H2020 Projects
MERID
The Middle East Research and Innovation Dialogue – MERID project – is a coordination and support action funded by the EU framework programme H2020 for research and innovation.
WHO WE ARE
The MERID is implemented by a consortium of 13 institutions from EU and Middle East countries. The consortium was carefully selected to provide a balanced mix of research and policy making organisation in the EU and the target regions, with diverse experience, in academic issues, research and innovation management, policy making and project management. The project intends to build upon the experience carried out in countries of the region, with comparable framework conditions, that have already participated in the previous framework programmes.
LIST OF PARTNERS
| Organization Name | Acronym | Country |
|---|---|---|
|
EMUNI University |
EMUNI |
Slovenia |
|
Centre for Regional and International STI Studies and Support |
CeRISS |
Greece |
|
EFB-Europe for Business |
EFB |
UK |
|
Centre International Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Mediterraneennes |
CIHEAM |
Italy |
|
Sustainable Communication |
S-COM |
Belgium |
|
National Council for Scientific Research |
CNRS |
Lebanon |
|
Free University of Berlin |
FUB |
Germany |
|
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research |
MHESR |
Egypt |
|
Iranian Association for Management of Technology |
IRAMOT |
Iran |
|
University of Jordan |
UJ |
Jordan |
|
Ministry of Science and Technology |
MoST |
Iraq |
|
Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics |
ESADE |
Spain |
|
Islamic University of Gaza |
IUG |
Palestine |
WHAT WE DO
The objectives of the Middle East Research and Innovation Dialogue – MERID Project are presented on two complementary levels:
- on a strategic level
- by promoting a comprehensive STI policy dialogue framework (identification of the key priorities to be discussed within the EU-Middle East research relations, promotion of a method for setting a common agenda and a shared methodology for the different countries, discussion to be constantly encouraged and updated).
- on an operational level
- by taking into consideration the specific needs in the region (capacity building for intermediary organisations and for research stakeholders, information transfer for research constituency, establishment of networking and contacts for researchers).
EXPECTED IMPACT
The MERID project has high potential to deliver long-lasting impact and structuring effects on cooperation between the EU and the Middle East region. In particular, it focuses on enhancing direct cooperation among researchers and on laying or consolidating preconditions, in the region, to foster joint research projects and initiatives with the EU. The consortium has chosen to act in parallel on two essential components of EU-Middle East cooperation. On the one hand, efforts will be done to identify and act upon issues that deserve a policy dialogue framework in view of structuring a bi-regional and multi-lateral process likely to favour either bilateral or multilateral cooperation agreements or frameworks. On the other hand, substantial resources will be devoted to more operational activities, including the involvement of EU and Middle East researchers in brokerage events with the idea to promote cooperation on concrete research and innovation projects, particularly projects funded by H2020.
The MERID Project is expected to have the following impacts;
-more strategic priority setting for cooperation with the Union`s international partners across the whole of Horizon 2020.
-stronger cooperation between EU researchers and Middle East researchers, and increased participation of non-FP associated Middle East countries in H2020.
-establishment of optimal framework conditions for international cooperation.
-increased coordination and synergies between policies and programmes of the Member States, the Associated Countries and the Union`s international partners.
-close synergies with the international dimension of calls launched across H2020 to enhance the socio-economic impact of H2020 (notably through increased access to scientific excellence across the world and the opening up of the new markets).
COORDINATION
Coordination: Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI)
(Slovenia, www.emuni.si)
The project MERID Project has received funding from Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, under the Grant Agreement 645846 (H2020-INT-INCO-2014)
