Successful Closing Event in Berlin of the German-Egyptian Year of Science and Technology

On the 6th of December 2007 the official closing ceremony of the German Egyptian Year of Science and Technology took place at the Melia Hotel Berlin.

The day started with a press conference where H.E. Dr. Annette Schavan, German Federal Minister for Education and Research, pointed out that through tscience year the cooperation between both counhas been strengthened in the fields of science, education and research. She announced the signatureof a bilateral agreement between the two ministries for a joint research fund with a contribution of 300.000 Euro from each side per year. Until the year 2012 bilateral teams can submit applications for the support of joint research projects. The end of this year represents a beginning and leads to intensification of the German Egyptian partnership in the field of scientific research and development, said H.E. Prof. Dr. Hany Helal, Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Prof. Dr. Max G. Huber, Vice President of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), emphasized that it has been a great honour for the DAAD to coordinate this year. He also pointed out the highlight events which have been carried out in Egypt and Germany during the year.

After a lunch break the official ceremony was inaugurated with the welcoming address of H.E. Annette Schavan, H.E. Hany Helal and Prof. Dr. Max G. Huber. Prof. Dr. Maged El Sherbiny, Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and MinDirig. Christoph Ehrenberg, Federal Ministry for Education and Research, led through the day as moderators.

H.E. Annette Schavan emphasized the importance of Egypt to Germany as the gate to the Arab world. With more than 150 workshops, conferences, exhibitions and other projects the expected number of events has been clearly exceeded and the positive response we received to this numerous events has proven the strength and the potential which lies in our German Egyptian scientific relations. H.E. Hany Helal pointed out that the German Egyptian science year has not only intensified the scientific but also the cultural exchange. The scientific exchange of individuals within each of the different projects opens the possibilities of cultural dialogue and enriches the projects with their cultural differences.

Prof. Max G. Huber referred to the final brochure where the outcomes and the activities of the science year are summarized. Besides the numerous events the DAAD ensures by the signing of several bilateral agreements that the collaboration will continue in coming years.

In June 2007 the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the DAAD signed an agreement on a programme of short-term scholarships. He also announced the agreement which supports mobility in bilateral research projects between Egypt and Germany as well as a Memorandum of Understanding in which the intention to support long-term visits from Egyptian PhD students at German universities is expressed. The ceremony was accompanied by the music group "Egypt Stars".

The welcoming addresses were followed by the key note speech of Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Jan Assmann, Emeritus of the University of Heidelberg, who inspired the audience by a presentation on the Impact of Ancient Egypt on Modern Times. Prof. Dr. Ismail Serageldin, director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, focussed his key note speech on the Impact of Modern Times on Modern Egypt.

 

The ceremony reached its highlight with the signing of the German Egyptian Research Fund between the two mas well as the agreement for the support of mobility inbilateral research projects and the memorandum of understanding for the support of long-term scholarships for PhD students, both of them between the Egyptian Minand the DAAD.

The program was concluded by the awarding of the "German Egyptian Cooperation Prize" to thank certain persons and institutions for their special engagement during the science year.

The event found its ceremonious closing at the Museum of Natural History in Berlin where the day and the Science Year was rounded off with guided tours and a dinner reception in scientific environment.