The Italian Cultural Institute in Cairo hosted a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the bilateral agreement between Italy and Egypt on scientific and technological cooperation, on the occasion of Italian Research Day in the World (giornata della ricerca italiana nel mondo).

The University of Trieste was represented by Vice-Rector Valter Sergo, who spoke during the session dedicated to opportunities for collaboration between universities and industry.

In his speech, Sergo presented Trieste as ‘a city with one of the highest densities of researchers in relation to its population’, emphasising the role of the University as the central hub of an integrated scientific system, open to international engagement and strongly oriented towards innovation.

It is not only an ideal learning environment for students and researchers, but also an attractive environment for high-tech companies interested in investing in research and development.

The event was promoted by the Italian Embassy in Cairo in collaboration with the Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), the department of the Egyptian Ministry of Research responsible for implementing the three-year executive programme provided for in the agreement.

In addition to presenting the projects in progress in the period 2024–2026, the celebration fostered discussion on strategic issues between universities and companies from both countries: from artificial intelligence to space technologies, and from cultural heritage to medicine, the global challenges of climate and the water-energy-food nexus.

The University of Trieste's participation is part of the broader framework of the University's international relations, which for years has promoted scientific and academic cooperation with partners in the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East.