Description

The HOPE26 workshop brings together researchers, industry professionals, and international project partners to explore pathways toward a circular bioeconomy, sustainable agriculture, and innovative energy systems. Organised by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTM), the event serves as a key dissemination platform for EU‑funded projects, sharing results and fostering collaboration across the Mediterranean and beyond.

The Interreg NEXT MED project GREENOLIVE will be presented during Session II by Prof. Nahla Ezzeldin Zakzouk, Head of the Electrical and Control Department at AASTMT.

Location

Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTM) – Abukir Campus, Alexandria, Egypt.

Participation

Registration is mandatory by compiling the form at: https://tinyurl.com/hope26-registration-form.
Attendance is available in person or on-line on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/91379482874.

Meeting ID: 913 7948 2874
Passcode: 440968

Agenda

09:00 – 09:30 | Registration

09:30 – 10:00 | Opening Session – Workshop Overview & Objectives
Speakers:

• Prof. Ismail Abdelghafar – President, AASTMT
• Prof. Yousry Elgamal – President Consultant for Education Affairs, Former Minister of Education, Founding Dean of College of Engineering and Technology
• Prof. Alaa Abdelbary – Vice President for Scientific Research and Postgraduate Studies
• Prof. Yasser Gaber – Dean of Scientific Research and Innovation
• Prof. Akram Soliman – Dean, College of Engineering and Technology
• Prof. Mostafa Abdelgelli – Vice Dean for Scientific Research and Postgraduate Studies, College of Engineering and Technology

10:00 – 12:00 | Session I – The Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainable Food Systems
Session Chair: Prof. Yehia Youssef

• Prof. Behnam Taidi (Professor of Industrial Biotechnology, LGPM, CentraleSupelec, University of Paris Saclay, France)
  “What does the circular economy look like in the Lab?”
• Mr. Kris Heirbaut (Heirbaut agriculture, Belgium)
  “Farm versus playing field of innovation”
• Prof. Alla Silkina (Senior Researcher and Project Leader in algal biotechnology, Swansea University, UK)
  “Industrial Algal Biotechnology for the Circular Bioeconomy: From Waste Streams to Biofertilisers, Food and Feed”
• Prof. Mohamed BOUAZIZ (Senior Researcher, Project Leader in Agri‑Resource Valorization, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sfax, Tunisia)
  “Recovery of Bioactive Compounds from olive by‑products and added‑value applications for innovative functional foods and therapeutic application”
  

12:00 – 12:30 | Discussions and networking around a coffee & EU Project Dissemination

12:30 – 14:30 | Session II – Advancing Circular and Digital Solutions for Agriculture and Energy: Lessons from EU Collaborative Projects
Session Chair: Prof. Mostafa Abdelgileil

• Prof. Mohsen Assadi (Professor in Energy Technology, Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, University of Stavanger, Norway)
  “Enabling Energy Access in the Global South by Bridging Circular Economy and Sustainability”
• Prof. Congduc Pham (Professor of wireless & IoT systems and embedded AI applications for IoT, University of Pau, France)
  “RESILINK – PRIMA Project”
• Dr. Mohammad Mansouri (Associate Professor in Energy Systems Engineering, University of Stavanger, Norway)
  “AI-SEI Project”
• Prof. Rasha Abdelaziz (Professor of Information Systems and Digital Business, Head of the Business Information Systems Department, College of Management and Technology, AASTMT, Egypt)
  “Beyond Materials: Circulating Knowledge, Leadership and Policy Innovation in Sustainable Universities”
• Mr. Mark Frederik (Founder of Amped & Local2Local, specialist in the transition of food systems, Netherlands)
  “EU4ADVICE – Horizon Europe Project”
• Dr. Najla Trabelsi (Assistant Professor, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cédria – Laboratory of Olive Biotechnology, Tunisia)
  “FoWRSaP – PRIMA Project”
• Prof. Nahla Ezzeldin Zakzouk (Head of Electrical and Control Department, College of Engineering and Technology, AASTMT, Egypt)
  “GreenOlive project”
• Dr. Rania Assem (Associate Professor, Electrical and Control Department, College of Engineering and Technology, AASTMT, Egypt)
  “Rest4Green Project”
• Dr. Ahmed Abdelrehim (Assistant Professor, Electrical and Control Department, College of Engineering and Technology, AASTMT, Egypt)
  “Speed Project”
  

14:30 – 15:00 | Session III – Hope for the Future – Young Scientists Session
Session Chair: Prof. Behnam Taidi

• Dr. Hiba Rajcha (Lecturer and Researcher in Bioproduction, SupBiotech – Engineering School of Biotechnology, Paris, France)
  “Transforming Agri‑Food Waste into High‑Value Bioactive Ingredients for Cosmetic, Food, and Pharmaceutical Applications”
• Ms. Malak CHHIMI (PhD student in process engineering, Université Paris‑Saclay CentraleSupélec‑LGPM and FAST laboratory, France)
  “Dynamics of mixing generated by phototactic motion of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in a photobioreactor”
  

15:00 – 15:30 | Closing Session