When Excellence Becomes an Investment in the Future

Under the patronage of H.E. Prof. Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA) launched the Dr. Nawal Excellence Fund for Research and Innovation (NEF), with an initial allocation of EGP 15 million per funding cycle in its first phase. The launch coincided with the inauguration of the MSA Platform for Research, Innovation, and Societal Impact, reinforcing the University’s commitment to advancing research excellence, innovation, and community engagement.

The event was hosted by Dr. Nawal El Degwi, Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of MSA University, and Prof. Dr. Nader El Bokle, President of MSA University, who welcomed Prof. Dr. Yasser Refaat, Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Planning, Governance, Research Policies, and Applications, representing the Minister. His participation reflected the University’s standing as a leading academic institution dedicated to fostering research, innovation, and societal impact.

The event brought together a distinguished group of presidents and senior representatives of public, private, and national universities, vice presidents, deans, and representatives of national and international organizations. It also welcomed delegates from the European Union Delegation to Egypt, the EU Technical Assistance Team, and the European Cooperation Office at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in research, innovation, and knowledge transfer.

As part of the program, participants attended a technical workshop focused on European research and innovation funding opportunities, pathways for supporting innovators and start-ups, competitive proposal development, partnership building, and future implementation strategies.

In his remarks, Prof. Dr. Yasser Refaat emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening Egypt’s research and innovation ecosystem and transforming scientific knowledge into practical solutions and projects that generate economic and societal value. He noted that initiatives such as the Dr. Nawal Excellence Fund represent an important model for bridging the gap between scientific research and real-world application.

Prof. Dr. Nader El Bokle, President of MSA University, highlighted that the Fund’s initial allocation marks the beginning of a scalable development portfolio designed to attract national and international contributions and partnerships while maximizing the value generated through investment in talent, ideas, and innovation.

Dr. Engy Mansour, Vice Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of MSA University and the Board of Trustees of Lebaladna Foundation for Community Development and Empowerment, affirmed that the initiative reflects the University’s vision of fostering a culture of innovation and investing in people as the foundation of sustainable development and future growth.

Dr. Mohamed Mostafa, Head of the MSA Platform for Research, Innovation, and Societal Impact, explained that the Platform serves as the University’s institutional vehicle for capacity building and expansion. It supports interdisciplinary team formation, proposal development, technology transfer, stronger connections between researchers, industry, and society, and the advancement of locally funded projects toward larger national and international funding opportunities.

The launch of the Fund builds upon the longstanding vision of Dr. Nawal El Degwi, a pioneer of private higher education in Egypt, whose contributions have helped shape generations of academic excellence and institutional development. Through decades of leadership, she has championed quality education, innovation, and societal development, establishing a lasting legacy in support of higher education and scientific research.

Through initiatives such as the Dr. Nawal Excellence Fund and the MSA Platform for Research, Innovation, and Societal Impact, MSA University continues to strengthen its role in advancing knowledge, supporting innovation, and translating research into meaningful outcomes that contribute to society and the national economy.