Египетские научные коллективы получат до 250 тысяч евро на международные проекты в рамках программы PRIMA

Deadline: 29-Sep-2026 PRIMA Call-9 provides grants to Egyptian research teams participating in international collaborative projects under the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA). Eligible Egyptian partners can receive up to €200,000 per project, increasing to €250,000 when the Egyptian partner serves as project coordinator, with funding supporting research personnel, equipment, travel, supplies, prototypes, intellectual property and other eligible costs. What Is PRIMA Call-9? PRIMA Call-9 is a funding opportunity designed to strengthen the participation of Egyptian research teams in international collaborative research projects under the PRIMA framework. The programme supports Egyptian researchers working with international consortia to address scientific, technological and innovation challenges relevant to the Mediterranean region. Through this funding, Egyptian research institutions can participate more effectively in multinational research and innovation projects while contributing local expertise, research capacity and knowledge. The initiative supports collaboration across borders and aims to strengthen Egypt’s contribution to Mediterranean research and innovation. What Is the Main Objective of PRIMA Call-9? The main objective is to enable Egyptian research teams to participate in international collaborative projects addressing challenges relevant to the Mediterranean area. The programme can help: - Strengthen Egyptian research capacity. - Support international research collaboration. - Increase participation in multinational consortia. - Develop innovative research solutions. - Support technology and prototype development. - Strengthen scientific cooperation across the Mediterranean. - Enable Egyptian researchers to contribute to international research projects. The programme is particularly relevant to research teams that already participate, or are seeking to participate, in eligible international PRIMA collaborations. How Much Funding Is Available? Each eligible project can receive up to: €200,000 The maximum funding increases to: €250,000 when the Egyptian partner serves as the project coordinator. The grant is provided in Egyptian Pounds (LE) rather than directly in euros. The final amount is therefore administered according to the applicable Egyptian funding and financial procedures. Who Is Eligible to Apply? PRIMA Call-9 is intended for Egyptian research teams affiliated with eligible host institutions. Eligible host institutions can include: - Governmental organisations. - Non-governmental organisations. - Research institutions. - Other eligible Egyptian research entities participating in the relevant international consortium. The research team is associated with a host institution, which is responsible for the financial administration of the grant. What Is the Role of the Principal Investigator? The Principal Investigator (PI) plays a central role in managing the funded project. The PI is responsible for overseeing the research activities and managing the project in accordance with the approved plan. However, the financial administration is handled through the financial department of the host institution. The grant is therefore managed through a combination of: - Principal Investigator leadership. - Host institution financial administration. - Periodic technical reporting. - Periodic financial reporting. What Costs Can PRIMA Call-9 Support? The grant can support a broad range of eligible research and project-related expenses. Eligible costs may include: - Personnel incentives. - Equipment. - Spare parts. - Expendable supplies. - Prototype manufacturing. - Services. - Intellectual property registration. - Events and related expenses. - International and domestic travel. - Daily subsistence allowances. - Indirect costs. Applicants should ensure that all proposed expenses are directly connected to the approved project and comply with the applicable financial limits. Personnel Incentives Funding can include incentives for members of the project team. However, personnel incentives are subject to a specific financial ceiling. The incentives must not exceed: 25% of the total project budget or LE 2,000,000, whichever is applicable under the programme rules. Applicants should carefully calculate personnel incentives when preparing the project budget. Equipment and Spare Parts Funding can support eligible research equipment and spare parts required to implement the project. Equipment purchases should be clearly justified. Applicants should explain: - Why the equipment is necessary. - How it will be used. - Which project activities require it. - How the equipment contributes to achieving project results. Expendable Supplies The grant can also support eligible consumable or expendable materials required for research activities. These costs should be directly related to the approved project work plan. Prototype Development and Manufacturing PRIMA Call-9 can support services related to the manufacturing of prototypes. This can be particularly relevant to research projects that move beyond theoretical work and require practical development or testing. Applicants should clearly explain the purpose of the prototype and its relationship to the project’s research and innovation objectives. Intellectual Property Registration Eligible funding can also support intellectual property