Egypt’s Center of Excellence for Energy opened at $30 m USAID investments

06 / 12 / 2019

By Marwa Nassar - -

The Center of Excellence for Energy at Egypt’s Ain Shams University was opened on December 5 at $ 30 million USAID investment.

The center was set up under a five-year, $90 million USAID initiative which is meant to establish three Centers focusing on areas identified as priorities by the Egyptian government in line with the 2030 Vision as well as driving research and innovation in sectors that are key to Egypt’s future economic growth.

Under the initiative, a Center of Excellence for Agriculture will be established at Cairo University in partnership with Cornell University as well as a Center of Excellence for Water hosted at Alexandria University in partnership with the American University in Cairo.

The Center of Excellence for Energy at Ain Shams University was established with the support of USAID and in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The establishment of this new center is part of the long-standing commitment by the United States to support Egypt’s most important priorities, including producing high-quality applied research in energy, delivering world-class training in engineering, and driving innovation in Egypt’s energy sector, while meeting local challenges and contributing to economic growth.

The Center of Excellence for Energy will create scholarship opportunities for students to pursue studies in energy-related fields both in Egypt and the US, and will develop new courses and degree programs in the energy field to address challenges identified by private sector partners.

“USAID is proud to support the Center of Excellence to inform national energy policy formation, link research into renewable energy solutions with entrepreneurs, promote energy efficiency, and develop innovative applied research solutions utilizing both conventional and alternative energy sources,” said US Ambassador to Egypt Jonathan Cohen.

Ten Egyptian universities will benefit from the three centers which will help linking Egyptian universities to pioneering American universities.

Meanwhile, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr underlined the importance of strategic and economic cooperation between Egypt and the US, referring to a 200-million-dollar higher education agreement between the US and Egypt.

The agreement – which extended until 2022 – includes offered scholarships for women and university staff at American universities in addition to partnerships between the Egyptian and American universities.

She added that Egypt is giving top priority to scientific research in the renewable energy sector in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, citing the Benban mega solar power plant.