Lebanon has officially joined the EU’s Partnership on Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), a significant move announced at a ceremony held on July 22.

The agreement was signed by Nienke Buisman, head of the international cooperation unit at the Directorate General of Research and Innovation, Lebanese Ambassador to the EU Fadi Haj Ali, and Tamara Elzein, Secretary-General of the French national research funder CNRS.

This integration marks a pivotal step in strengthening Lebanon’s role in regional research and innovation efforts.

The PRIMA initiative, established under the Horizon Europe Work Programme for 2023-2024, aims to foster cooperation in research and innovation across Mediterranean countries. It focuses on key areas such as climate change, renewable energy, and health, addressing pressing regional and global challenges. The initiative emerged from the Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial in 2022, which highlighted the need for collaborative efforts in these critical sectors.

PRIMA is a flagship program designed to enhance regional cooperation by facilitating joint research projects and funding opportunities. It plays a crucial role in advancing solutions for water and food security, issues of particular importance in the Mediterranean region. The inclusion of Lebanon in PRIMA underscores the strategic importance of the initiative in addressing these global challenges.

With Lebanon’s accession, Lebanese researchers will have the opportunity to actively participate in PRIMA’s projects and benefit from its funding mechanisms through the upcoming phases of the initiative, extending into 2025-2027. This partnership is expected to significantly contribute to the regional and global research landscape, promoting innovation and collaboration in tackling some of the most pressing issues of our time.