The Institute of National Planning (INP) participated in the conference “Building Bridges: Shaping Europe’s Science-for-Policy Landscape” through the North African Applied Systems Analysis Center (NAASAC). The conference was organized by the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) and hosted by the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna. It brought together approximately 300 participants, including researchers, policymakers, and representatives from academies and scientific institutions engaged in science-policy relations.
Representing the Institute was Dr. Amani El-Rees, Professor of Computer Science at the Center for Planning Methodologies and Director of the NAASAC project. Dr. El-Rees contributed to a session titled “The Great Policy Debate: National Interests vs. Global Goals,” where she emphasized that contemporary challenges—such as climate change and pandemics—transcend national borders and require global coordination. She highlighted the importance of balancing globally applicable scientific solutions with the recognition of diverse national contexts in public policy formulation.
Additionally, Dr. El-Rees participated in a session on “Partnering for Progress: Strengthening Science and Policy Through Multilateral Collaboration for Tomorrow,” which examined the vital role of international partnerships in enhancing scientific research and effective science advice for policy. Discussions noted the growth in internationally co-authored scientific publications and underscored the importance of global scientific networks in fostering innovation and research diversity.
During the session, several successful cooperation models were showcased. Among these, NAASAC was highlighted as an exemplary collaboration between the National Planning Institute (Egypt), the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), and the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT).