The three-day event provided a platform for over 275 academics, experts, practitioners, researchers, professionals, policy makers, companies, start-ups, students and delegates to exchange new ideas and bring them in fruitful discussion that will move the world closer to more sustainable living environments but also continued to build relations between researchers and decision makers from the Middle East and North Africa as well as from Germany. The DAAD Office Cairo used this unique occasion to launch the COSIMENA Urbanism Cluster.

The conference was inaugurated by chairmen Prof Dr-Ing. Matthias Barjenbruch (Director, TU Berlin Campus El Gouna) and Prof Khalid Mohamed El Zahaby (Chairman, HBRC). In their welcome address, they upheld the potentiality of this German-Egyptian scientific conference to enhance the sustainability of cities. An idea that was reinforced by Dr Roman Luckscheiter (Director, DAAD Office Cairo) and Associate Professor Dr Mohab Elrefaie (Senior Advisor, GIZ) in their speeches. Honorable Red Sea Governor General Ahmed Abdallah was being present for the second day of the conference and encouraged a continued scientific cooperation leading to practical outputs for the betterment of the Red Sea Region and overall Egypt. He also emphasized the need for academic research especially in the field of regional and rural development, clean energy technology expansion and industrial and economic growth.

On the second day of the conference the DAAD Office Cairo hosted an expert round table discussion moderated by Prof Rudolf Schäfer in order to launch the COSIMENA Urbanism Cluster. Prof Dr Lang (TU München), Prof Dr Mariam Chabou (Ecole Polytechnique ďArchitecture et ďUrbanisme Alger, Algeria), Prof Dr Layla Raswol (Dohuk University, Iraq), Prof Dr Sahar Sodoudi (FU Berlin), Prof Dr Bernd Hillemeier (TU Berlin) and Dr-Ing. Wulf-Holger Arndt (TU Berlin) discussed the broad aspects of sustainable urban development by setting up a first thematic framework for the cluster, focusing on energy efficiency, urban renewal, green urban design, sustainable mobility and transport, climate change and building materials.

The conference provided insights into exemplary national and international case-studies and best practices for building sustainable and resilient livelihoods in harmony with the ecosystem and local resources, as well as exhibiting special German project experiences in the construction sector, climate change, green urban infrastructure, mobility, water, housing, energy etc. This conference has opened a path towards a better quality of life in Egypt, the MENA region and beyond.