Title: Egypt Poised to Integrate into EU’s Horizon Europe Research Initiative Following Fruitful Discussions
After fruitful discussions with the European Commission, Egypt is set to officially connect with Horizon Europe — the European Union’s prominent funding framework for research and innovation. The agreement, which is anticipated to be signed formally in November 2024, will see Egypt becoming the second African country to fully engage with the programme, following Tunisia’s integration in 2022.
A Significant Milestone in EU-Egypt R&D Collaboration
The announcement made on 10 April 2025 signifies a considerable leap in EU-Egypt partnerships in science and technology. Formal negotiations between the European Commission and the Egyptian government began in October 2024. Their completion now opens the door for provisional arrangements that allow Egyptian research institutions and applicants to apply for funding from Horizon Europe immediately. Through these frameworks, Egyptian entities will be treated equally to EU-based organizations, greatly enhancing their access to Europe’s €95.5 billion R&I programme from 2021 to 2027.
“This showcases the enduring collaboration between the EU and Egypt in research and innovation,” remarked Ekaterina Zaharieva, the European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation. “Egypt’s integration into Horizon Europe will promote advancements in vital sectors such as energy, food security, and digital transformation, generating new avenues for innovation.”
Foundations of a Growing Partnership
Egypt’s entry into Horizon Europe builds upon an earlier science and technology cooperation pact with the EU established in 2005. Over the last twenty years, both sides have engaged in a variety of bilateral and multilateral research projects. The new association will bolster Egypt’s inclusion in the European Research Area (ERA), enabling researchers to engage in collaborative ventures across a diverse array of thematic areas.
This development reflects the EU’s ongoing commitment to forging science diplomacy alliances with neighboring nations and regions. Egypt, due to its strategic location and expanding research sector, complements the EU’s strategy of fostering global cooperation on critical issues like climate change, food security, and digital transformation.
Prospects and Contributions
Engagement in Horizon Europe grants Egypt access to an extensive network of universities, technology hubs, and innovation ecosystems throughout the EU and its partner nations. It also presents opportunities for involvement in multinational projects addressing global challenges — from creating advanced clean energy technologies to enhancing digital infrastructures and improving public health frameworks.
The collaboration may also encourage the exchange of knowledge, talent mobility, and capacity building within Egypt’s scientific community, thereby supporting sustainable development and economic enhancement.
Concerns Over Academic Freedom Ignite Debate
Nonetheless, the initiative has faced criticism. Certain European policymakers and human rights advocates have raised alarms about Egypt’s history regarding academic freedom. In a 2023 statement to Science|Business, German MEP Christian Ehler, who serves as rapporteur on the Horizon Europe programme, contended that Egypt should have been mandated to implement reforms improving academic freedoms prior to this association.
Ehler highlighted Egypt’s low ranking in academic freedom on a global scale, as evaluated by an international index managed by Friedrich-Alexander University in Germany. “We must guarantee that EU research programmes uphold core European values, including academic freedom and freedom of expression,” Ehler cautioned.
Yet, despite these apprehensions, the European Commission has proceeded with the perspective that engagement through science diplomacy can also serve as a trigger for beneficial reform.
Future Actions
The formal signing of the association agreement is expected to occur in November 2024. In the meantime, the provisional arrangements will stay in effect, permitting Egyptian entities unfettered access to the Horizon Europe programme under similar terms as EU and already associated countries.
This milestone represents a key progression in international scientific alliances and emphasizes the EU’s commitment to nurturing global collaboration as vital in addressing shared challenges. As Egypt enters a broader European R&I landscape, stakeholders from both sides will be closely monitoring how this partnership develops — and what it brings forth for innovation, science, and human advancement.