and technological development, which carries both risks and opportunities. The problem itself sets the task of diversifying the scientific technological cooperation. The article emphasizes that Russia and Egypt have untapped potential for scientific and technological cooperation. Based on the analysis of the Scopus database, as well as expert interviews conducted in Egypt during 2024, the author suggests energy, medical research and pharmaceuticals, computer technology, space and ICT, as well as water (and agricultural) research among the priority scientific areas for cooperation.

1. Belov, Vladimir I., and Mohamed ElSergani. “Egypt Development Strategy 2030 and the Importance of Partnership with Russia.” Information and Innovations 17, no. 2 (2022): 5–19 [In Russian]. doi: 10.31432/1994-2443-2022-17-2-5-19.

2. Vasilieva, Irina N., Raisa S. Bogatova, and Tatyana P. Rebrova. “Development of Science Diplomacy in the MENA Region: Priorities and Prospects for Cooperation with Russia on the Example of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.” Russian Journal of Regional Studies 32, no. 3 (2024): 402–425 [In Russian]. doi: 10.15507/2413-1407.128.032.202403.402-425.

3. Volkov, Sergey N. “Scientific and Technological Development of Egypt in the ХХI Century.” Journal of the Institute for African Studies, no. 4(53) (2020): 43–54 [In Russian]. doi: 10.31132/2412-5717-2020-53-4-43-54.

4. Gareev, Timur R., Arutun G. Arutyunyan, Ruslan Sh. Mamedov, Vasily A. Kuznetsov, and Stanislav V. Mezentsev. The Countries Invited to the BRICS: Promising Areas of Scientific and Technological Cooperation with Russia, edited by Irina G. Dezhina. Izhevsk: OOO «Print», 2024 [In Russian].

5. Deriugina, Irina V. Nauchno-tekhnologicheskaya politika stran Vostoka i Afriki (Egipet, Iran, OAE, Saudovskaya Araviya, Efiopiya), edited by Maxim A. Suchkov. Moscow: MGIMO-Universitet, 2025 [In Russian].

6. Ibragimov, Ibragim E. “The Role of the Military-Political Elite of Egypt in the Struggle for National Independence in the Post-World War II Period (1945-1952).” MGIMO Review of International Relations 12, no. 4 (2019): 72–88 [In Russian]. doi: 10.24833/2071-8160-2019-4-67-72-88.

7. Mamedov, Ruslan Sh. “Centralization of Power as a Result of Development of the Egyptian Elite in 2014–2023. Forward to the Past?” Vostok (Oriens), no. 1. (2024): 125–136 [In Russian]. doi: 10.31857/S086919080029489-4.

8. Mamedov, Ruslan Sh. “Chapter I. The Arab Republic of Egypt.” In Nauchno-tekhnologicheskaya politika stran Vostoka i Afriki (Egipet, Iran, OAE, Saudovskaya Araviya, Efiopiya), edited by Irina V. Deriugina, Vasily A. Kuznetsov. Moscow: IOS RAS, 2025: 14–98 [In Russian].

9. Ufimtsev, Andrey A. “Economic and Political Aspects of Egypt’s Accession to BRICS.” Asia & Africa Today, no. 11. (2024): 49–56 [In Russian]. doi: 10.31857/S0321507524110066.

10. Al-Bagawi, Amal H., Nikita Yushin, Nasser Mohammed Hosny, Islam Gomaa, Sabah Ali, Warren Christopher Boyd, Haitham Kalil, and Inga Zinicovscaia. “Terbium Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using a In2O3 Nanoadsorbent and Arthrospira Platensis Biomass.” Nanomaterials 13, no. 19 (2023): 2698. doi: 10.3390/nano13192698.

11. Selim, Gamal M. “Egypt Under SCAF and the Muslim Brotherhood: The Triangle of Counter-Revolution.” Arab Studies Quarterly 37, no. 2 (2015): 177–199. doi: 10.13169/arabstudquar.37.2.0177.

12. Hassanin, Mahmoud Elsayed, and Mohamed Ahmed Hamada. “A Big Data Strategy to Reinforce Self-Sustainability for Pharmaceutical Companies in the Digital Transformation Era: A Case Study of Egyptian Pharmaceutical Companies.” African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development 14, no. 7 (2022): 1870–1882. doi: 10.1080/20421338.2021.1988409.

13. Zreik, Mohamad. “Econometric Analysis of China-Egypt Bilateral Relations: Trade, Investment, and Economic Cooperation.” Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies 18, no. 2, (2024): 149–167. doi: 10.1080/25765949.2024.2366067.

14. Küçük, Ömer Naim, and Altunışık Meliha. “Foreign Direct Investment and Authoritarian Resilience: Saudi and Emirati Investment in Egypt and the Role of Foreign Policy Motivations.” British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, April 2025. doi: 10.1080/13530194.2025.2492004.

15. Mohamed, Ramadan A. Rezk, Leonardo Piccinetti, Nahed Salem, Tarek Y. S. Kapiel, Mohammed Mahgoub Hassan, Trevor Uyi Omoruyi, and Alaa A. El-Bary. “Exploring Future Scenarios for Strengthening Science, Technology, and Innovation Collaboration Between Egypt and BRICS Countries.” Journal of Business and Management Sciences 13, no. 3 (2025): 59–69. doi: 10.12691/jbms-13-3-3.

16. Abdel-Fattah, Yasser R., Abdel-Hady B. Kashyout, and Walaa M. Sheta. “Egypt’s Science and Technology Parks Outlook: A Focus on SRTACity (City for Scientific Research and Technology Applications).” World Technopolis Review 2, no. 2 (2013): 96–108. doi: 10.7165/wtr2013.2.2.96.

17. El Baradei, Laila, Ashraf Abdel Wahab, Passant E. Moustafa, and Nashwa Salem. “AI Meets Public Policy: Tackling Higher Education Challenges in Egypt.” Journal of Higher Education Policy and Leadership Studies 6, no. 1 (2025): 128–50. doi: 10.61186/johepal.6.1.128.

18. Abdrabo, Amal A. “Egypt’s Knowledge-Based Development: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Possibilities.” In Knowledge-Based Urban Development in the Middle East, edited by Ali A. Alraouf, 80–101. IGI Global Scientific Publishing, 2018. doi: 10.4018/978-1-5225-3734-2.ch005.

19. Attia, Ahmed M. “National Innovation Systems in Developing Countries: Barriers to University–Industry Collaboration in Egypt.” International Journal of Technology Management & Sustainable Development 14, no. 2 (2015): 113–124. doi: 10.1386/tmsd.14.2.113_1.