Circular Bioeconomy in Egypt: The Current State, Challenges, and FutureDirections.
Circular bioeconomy is an integrated concept that combines the principles of circular economy and bioeconomy to create a sustainable approach to economic growth. This approach involves utilizing renewable resources to produce cascading biomass products while minimizing waste and reducing environmental impacts. In Egypt, there is a growing interest in developing a circular bioeconomy to address pressing environmental and economic challenges.
The current state of circular bioeconomy in Egypt is characterized by a fragmented and uncoordinated approach. While there are some notable initiatives and investments in the bioeconomy, the sector is still in its infancy, and there is no comprehensive strategy or policy framework that guides its development. Additionally, there are several challenges that need to be addressed, including limited access to financing, weak infrastructure, and lack of awareness and capacity among stakeholders.
To overcome these challenges and accelerate the development of a circular bioeconomy in Egypt, several measures and actions can be taken. These include:
In conclusion, developing a circular bioeconomy in Egypt has the potential to generate multiple benefits,including job creation, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. To realize these benefits, acomprehensive and coordinated approach is needed, involving various stakeholders and sectors. Byimplementing the measures and actions recommended in this article, Egypt can take a significant steptowards achieving its sustainable development goals and becoming a regional leader in circularbioeconomy.The article provides valuable insights into the current state, challenges, and future directions ofcircular bioeconomy in Egypt. It is based on the MC2 EU project EuropeAid Programme (ENI/2019/413-557),which highlights the importance of international cooperation and funding support for sustainabledevelopment projects in the region. The findings of the research can be used to inform policymakers,entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders on the potential of circular bioeconomy in Egypt and themeasures needed to realize its benefits.
Source: http://jssidoi.org/ird/article/128 DOI: 10.9770/IRD.2023.5.1(7)
The current state of circular bioeconomy in Egypt is characterized by a fragmented and uncoordinated approach. While there are some notable initiatives and investments in the bioeconomy, the sector is still in its infancy, and there is no comprehensive strategy or policy framework that guides its development. Additionally, there are several challenges that need to be addressed, including limited access to financing, weak infrastructure, and lack of awareness and capacity among stakeholders.
To overcome these challenges and accelerate the development of a circular bioeconomy in Egypt, several measures and actions can be taken. These include:
- Developing a comprehensive policy framework that outlines the vision, objectives, and strategiesfor the circular bioeconomy, and aligns it with the national development goals and priorities.
- Establishing a national bioeconomy platform that brings together relevant stakeholders fromgovernment, industry, academia, and civil society to coordinate and facilitate collaboration,information sharing, and capacity building.
- Investing in research and development to advance the science and technology of the circularbioeconomy, including biotechnology, bioprocessing, and bioenergy.
- Providing access to finance and incentives to support the establishment and growth of circularbioeconomy businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
- Strengthening the infrastructure and logistics systems to enable efficient and effective supply chains forbio-based products, including transportation, storage, and distribution.
- Enhancing awareness and capacity building among stakeholders, including policymakers,entrepreneurs, investors, and consumers, on the benefits and opportunities of the circular bioeconomy.
In conclusion, developing a circular bioeconomy in Egypt has the potential to generate multiple benefits,including job creation, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. To realize these benefits, acomprehensive and coordinated approach is needed, involving various stakeholders and sectors. Byimplementing the measures and actions recommended in this article, Egypt can take a significant steptowards achieving its sustainable development goals and becoming a regional leader in circularbioeconomy.The article provides valuable insights into the current state, challenges, and future directions ofcircular bioeconomy in Egypt. It is based on the MC2 EU project EuropeAid Programme (ENI/2019/413-557),which highlights the importance of international cooperation and funding support for sustainabledevelopment projects in the region. The findings of the research can be used to inform policymakers,entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders on the potential of circular bioeconomy in Egypt and themeasures needed to realize its benefits.
Source: http://jssidoi.org/ird/article/128 DOI: 10.9770/IRD.2023.5.1(7)
The MC2 Think Thank
MC2 aims to support the empowerment of a sustainableand circular economy in Egypt. A key step to achievingthis is the establishment of the SBCE-TT – theSustainable Business & Circular Economy Think Tank. Itwill bring together the key actors of this transformation,who will formulate strategies, design actions, and suggestpolicies to enable resource and energy savings inEgyptian industries, thereby empowering the changemakers.National and international experts now joined theThink Tank to contribute to the project with theirexperience, expertise and best practices. Stay tuned forthe Kick-off Event!
Study tour
As a knowledge transfer activity, MC2 project with coordination and arrangement from SITES, MC2project partner, is planning to have a study tour inScotland-UK mid May. This study tour will be joined by MC2 think tank members, MC2 partners and MC2 grantees from startups and entrepreneurs. The study tour will target Scottish organizations and universities working in CircularEconomy, Energy, agroindustry and entrepreneurship. The study tour's expected outcome is to have better networking activities with Scottish organisations, knowledge transfer and sharing of expertise and potential collaboration opportunities between Egyptian andScottish companies and organizations.
Selected start-ups for the incubation process
It has been quite a journey, but with the support from our high profile Think Tank memband a holistic selection process, these 10 inspiring green techno-preneurs now form thheart of the MC2 project: