Mahmoud M. Sakr, Editor-in-Chief
Mahmoud M. Sakr has been the President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) since April 2014. He is working actively on restructuring of ASRT with great focus on STI indicators and policies, benchmarking of national research institutions, empowering of young researchers, science and society, establishment of national research networks, innovation clusters, knowledge and technological alliances (PPP), technological incubators, technology transfer and deepening of local manufacturing. He supervised the preparation and application of several technological roadmaps and strategic studies, and deeply involved in preparation of Egypt STI strategy 2030. Sakr had several National Positions such as Vice President of the Academy and Executive Director of Science and Technology Development Fund. He received three scientific Excellence prizes, got his PhD in Plant Biotechnology in 1995 and professorship in plant biotechnology in 2006.
In addition to being Head of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Division (which is equivalent to a Faculty Dean position) of the National Research Center, Professor Sakr was the Co-founder and Director of Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences (Nobel project) in the National Research Center (from April 2006 to Dec 2009), he was also the Founder and Head of two research groups at National Research Center namely, Plant Molecular Genetics and Plant Transformation Research Groups. Recently he launched a national program named Wealth of Egypt. The aim of the program is the collect, characterize, preserve and protect national plant genetic recourses using up to date technology (DNA Barcoding).
Professor Sakr has held several international scientific positions. He has been the Secretary General of Arab Biotechnology Association, Federation of Arab Scientific Research Councils (FASRC) since 2009, Coordinator of Inter-Islamic Network of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (COMSTECH), Coordinator of Agricultural Biotechnology Network, COMSATS (2008-2011), took an active part of the Regional executive committee of Middle East Science Fund (2008-2011) of Jordan, member of ESCWA Science and Technology Center BOD and member of BOD of Arab German Young Academy (AGYA) since it is establishment. Professor Sakr is also member in the Board of Trustees (BOT) of Egypt-Japan University (E-JUST), Zewail City and Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC), and member of several universities and research centres councils and supreme council of universities. He is a member of International committee for the selection of E-JUST President and Zewail City CEO.
