Egypt joins Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Organisations based in Egypt can now participate as beneficiaries under the same terms as those based in the European Union and other countries associated to Horizon Europe.
Egypt has become an associated country to Horizon Europe, including the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).
Organisations based in Egypt can apply to all MSCA 2026 calls for proposals as well as all future calls under Horizon Europe 2021-2027. This includes all schemes under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
Researchers from Egypt continue to be able to participate in the programme, which is open to top researchers from all over the world.
About Egypt and MSCA
Before the association, Egypt has participated in MSCA calls under Horizon Europe as a non-associated country.
Between 2021 and 2025, 14 Egyptian organisations have participated in 20 MSCA projects, taking part mainly in MSCA Staff Exchanges and Doctoral Networks. They have hosted 14 international MSCA researchers.
Nearly 100 Egyptian researchers have been supported in MSCA projects under Horizon Europe so far.
Signature of the Association Agreement
Egypt officially joined Horizon Europe on 22 October 2025 with the signing of the Association Agreement unlocking new opportunities for scientific collaboration and becoming the second African country to join the EU’s multibillion-euro research and innovation funding programme.
The Association Agreement was signed on the margins of the EU–Egypt Summit by Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, and H.E Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty, Egyptian Minister of foreign affairs in the presence of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Result of association
Egyptian entities have access to all parts of the Horizon Europe programme on similar terms with EU Member States.
They can now join and/or lead research consortia and be funded directly from the programme, enabling them to contribute to cutting-edge research and tackle global challenges as well as engage in initiatives supporting national research reforms and institutional capacity-building.
The association to Horizon Europe also guarantees the extended participation of Egypt to the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) to enhance water management, farming systems and food value chains.
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