Innovation is the driving force for economic growth and an efficient vehicle towards modernization and enhancing competitiveness in the global market. European countries and their neighbors have recognized the importance of innovation and therefore it is featured among the priorities of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP).

Association Agreements between the EU and its Mediterranean Partner Countries attribute a significant role to research and development within the economic cooperation underlying the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
The government of Egypt, among other southern Mediterranean countries, has placed research and innovation at the heart of its development strategy. In this context and within the framework of the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Egypt, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the European Commission launched the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Programme in October 2007.
The Programme aims at strengthening the links between the research and the industry while enhancing the innovation and technology transfer culture.

Foremost and among many other activities of the RDI Programme the “Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Marketplace” is organized  to offer a platform for scientists, researchers from various disciplines, entrepreneurs, investors, business people and policy makers from the Mediterranean and EU countries  to meet, network and further develop business ideas, projects and partnerships.