Egyptian and US higher education officials signed yesterday an agreement which will see the American side provide grants of up to USD 200 mn through to 2022, according to an Investment Ministry statement. The grants will go toward academic scholarships targeting women and faculty members of American universities based in Egypt. They will also set up three USD 90 mn research-focused centers of excellence in energy, agricultural, and water sciences. The centers will be set up through partnerships between Egyptian universities including Ain Shams, Cairo University, and the American University in Cairo, as well as the likes of MIT, Cornell, Purdue, and Michigan State. MIT has confirmed that it has been awarded USD 30 mn from USAID for the project.