Under the auspices of the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, the Slovenian Embassy in Egypt, Ain Shams University (Egypt) and the Slovenian node of the European Research Infrastructure of Heritage Science (E-RIHS Si), a meeting of heritage institutions from Egypt and Slovenia took place on 20th Dec 2023 at the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, where the Egyptian hub for research infrastructure for heritage science is being established, with which the Slovenian node is negotiating a co-operation agreement. Notably, a memorandum of cooperation will be signed between the E-RIHS Si. and the Egyptian counterpart of Ain Shams University and other Egyptian professional and academic heritage institutions.

During the event, heritage scientists from several Egyptian and Slovenian heritage institutions gathered to discuss collaboration possibilities for research and educational partnerships between Slovenian and Egyptian institutions including student and staff exchanges, access to research infrastructure, joint master program, and joint research projects. Among the numerous speakers are:

• Dr Mahmoud Saqar (President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology);
• Matija Strlic ( Heritage Science Lab Lead at the University of Ljublajana and Chairman of the Slovenian E-RIHS node);
• Dr Hany Helal (former Minister of Higher Education);
• Dr Mamdouh Eldamaty (former Minister of Antiquities);
• Hedaih Kamal (Vice President of the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA));
• Dr Polonca Ropret (Head of the Research Institute, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia; National Coordinator of E-RIHS Slovenia; Chair of the E-RIHS Interim Committee of National Nodes (iCNN));
• Gad El-Qadi (President of the Egyptian National Institute of Geophysics and Astronomy);
• Dr Irena Lazar (Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Primorska (Slovenia));
• Jan Ciglenečki, faculty of arts, University of Ljubljana;
• Dr Nasser Ayob, UNEP Life Cycle Initiative Steering Committee in the MENA region;
• Dr Hussein Kamal (Director of the Conservation Centre of the Grand Egyptian Museum);
• Dr Sameh Magd El-Din, Director of the Proteomics Lab, Children Cancer Hospital, Egypt;
• Dr Yehia Gad, Chairman of the National Network for DNA Analysis;
• Dr Atef Mansour, Director of the Islamic Numismatics Centre, Faculty of Archaeology, Fayoum University, Egypt;

as well as many other deans, vice-deans, laboratory heads and experts in the field of heritage science.