Scientific cooperation

Introducing the Franco-Egyptian scientific cooperation

Egypt and France share a long and common scientific history. The Franco-Egyptian scientific cooperation is very active, in all areas of research. Over 500 shared publications and patents are issued every year, significantly contributing to universal knowledge.

The scientific cooperation sector, under the Cooperation and Cultural Action Department (SCAC) of the French Embassy in Egypt, coordinates and maintains the network of Franco-Egyptian scientists.

Signing of cooperation agreements between the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES - National Center for Space Studies) and the Egyptian Space Agency (EGSA) –January 2020

The sector’s missions involve:

  • accompanying research institutes in the implementation and development of research partnerships between the two countries;
  • establishing academic scholarship programs to facilitate the mobility of Ph.D students;
  • supporting research projects in various areas through the exchange of experts and the PHC Imhotep program, notably co-financed with the ASRT;
  • encouraging the development of multilateral partnerships thanks to European programs such as Horizon Europe, Marie Curie Sklodowska, PRIMA, etc.
  • promoting French and Egyptian scientific research through the organization of French-language conferences and events (for example, the “My Thesis in 180 Seconds” competition), and showcasing young researchers.
Signing of cooperation agreements with the National Research Center (NRC) – September 2019

Financing schemes

The scientific cooperation department offers many funding mechanisms for scientific stays for Egyptian Ph.D students and researchers who seek education in France, or wish to develop joint projects between the two countries. Each of these funding mechanisms is intended for a particular category of scientists.

Doctoral grants program 

The French Embassy in Egypt offers a grants program for short scientific stays in France to the benefit of young Egyptian researchers (doctoral grants) working on their thesis in public and private Egyptian universities. Each grant will be awarded for a maximum duration of 12 months during the three years of the thesis, for 6 months per year at the most. It may possibly allow the recipients to complete a jointly supervised thesis, that is, enrollment as doctoral students in both Egypt and France in order to obtain a dual Ph.D degree. Each grant covers transportation costs, social coverage and living expenses in France. 

The Eiffel Excellence scholarship program 

Developed by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Eiffel Excellence scholarship program provides education to future foreign decision-makers in the public and private sector every year, in priority areas in science, technology, the humanities and social sciences. 

The recipients are endorsed for 12 to 36 months in degree programs at the Master’s and Ph.D. levels in France. Applications are presented only by French higher education establishments. 

Post-doctoral grants co-financed by the STDF 

The French Embassy in Egypt and the Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF) offer stays in France for a maximum period of 6 months to post-doctoral Egyptian students. Each grant covers transportation costs, social coverage and living expenses in France. Every year, about twenty applicants can benefit from this co-financed mechanism. 

Gaston WIET program

The French Embassy in Egypt and the Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale (IFAO – French Institute of Oriental Archeology) offer a post-doctoral, non-renewable research grant to a native Egyptian researcher. This post-doctoral grant gives right to a monthly allowance of 1,700 euros for six months for a research stay in a French host laboratory, followed by one-year hosting at the IFAO with a monthly allowance of EGP3,500. The grant covers one of the following disciplinary fields: archeology, philology, history, art history. The research project must focus on Egypt from prehistoric times to the mid-20th century. 

Hubert CURIEN IMHOTEP Partnership

The French Embassy in Egypt and the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) co-finance the Franco-Egyptian IMHOTEP partnership. This program allows for the financing of Franco-Egyptian teams’ mobility for up to 20,000 euros throughout the two years of the project. Applications must be simultaneously and separately filed by the French researcher at the Campus France’s facility, and by the Egyptian researcher at the ASRT’s facility.

Short stays program

Visits from French researchers to Egypt and Egyptian researchers to France may be covered by the scientific cooperation sector. This notably allows them to attend seminars and symposiums and contributes to strengthening partnerships in scientific domains of excellence.

Contact and information

French Embassy in Egypt’s Cooperation and Cultural Action Department
Scientific cooperation sector

For inquiries related to grants and scholarships:
For inquiries related to scientific cooperation
and calls for research projects: