MERID, Middle East

The Middle East Research and Innovation Dialogue – MERID project – is a coordination and support action funded by the EU framework programme for research and innovation (R&I) Horizon 2020 (H2020 – INT-INCO-2014 – INT-02-2014). The project, which builds on previous international cooperation experiences in R&I with Mediterranean and Middle East Partner Countries, proposes a comprehensive action to intensify and encourage R&I cooperation between the EU and the Middle East region, directly involving partners from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine.
The project presents a set of interrelated objectives, on two complementary levels.
Strategic level:
MERID intends to promote a comprehensive STI policy dialogue framework, where strategic instances of research from the EU and the target countries can be discussed. MERID should be seen as an agenda setting and a common methodology approach to current bottlenecks.
Operational level:
The overall approach is to build on a deep understanding of specific needs in the region, therefore focussing on interventions that are appropriate to the maturity of each country and research system relations with the EU.