Egypt has officially become the second African nation to join Horizon Europe, the EU’s €93.5 billion research and innovation (R&I) programme for 2021–2027. This grants Egyptian researchers, universities, innovators and entities access to all parts of the programme on similar terms to those of EU Member States. It enables them to lead projects, contribute to cutting-edge research, and support national research reforms and institutional capacity-building. 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “People are at the core of the EU-Egypt partnership — supporting them to develop their talents, ideas, and skills. Egypt's association to Horizon Europe will create opportunities for cutting-edge projects and innovations. These developments will be in vital research areas like water management, sustainable farming, and food security, bringing tangible benefits to our societies.”

The association agreement was signed today at the EU–Egypt Summit in Brussels by EU Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva and Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty, in the presence of President Ursula von der Leyen and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. This milestone marks a significant step forward in EU–Egypt cooperation, strengthening joint efforts to address shared global challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and sustainable development.

In addition, the agreement extends Egypt's participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) to enhance water management, farming systems and food value chains.

Egypt has long been a trusted partner of the EU, the Union for the Mediterranean, and the African Union in advancing research and innovation cooperation. The new association builds on the 2005 EU–Egypt Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement and Egypt’s active participation PRIMA.

Horizon Europe is the EU’s main funding programme for research and innovation, designed to tackle climate change, advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and enhance Europe’s competitiveness and growth. So far, 21 countries have become associated with Horizon Europe, including EEA members, candidate and potential candidate countries, European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) partners, and other eligible third countries that meet the programme’s political, economic, and scientific criteria.

At B2EU Consulting, we actively follow developments related to major EU funding programmes such as Horizon Europe. Active across the entire MEA region, we closely monitor to identify emerging opportunities for our clients.