Scientific and technological cooperation between the EU and Egypt

KEY POINTS

Activities conducted under the agreement are based on a set of principles:

• the promotion of a knowledge-based society to foster the social and economic development of both parties;
• mutual benefits based on an overall balance of advantages;
• reciprocal access to the activities of research programmes and projects undertaken by each party;
• the timely exchange of information;
• the protection of intellectual property rights.

Cooperation

• Egyptian legal entities¹ can take part in indirect cooperative activities of the EU’s framework programmes for research and innovation (Horizon Europe) under the same conditions as those applicable to legal entities of EU Member States, subject to the terms and conditions set out in Annexes I and II to the agreement.
• Legal entities established in a Member State can take part in Egyptian research programmes and projects covering similar areas to those of the framework programmes under the same conditions as those applicable to legal entities of Egypt, subject to the terms and conditions set out in Annexes I and II to the agreement.

Cooperative activities may include the following:

• regular discussions on the guidelines and priorities for research policies and planning in Egypt and the EU;
• discussions on cooperation prospects and developments;
• timely provision of information concerning the implementation of respective programmes and research projects;
• joint meetings;
• visits and exchanges of research workers, engineers and technicians, including for training purposes;
• exchanges and sharing of equipment and materials;
• regular and sustained contacts between programme or project managers of the parties;
• participation of experts in seminars, conferences, symposia and workshops;
• exchanges of information on practices, laws, regulations and programmes relevant to cooperation under this agreement;
• research and technological development training;
• reciprocal access to scientific and technological information within the scope of this cooperation;
• any other arrangement adopted by the Joint Scientific and Technical Cooperation Committee set up under this agreement.

Under the protocol, Egypt must contribute financially to the EU’s general budget corresponding to the specific programmes in which it participates. A memorandum of understanding between the Commission and the Egyptian authorities sets out the specific terms and conditions, in particular the financial contribution and reporting and evaluation procedures, regarding Egypt’s participation in each programme.

Egypt participates in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) initiative, set up under Decision (EU) 2017/1324 (see summary). PRIMA aims to pool the knowledge and financial resources of the EU and the participating countries to build research and innovation capacities and develop knowledge and joint innovative solutions for water and agri-food systems in the Mediterranean area. The EU will provide up to €220 million from the Horizon 2020 programme to PRIMA.