MERID
The Middle East Research and Innovation Dialogue – MERID project – was a coordination and support action funded by the EU framework program for research and innovation Horizon 2020.
The project ran from January 2015 until June 2018 and was coordinated by the Euro-Mediterranean University (EMUNI), based in Slovenia. MERID built on previous international cooperation experiences in research and innovation (R&I) with Mediterranean and Middle East partner countries and proposed 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.
MERID was an example of science diplomacy in practice: its ultimate goal was to employ R&I as a channel for intercultural dialogue, understanding and reconciliation. In this sense, EsadeGeo contributed in the project in particular through policy dialogue meetings and policy recommendations. The project was the very first step towards systematizing support to the policy dialogue and involvement of research communities of Iran and Iraq in the Horizon 2020 program.
Furthermore, MERID worked towards the consolidation of preconditions for enhanced EU-Middle East R&I cooperation by laying down foundations for future joint research projects and initiatives, enhancing direct cooperation among researchers, and establishing optimal framework conditions for international cooperation whilst increasing coordination between policies and program.
MERID’s outputs and outcomes include: a set of recommendations for an enhanced EU-Middle East Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Cooperation; a comprehensive STI policy dialogue framework; bilateral policy dialogue meetings with policy officials and decision makers; brokerage-venturing events for innovation; Horizon 2020 info days and training events in Cairo, Naples, Tehran, Barcelona, Beirut and Gaza; assistance and coaching one-to-one sessions provided to Middle East researchers and experts on applications to the H2020 program; and webinars to present opportunities for research and innovation cooperation under the H2020 program.
EsadeGeo organizes the first MERID regional event in Barcelona in May 2016
EsadeGeo’s main contributions to the project included a series of bilateral policy dialogue meetings held with the (potential) beneficiaries of EU-Middle East STI cooperation – mainly scientists and researchers themselves – in Barcelona and selected countries in the Middle East, which led to a set of short- and mid-term recommendations for this cooperation; contributions to various project events, in collaboration with the European Commission; and the organization of the first MERID regional event in Barcelona in May 2016.