A S U

In line with the State’s orientation toward deepening local manufacturing and strengthening integration between scientific research and the industrial sector, the Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) has announced the opening of applications for the “Faculty for Factory Program (FFF).” The program is considered one of the strategic initiatives aimed at linking academic knowledge with industry needs and transforming scientific research outputs into applied solutions with a direct impact on production.

Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Prof. Abdel Aziz Qansouh, affirmed that the program represents a qualitative shift in the mechanisms of employing scientific research, through moving from theoretical frameworks to practical application inside factories. This contributes to providing innovative solutions to real industrial challenges, enhancing production efficiency, and boosting the competitiveness of Egyptian industry.

The Minister pointed out that integrating researchers within production environments reflects the State’s vision of building a knowledge-based economy and strengthens the role of universities and research centers in supporting economic development plans through genuine partnerships with the industrial sector.

For his part, Dr. Walid Sheta, CEO of the Authority, explained that the program represents an advanced model for innovation funding based on real industrial challenges. He emphasized that the Authority aims to support applied research that generates tangible impact within production lines.

He added that the program strengthens cooperation between academic institutions and factories by enabling researchers to work directly within industrial environments, allowing for a deeper understanding of challenges and the development of implementable solutions that support technology transfer and knowledge localization.

The program offers faculty members and researchers from universities and governmental research centers the opportunity to work full-time in factories for a period ranging from 4 to 6 months. The implementation plan includes an initial integration phase within the factory, followed by challenge assessment, and then the development of practical solutions or prototypes suitable for industrial application.

It is based on an integrated partnership between an academic institution and an existing Egyptian factory. The principal investigator must be a faculty member at a governmental university or research institute, hold a PhD in a relevant field, and commit to full-time work in the factory throughout the program period. Early career researchers prefer to help build a new generation capable of working in industrial environments.

The host factory must be an operating industrial entity within Egypt, capable of hosting the researcher and providing access to production processes, data, facilities, and technical teams required for effective project implementation.

Regarding funding, the program provides a monthly stipend for the principal investigator throughout the implementation period, with the possibility of supporting a postgraduate student within the research team upon approval. This contributes to preparing qualified research cadres capable of bridging academic knowledge with industrial needs.

The deadline for submitting research proposals is June 30, 2026, at 2:00 PM, in accordance with the detailed call guidelines available on the Authority’s website.