registration. This may help research teams protect and formalise intellectual property generated through eligible project activities. The proposed cost should be clearly connected to project outputs and intellectual property resulting from the research. Events and Dissemination Project funding can cover eligible expenses associated with events and related activities. These activities can support: - Research dissemination. - Knowledge exchange. - Stakeholder engagement. - Project meetings. - Scientific communication. Applicants should demonstrate how event-related costs contribute to project implementation or dissemination. Travel and Daily Subsistence Travel expenses and daily subsistence allowances can be supported where they are necessary for project implementation. However, travel spending is subject to a specific cap. Travel Cost Limit Travel costs must not exceed: 20% of the total project budget or LE 1,000,000, as applicable under the programme rules. Applicants should therefore plan international and domestic travel carefully and ensure that proposed expenses remain within the permitted limit. Indirect Costs PRIMA Call-9 allows eligible indirect costs, but these are also subject to a ceiling. Indirect costs must not exceed: 10% of total direct costs excluding equipment costs, or LE 150,000, whichever is lower. Applicants should calculate indirect costs only after determining the applicable direct costs and excluding equipment costs from the relevant calculation base. How Is the Funding Paid? The grant is not necessarily released as one single payment. Funding is disbursed in instalments. Subsequent payments are linked to the acceptance of: - Periodic technical progress reports. - Periodic financial progress reports. This means that the research team and host institution must maintain accurate project records and demonstrate satisfactory progress. How Is the Grant Administered? The Principal Investigator manages the research project, while the host institution’s financial department administers the funding. This structure separates scientific and project leadership from institutional financial administration. The host institution is responsible for ensuring that financial transactions follow the relevant rules and procedures. What Are the Requirements for Non-Governmental Host Institutions? Non-governmental host institutions can be eligible, but additional financial safeguards may apply. A non-governmental host institution must either: - Submit a Letter of Guarantee; or - Follow a post-activity milestone payment schedule. This requirement provides additional financial assurance for projects hosted by non-governmental institutions. Applicants should confirm which mechanism applies before finalising the financial arrangements. How to Prepare a Strong PRIMA Call-9 Project Step 1: Confirm the Egyptian Research Team’s Eligibility Confirm that the research team is affiliated with an eligible Egyptian host institution. The host institution may be governmental or non-governmental, subject to the applicable requirements. Step 2: Confirm the International Consortium The project should be part of an eligible international collaborative consortium under the PRIMA framework. Clearly identify: - Egyptian partner. - International partners. - Project coordinator. - Principal Investigator. - Roles of participating institutions. Step 3: Define the Egyptian Contribution Explain the specific research contribution that the Egyptian team will make to the international project. The proposal should demonstrate the value of the Egyptian partner’s: - Scientific expertise. - Research infrastructure. - Local knowledge. - Technical capabilities. - Research personnel. - Access to relevant data or field environments. Step 4: Develop the Research Work Plan Clearly identify the activities that the Egyptian team will undertake. A strong work plan should connect: Research challenge → Activities → Outputs → Expected results → Impact Step 5: Prepare the Budget Develop a detailed budget covering eligible costs such as: - Personnel incentives. - Equipment. - Supplies. - Services. - Prototypes. - Intellectual property. - Events. - Travel. - Daily subsistence. - Indirect costs. Step 6: Check All Financial Caps Before submission, calculate the applicable limits for: - Personnel incentives. - Travel. - Indirect costs. This is important because exceeding a programme limit can make parts of the proposed budget ineligible. Step 7: Confirm the Funding Amount Determine whether the Egyptian partner qualifies for the standard maximum of €200,000 or the higher maximum of €250,000 when serving as project coordinator. Step 8: Establish the Financial Administration Confirm that the host institution’s financial department can administer the grant. If the host institution is non-governmental, ensure that the required Letter of Guarantee or post-activity milestone payment arrangement is in place. Step 9: Plan for Progress Reporting Since funding instalments are linked to accepted technical and financial progress reports, establish a reporting system from the beginning. Maintain: - Financial records. - Research progress records. - Procurement documentation. - Travel records. - Project outputs. - Evidence of completed activities. How to Build a Strong International Collaboration The Egyptian research team’s role should be clearly defined within the international consortium. A strong collaboration should demonstrate: - Complementary expertise. - Clearly