Egypt has officially joined Horizon Europe, becoming the second African country associated to the European Union’s flagship research and innovation programme. The agreement was signed at the EU–Egypt Summit in Brussels, in the presence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, solidifying the two partners’ commitment to deepening scientific collaboration and innovation-driven growth.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the human dimension of this partnership, saying: “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 European Commission’s official statement notes that this milestone extends Egypt’s participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), reinforcing its central role in addressing water management, sustainable farming systems, and resilient food value chains across the region.

For PRIMA, this is not a beginning but an evolution. Since the launch of PRIMA’s first call in 2018, Egypt has been an active and valued participant, contributing to the shared Mediterranean mission of sustainable prosperity through science and innovation. This association to Horizon Europe empowers Egyptian institutions to lead and co-create within the European research ecosystem, a step that will amplify collaboration, innovation, and impact across the Mediterranean basin.

As Egypt joins Horizon Europe, PRIMA’s collaborative framework gains new momentum. The alignment between EU and Egyptian research priorities, from climate resilience and agri-food innovation to digital transformation, will strengthen joint efforts to face common challenges and shape a more sustainable Mediterranean future.