This morning marked the launch of the first day of the annual international conference organized by the Institute of National Planning (INP) under the theme “Innovation and Sustainable Development” in collaboration with Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). The conference is being held in Cairo over two days, June 24–25, with the participation of high-level decision-makers, policymakers, public figures, and experts from various Egyptian ministries, agencies, universities, and representatives of international and regional organizations relevant to innovation and scientific research.
H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation and Chairperson of INP’s Board of Directors, delivered a recorded speech expressing her deep appreciation for INP’s efforts in supporting strategic planning and national capacity-building, as well as for the valuable contributions of Columbia University in enriching the dialogue on fostering innovation within sustainable development plans. Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized that innovation has become an urgent necessity in a rapidly changing world, requiring institutions to adopt forward-thinking strategies that can address challenges and transform them into opportunities for broader prospects. Dr. Al-Mashat also looked forward to the conference’s recommendations, which will enhance the national dialogue on innovation’s role in advancing sustainable and inclusive development.
The Minister added that Egypt places innovation at the core of its national vision, working to create an enabling environment by encouraging investment in scientific research, supporting startups, deepening digital transformation, and empowering think tanks and institutions such as INP. This approach aims to enhance the competitiveness of the national economy and stimulate inclusive growth. Dr. Al-Mashat noted that the Ministry’s development financing portfolio includes over 32 projects in innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation, with a total value exceeding $1 billion, involving 24 beneficiary entities and 14 development partners—representing 4% of the official development cooperation portfolio. Dr. Al-Mashat also highlighted the Ministry’s role in promoting innovation policies and enhancing human resource efficiency in this field, in line with the General Planning Law, which mandates the state to encourage innovation across all stages of policy and development planning.
Dr. Ashraf El-Araby, President of INP, stated that this year’s conference aims to assess the current state of innovation and its relationship with sustainable development in Egypt by evaluating key roles in disseminating and localizing innovation, diagnosing challenges facing the national sustainable innovation system, and analyzing global and regional best practices. This will help derive policy frameworks to enhance the governance, sustainability, and efficiency of Egypt’s national innovation system.
Dr. El-Araby emphasized INP’s pivotal role as a leading national developmental think tank as it approaches its 65th anniversary, addressing priority development issues with strategic and long-term impacts on quality of life in Egypt, in close collaboration with domestic and international partners.
For his part, Dr. William Eimicke, Professor at Columbia University, expressed pride in collaborating with INP and commended its role in advancing sustainable development goals. He looked forward to further dynamic and multifaceted bilateral relations to adapt to the opportunities and challenges of our rapidly changing world.
The conference sessions will discuss four key themes:
Assessing the National Innovation System in Egypt to Support Sustainable Development
Leveraging Innovation for Sustainable Development
National Innovation Applications for Sustainable Development
International Experiences and Practices in Innovation Governance and Its Role in Sustainable Development