During a launching ceremony which was supervised by the International Research and Exchange Organization (IREX) and was attended by His Excellency, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Nabeel Kadim Abid Al-Sahib, US Ambassador to Iraq, Mrs. Alina L. Romanowski, Presidents and Representatives of southern universities and members of the Ministerial Committee in charge of supervision and follow-up, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced on launching the American scholaship for the initiative to support the southern universities to equip the Environmental Research Center and promote renewable energy research in the Universities of Basrah, Thi-Qar, Misan and Al-Muthanna. Dr. Abid Al-Sahib stressed on that the Iraqi universities possess the competencies and energies capable of managing and achieving sustainable development programs. His Excellency reviewed the importance of cooperation with international institutions and organizations in the fields of supporting infrastructure and providing positive climates responsible for community service. Dr. Abid Al-Sahib reviewed that the grant program for the initiative in support of southern universities to equip the Environmental Research Center and promote renewable energy research in the Universities of Basrah, Thi-Qar, Misan and Al-Muthanna represent a step towards productive scientific and educational partnerships that meet the contemporary knowledge requirements and open the way towards opportunities for scientific cooperation in vital fields and hard work to support scientific research and educational services. For her part, Mrs. Romanowski highlighted the importance of this initiative, as it focuses on the environmental fields and renewable energy, which constitute a primary objective of the sustainable development goals in Iraq. For their part, the supervisor of IREX projects, Dr. Laurie Mason,  presidents and representatives of Iraqi universities reviewed the aspects of cooperation in these programs, especially with regard to capacity-building and training to face challenges, produce sustainable solutions and develop laboratory capabilities in the fields of scientific research so that the goals and mission of Higher Education institutions in Iraq are achieved in light of the advanced global experiments.