divided responsibilities. - Shared research objectives. - International added value. - Strong communication between partners. - Clear deliverables. - Measurable research outcomes. The Egyptian partner should not appear to be a peripheral participant. The proposal should demonstrate the specific scientific and technical value that the Egyptian team contributes. How to Use the Grant Effectively Applicants should prioritise costs that are directly necessary to deliver the approved research activities. A well-designed budget should: - Match the work plan. - Justify major purchases. - Avoid unnecessary expenditure. - Respect all financial ceilings. - Clearly distinguish direct and indirect costs. - Include realistic travel requirements. - Provide sufficient resources for research implementation. Common Budget and Application Mistakes to Avoid Applicants should carefully review the project and financial requirements before submission. Common mistakes include: - Failing to establish eligibility of the Egyptian host institution. - Not clearly defining the Egyptian team’s role in the international consortium. - Requesting more than the applicable funding ceiling. - Exceeding the personnel incentive limit. - Exceeding the travel cost limit. - Calculating indirect costs incorrectly. - Including costs that are not directly related to the project. - Failing to justify equipment purchases. - Providing an unclear work plan. - Underestimating reporting requirements. - Failing to arrange the required financial guarantee for a non-governmental host institution. - Not maintaining adequate technical and financial documentation. Key Facts About PRIMA Call-9 - Programme: PRIMA Call-9. - Country: Egypt. - Main beneficiaries: Egyptian research teams. - Partnership model: International collaborative research consortia. - Standard maximum grant: €200,000 per project. - Maximum when Egyptian partner is project coordinator: €250,000. - Currency of disbursement: Egyptian Pounds. - Eligible institutions: Governmental and non-governmental host institutions. - Project management: Principal Investigator. - Financial administration: Host institution’s financial department. - Payment structure: Instalments linked to accepted periodic technical and financial reports. - Personnel incentives: Maximum 25% or LE 2,000,000 of the total project budget, as applicable. - Travel costs: Maximum 20% or LE 1,000,000, as applicable. - Indirect costs: Maximum 10% of eligible direct costs excluding equipment or LE 150,000, whichever is lower. - Non-governmental institutions: Must provide a Letter of Guarantee or follow a post-activity milestone payment schedule. - Potential eligible costs: Equipment, supplies, personnel incentives, prototypes, services, intellectual property, events, travel, subsistence and indirect costs. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is PRIMA Call-9? PRIMA Call-9 is a funding mechanism supporting Egyptian research teams participating in international collaborative projects under the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area framework. 2. How much funding can an Egyptian research team receive? An eligible project can receive up to €200,000. The maximum increases to €250,000 when the Egyptian partner serves as project coordinator. 3. Who can apply for PRIMA Call-9? Eligible applicants are Egyptian research teams affiliated with host institutions, including governmental and non-governmental organisations, subject to the applicable programme requirements. 4. What costs can the grant cover? Eligible costs can include personnel incentives, equipment, spare parts, expendable supplies, prototype manufacturing, services, intellectual property registration, events, travel, daily subsistence allowances and eligible indirect costs. 5. What is the maximum travel budget? Travel costs are capped at 20% of the total project budget or LE 1,000,000, according to the applicable programme limit. 6. How are grant payments made? Funding is provided in instalments after periodic technical and financial progress reports have been submitted and accepted. 7. What additional requirement applies to non-governmental host institutions? A non-governmental host institution must submit a Letter of Guarantee or follow a post-activity milestone payment schedule, according to the applicable funding arrangements. Conclusion PRIMA Call-9 provides Egyptian research teams with an opportunity to strengthen their participation in international Mediterranean research and innovation projects. With funding of up to €200,000 per project, or €250,000 when the Egyptian partner is the project coordinator, the programme can support a broad range of research-related expenses. Successful applicants should clearly demonstrate the Egyptian team’s role within the international consortium, develop a strong research work plan and prepare a realistic budget that complies with all applicable financial ceilings. Particular attention should be given to the limits on personnel incentives, travel and indirect costs, as well as the additional financial requirements applicable to non-governmental host institutions. By combining strong international collaboration with clear scientific objectives, sound financial planning and effective reporting, Egyptian research teams can use PRIMA Call-9 to strengthen their contribution to research and innovation across the Mediterranean region. For more information, visit Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF).