EU and Egypt successfully conclude negotiations on Horizon Europe

The Commission and the Arab Republic of Egypt have successfully concluded negotiations on Egypt’s association to Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation funding programme. The Agreement is expected to be signed by November 2025, with its entry into force subject to final validations by both parties.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation said:

"Egypt’s association to Horizon Europe will drive progress in key sectors like energy, food security, and digital transition, creating new opportunities for innovation."

Transitional arrangements will apply from today. This will allow Egyptian entities to apply for and be treated as "eligible entities" established in an associated country in Horizon Europe for calls implementing budget from 2025 and onwards.

Association to Horizon Europe is the deepest form of collaboration offered by the EU in research and innovation. Once signed, the agreement will enable Egyptian researchers and organisations to participate on equivalent terms as entities established in EU Member States.

Egypt will be the second African country fully associated to Horizon Europe after Tunisia. 

Background

Egypt has been a longstanding partner in research and innovation dialogues with the EU, the Union for the Mediterranean, and the African Union. This evolving cooperation framework builds on the 2005 EU-Egypt Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement and Egypt’s participation in initiatives such as the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA). Egypt’s enhanced cooperation with Horizon Europe further strengthens its role in shaping regional research priorities and deepening international collaboration. Following President Ursula Von der Leyen’s visit to Egypt on 17 March 2024 and the signing of the Joint Declaration elevating EU-Egypt relations to a strategic and comprehensive partnership, formal negotiations were launched on 2 October 2024 in Cairo. The conclusion of these talks—building on months of exploratory discussions—marks a significant milestone and paves the way for stronger ties in research and innovation. The association will grant Egyptian entities access to all parts of the Horizon Europe programme, the ability to coordinate projects and support national research reforms and institutional capacity-building.

More information

Horizon Europe

Global approach to research and innovation

International cooperation with Egypt in research and innovation

Press contact:

EC Spokesperson for Research, Science and Innovation