The three countries associated to the Framework Programmes lead in terms of both funding and number of grants
Kuwait. Photo credits: Mustafiz Ray / Unsplash
Decades of territorial disputes and regional power struggles have not stopped the Middle East from increasing its participation in EU-funded research. But the trend is far from uniform across countries, and the funding allocated to the region overall remains modest.
The Middle East is a loosely-defined geopolitical region, usually said to encompass the Arabian Peninsula with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates; the Levant, comprising Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan and Palestine; plus Iraq, Iran, Türkiye and Egypt. Most take part in the EU Framework Programmes (FPs) as third countries, funding their participation on a project-by-project basis.
Three states, however, have become associated states, paying a subscription fee in order for their researchers to bid for FP funds alongside their EU peers. These are Israel, whose association dates to 1996;…
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