EU Opens Flagship Research Program to Egypt: Academics and Industry Can Apply for Horizon Europe Projects
BRUSSELS:European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday that Egypt has been granted access to the prestigious Horizon Europe programme, a significant step that allows Egyptian academics, industry, and public institutions to apply for project funding under the EU’s main research and innovation initiative.
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s flagship program, boasting a substantial budget of €93.5 billion for the 2021–2027 period, and is designed to fund projects across academia, industry, and public institutions.
While the move opens a new avenue for Egyptian entities to seek international research capital, an EU official told reporters that access to the program does not come with an automatic guarantee of funding.
“Egyptians have now access to apply for funding but the assignment of funds is based on merit,” the EU official explained, emphasizing that successful projects will be determined by the eligibility and quality of each individual proposal in a competitive environment.
The association with Horizon Europe will enable Egyptian researchers and innovators to collaborate with European partners on projects focused on tackling global challenges, including climate change, and strengthening competitiveness in critical sectors.