From the laboratory to the factory..
Menoufia University organizes a workshop to link scientific research outputs to industry to achieve sustainable development in cooperation with the integrated scientific group ARIAS Egypt in Sadat City
Dr. Ahmed El-Kased, President of Menoufia University, participated in the activities of the workshop organized by the University's Research Innovation Office in cooperation with the integrated scientific group ARIAS Egypt in the industrial zone of Sadat City in the presence of the University's Vice Presidents Dr. Sobhi Sharaf for Community Service and Environmental Development and Dr. Nasser Abdel-Bari for Education and Students, Dr. Hazem Saleh, former Vice President of the University for Graduate Studies and Research, Dr. Ikrami Gamal, Secretary General of the University, Dr. Mona Khairy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the group, deans of faculties, Dr. Maha El-Tony, Executive Coordinator of the University's Research Innovation Office, and a large number of business owners, companies and industrialists in Sadat City.
In his speech, the envoy stressed his keenness to organize this important event in the heart of the industrial zone with the attendance of businessmen and owners of factories and companies so that visions can be presented and ideas and proposals can be exchanged to link the outcomes of scientific research to industry, which is of utmost importance to open up horizons of cooperation between researchers and industrialists, and to establish cooperative partnerships and regional alliances to serve the industry, which contributes to applying the results of scientific research in a practical way in developing industries and meeting the requirements of the industrial sector for graduates and trainees to keep pace with the needs of the labor market. He added that organizing this workshop comes within the framework of the university's role in implementing Egypt's 2030 strategy and vision and the political leadership's directions to link scientific research with industry, which is one of the strategic priorities for achieving sustainable development and strengthening the national economy, the higher education strategy and the "Alliance and Development" initiative to support regional alliances, which are essential elements for achieving academic progress and sustainable economic development, noting that Menoufia University seeks in its new strategic plan to implement many projects that target developing scientific research and meeting the needs of industry in Egypt. A proposal has been developed for the expansion of Menoufia University in Sadat City on an area of ​​200 acres that serves the goals of sustainable development and research innovation, which includes establishing a technological university that contributes to achieving sustainable economic and technical progress by providing specialized education and graduating young people capable of meeting the needs of the digital age and achieving economic development. The technological university is also a platform for cooperation between academic and industrial circles, which contributes to developing innovative solutions to the challenges of the local and international market and raises the level of productivity and efficiency in industries, in addition to the university's plan to establish distinguished research centers that contribute to providing innovative solutions to various industrial problems.

The university president discussed with the attendees the various challenges facing the industry in the industrial zone of Sadat City and how the university contributes, as a house of expertise, to overcome these challenges, and reviewed the solutions, the most important of which is providing students with the necessary knowledge and skills in the fields of technology and engineering, which contributes to meeting the market’s needs for a trained workforce, and providing specialized training for students in companies and factories, which enhances their capabilities and provides them with distinguished job opportunities, which reduces the unemployment problem, in addition to working to develop policies that encourage scientific research and innovation and provide a suitable environment for researchers and innovators, and encourage researchers to focus on applied studies that meet the needs of industry, which makes scientific research more influential in society and industry, and opens new areas for joint funding and joint research projects that focus on applicable practical challenges, which benefits academics, industrialists, and society. Dr. Mona Khairy thanked the university president for the fruitful cooperation in organizing the important workshop, especially since everyone in this field has a great responsibility to develop effective and sustainable partnerships between academic and industrial institutions, which contributes to achieving great industrial progress that positively reflects on the future of industry in Egypt, stressing the vital and important role of universities, especially the prestigious Menoufia University and what it offers to the community in the governorate and the industrial zone in particular, given that the university includes distinguished colleges that have provided a large number of graduates who hold important positions in all factories and companies, and with the integrated scientific group, so she sought to conclude a cooperation protocol with the university to open up training horizons for students and select distinguished ones to employ them in the group, and is currently seeking to conclude more cooperation protocols in various fields to benefit from the capabilities and expertise of Menoufia University, and to hold a periodic employment forum for graduates, expressing her happiness with this fruitful and constructive cooperation, reviewing what the group has implemented in terms of laboratory equipment in a large number of private, governmental and international universities. Dr. Maha El-Touni also reviewed the most important events organized by the Research Innovation Center at Menoufia University and its important role in promoting the culture of innovation and linking scientific research with industry, which contributes to the advancement of the national economy and achieving sustainable development, the most important of which is the “Scientific Research and Industry Forum, Partnership for the Future” in the presence of a group of industry and scientific research experts, providing advice to researchers, faculty members and students on how to develop their research ideas and transform them into applicable innovative projects, and organizing workshops, seminars, conferences and competitions to increase awareness of innovation and enhance cooperation between researchers and industrialists. In conclusion, Dr. Hazem Saleh, former Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, presented the most important recommendations of the workshop, which include many important decisions that can be implemented and applied, including: forming a permanent tripartite committee from the university, industry, and the scientific group, establishing an electronic system to receive industry problems on an ongoing basis by the committee, and the university classifying problems and making proposals, whether direct opinion, engineering consultations, or research through graduate studies or through summer training for students according to what the tripartite committee suggests, holding a periodic meeting to evaluate what has been implemented, and providing the required training for both engineers and professionals, in addition to providing additional services such as conducting soil analysis and studies, surveying, and environmental impact assessment at an appropriate cost in line with the principle of supporting industry and the role of the university in its regional community, and agreeing to provide summer training opportunities for students, as well as competing for job opportunities and participating in employment forums. At the end of the workshop, the President of the University thanked the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Integrated Scientific Group and all its officials for organizing this important event, and the two parties exchanged commemorative shields.