PHAROS: a French-Egyptian programme to accelerate deeptech innovation
Université Paris-Saclay, Alexandria University, the Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), Orange and Schneider Electric have launched PHAROS (Partnership for High-tech Academic Research, Open innovation & Startups), a French-Egyptian cooperation programme dedicated to deeptech innovation. The programme was officially launched on 17 June 2026 at VivaTech. This partnership aims to bring together academic research, businesses and start-ups to transform scientific results into high-potential technological solutions.
This announcement was accompanied by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Université Paris-Saclay and Alexandria University, as well as letters of intent with Orange and Schneider Electric. The programme also involves the Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) and draws on the scientific and technological expertise of both universities, the industrial partners’ expertise, and the development capabilities of Alexandria University’s Technopark.
Building bridges between academic research and industrial innovation
The PHAROS programme aims to build an innovation ecosystem that accelerates the transition from research results to industrial applications.
As part of this initiative, partners will work together to identify priority research areas that address industrial needs, develop collaborative projects and proof-of-concept initiatives, and foster a sustainable pipeline of deeptech start-ups emerging from academic research.
By bringing together the complementary strengths of universities, businesses and innovation structures, PHAROS aims to support the development of technologies addressing today’s and tomorrow’s industrial challenges.
Supporting the emergence of French-Egyptian deeptech start-ups
The programme will involve the selection and support of the first French-Egyptian deeptech start-ups, from the identification of technologies through to prototype development.
This approach will also rely on training initiatives, collaborative research and talent mobility between France and Egypt, involving in particular students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. The aim is to train professionals with both scientific expertise and an understanding of the challenges involved in translating academic research results into industrial applications.
Strengthening scientific and technological cooperation between France and Egypt
Through PHAROS, the partners aim to strengthen synergies between French and Egyptian innovation ecosystems, building on the scientific excellence of both countries and the complementarity of their research and technological development capabilities.
The programme is therefore intended to help establish a long-term collaboration framework between academic institutions, industrial stakeholders and innovative young companies, providing a common platform for developing projects that combine research, innovation and industrial applications.