U.S.-EGYPT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOINT FUND QUARTERLY REPORT

The program aims to promote scientific and technological advancements in Egypt through collaborative research and junior scientist development visit grants. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, the program's activity focused on promoting and responding to inquiries regarding the Joint Fund's Cycle 19 Collaborative Research and Junior Scientist Development Visit Grants' request for proposals. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine sent thirteen subawards to U.S. institutions for their signature, through Cycle 18's collaborative program. Additionally, six teams of Egyptian scientific and engineering entrepreneurs received advanced commercialization support through the Innovate Egypt's Advanced Innovation Mentoring and Support (AIMS) Accelerator Program. The program also made significant progress in Cycle 17, with four U.S. principal investigators receiving their Year 2 funding after submitting compliant financial reports. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine gathered revised budgets, budget narratives, and other project documents from Cycle 18 Collaborative Research Grant subaward institutions, and sent thirteen subawards to U.S. institutions for signature. Nine Cycle 18 collaborative subaward contracts were fully executed, and eight have received their Year 1 funding. The program also conducted outreach to numerous individuals and organizations who had expressed interest in future funding opportunities. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine responded to applicant inquiries about the Cycle 19 RFP and began consensus-based eligibility checks of submitted applications after the RFP deadline's closing on March 8th. In the area of innovation, the program initiated the second phase of the Innovate Egypt program, with six teams advancing to the Advanced Innovation Mentoring and Support (AIMS) Accelerator. A new section was added to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine website to provide an overview and list of grantees from the Innovate Egypt program. The program's administration activities included organizing calls with USAID, State, and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo to discuss program updates. Quarterly accrual reports were sent to USAID, and an updated Performance Measurement Plan (PMP) Tracking Sheet for FY2017 was sent to USAID. An updated FY 2018 workplan and pipeline analysis was also sent to USAID. For the next quarter, the program plans to conclude eligibility checks of Cycle 19 applications in consensus with the Science and Technology Development Fund. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will identify and confirm external reviewers for Cycle 19 collaborative applications. It is also hoped that remaining Cycle 18 collaborative subawards will be executed next quarter, with the disbursement of Year 1 funds and onboarding of new principal investigators. The program will continue to support active projects, including reviewing annual reports and making recommendations to USAID for approval.