EU and Egypt successfully conclude Horizon Europe association negotiations

The European Commission and the Arab Republic of Egypt have successfully concluded negotiations on Egypt's association with Horizon Europe, the EU's research and innovation programme. The Association Agreement is expected to be signed by November 2025 and will enter into force after formal confirmation by both sides.

Egypt to become part of the EU's Horizon Europe research framework programme

The agreement gives Egypt full access to Horizon Europe, the world's largest research and innovation programme. Transitional arrangements are already in place: Egyptian institutions will be able to apply for all Horizon Europe calls from the 2025 budget year onwards and will be treated in the same way as institutions from EU Member States, unless otherwise specified in the call.

EU Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, said:

“Egypt's association with Horizon Europe will enable progress in key areas such as energy, food security and digital transformation, and unlock new innovation potential.”

Second African country with full Horizon Europe association

After Tunisia, Egypt is the second African country to be fully associated with Horizon Europe. This form of cooperation is the EU's most intensive partnership with non-European countries in the field of research and innovation.

EU-Egypt strategic partnership deepens

Egypt has long been an important partner for the EU in science and technology dialogue, both bilaterally and in the context of regional organisations such as the Union for the Mediterranean and the African Union. The new association builds on the existing cooperation agreement of 2005 and Egypt's participation in programmes such as PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area).

The path to association was paved by the joint declaration issued during the visit of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Cairo on 17 March 2024. Formal negotiations started on 2 October 2024.

Benefits for Egyptian institutions through Horizon Europe

The association offers Egyptian universities, research organisations and companies

• full access to all Horizon Europe funding schemes
• equal treatment with EU institutions when applying for projects
• the possibility to coordinate international research projects
• Support for the development of national research structures and capacities

BayFOR: Bridging Bavaria and Africa in Research and Innovation

The Scientific Coordination Office (WKS) Bavaria-Africa at BayFOR supports stakeholders from science, industry and civil society in project development and application. The focus is on European funding programmes such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+, but national programmes and foundation funding are also specifically targeted.

Do you have an idea for a project with partners from Egypt?

The WKS Bavaria-Africa supports you as a Bavarian actor from science, business and civil society free of charge - from finding the right funding instrument to submitting the application.

Please feel free to contact us here