NARSS organizes the Seventh International Symposium to Promote Egyptian-Japanese Cooperation

Under the auspices of Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, chaired by Dr. Islam Abu Al-Magd, organized the events of the Seventh International Joint Authority of the Authority and a number of Japanese universities, in the framework of promoting Egyptian-Japanese cooperation involved in research projects on archaeology, heritage science, society and water management, in the presence of Ambassador Oka Hirushi of the State of Japan in Cairo and Dr. Naoko Fukami, Director of the Japan Society for the Development of Science.

In his statement, Dr. Islam Abu Al-Magd, President of the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, stressed that the world faced many challenges, notably the lack of natural resources, transboundary environmental crises, climate change, poverty, unemployment and conflicts, noting the importance of cross-border cooperation and coordination to provide decision makers and practitioners with support for their decisions and plans of action, stressing the importance of attention to space science and technology to address those challenges.

Dr. Islam Abu Al-Magd noted that Egypt had charted its vision for 2030 with a unified strategy for education, science, technology and innovation; with the aim of developing an effective knowledge-based and innovative scientific and technological base with an international standing that was constantly moving the national economy forward; to achieve sustainable development goals, increase knowledge production and improve quality to meet societal challenges and increase the competitiveness of national industry, culminating in the launching of its national strategy by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which includes seven basic principles and pillars; to support innovation and partnerships among various academic and industrial institutions, this is certainly an environment conducive to increased cooperation with various international actors and institutions for the benefit of both sides.

The President of the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science emphasized the depth of relations and strong ties between Egypt and Japan, noting that there was joint cooperation between the National Remote Sensing Authority and academic universities in Japan such as Tokyo, Sofia, Kyo and Shiba, indicating that close to seven researchers from the Authority had received doctorates from Japan or had visited Japan for post-doctoral research.

He added that Egypt strongly believed that space science and technology, remote sensing and digital transformation would drive the national economy and contribute to significant socio-economic growth, noting that the Remote Sensing Authority was being provided with modern technology and advanced tools to assist in the delivery of services and products to local and regional stakeholders, noting that a joint project was being prepared with the University of Tokyo, with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Organization (JICA), to benefit from scientific research in social and economic activities in the province of the New Valley.

The symposium covered several important lectures and topics, including the use of remote sensing technology to restore the old environment, archaeological research in Lake Idko, West Delta, progress in nanoscience research at the Egyptian Japan University of Science and Technology in cooperation with the Japanese side, present and future of Amenhotep III cemetery, possible application of advanced technology in maintenance and management of the site in the Kings Valley, presentation of the infrastructure of the Cairo governorate and its neighborhoods' and streets in the early 19th century, digital archive to expand research and image recognition in Islamic architecture and the archive of stop data for the use of standard economic analysis, groundwater development in the out-of-western Sahara oasis, and preliminary assessment of the old water system in the north-out of the New Valley governorate.

The symposium was attended by Dr. Said Zaghlol, Director and Coordinator General of the Symposium, Group of professors and researchers from the National Remote Sensing and Space Science Authority, the universities of Japan (Tokai, Wasida and Sofia), the Japan Society for the Development of Science (JSPS), the Institute for Astronomical and Geophysical Research and a number of professors and researchers of Egyptian universities and research centers.

On the margins of the symposium, the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Islam Abu Al-Magd, met with Ambassador Oka Hirushi of the State of Japan in Cairo; to discuss enhanced cooperation on subjects and research projects of mutual interest to both sides.