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Research and innovation

Algeria

Policy background, funding opportunities, agreements and arrangements, projects and results and contact

Policy background

The European Union cooperates with Algeria in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and its southern dimension, the Renewed partnership with Southern Neighbourhood– A new Agenda for the Mediterranean.

The general framework for cooperation between the EU and Algeria is set by the Association Agreement, which entered into force in 2005 and was revised in 2017. It establishes all areas of cooperation between the parties.

The EU-Algeria relationship is also developed at the regional level through the Union for the Mediterranean, an intergovernmental institution bringing together all EU countries and 15 countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean to promote dialogue and cooperation.

Science and Technology Agreements and Arrangements

The EU strengthened research and innovation cooperation with Algeria in 2012 by signing a science and technology agreement whose implementation remains a main priority of the bilateral cooperation. The implementation of the agreement is overseen by a Joint Science and Technology Committee. The 5th EU-Algeria Joint Committee on the Scientific and Technological Cooperation took place in March 2023.

Cooperation in research and innovation under the agreement takes place within the political frameworks of the EU’s new Agenda for the Mediterranean the Global Approach to Research and Innovation adopted in May 2021 that sets out the EU’s vision for future international research and innovation cooperation and prioritises the Mediterranean Region.

A new initiative, "Programme d'appui à la politique d'internationalisation de la Recherche et de l'Innovation" (IPTICAR), is in preparation, through which European Commission will support the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the reforms undertaken to develop Algeria’s  capacity for research and innovation cooperation in the European research and innovation area. The action plan targets four impacts: i) Governance; ii) Participation in the European research and innovation space; iii) International ranking of higher education; iv) International ranking of research and innovation.

Algeria takes also part in the High Level Policy Dialogue with Africa

Areas of cooperation

The Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Research and Innovation, that took place on 27 June 2022, endorsed research and innovation roadmaps around 3 priorities: Health, Climate Change and Renewable Energy.

The Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research participates in several international research programmes with the European Union with co-financing. The largest co-financing projects to date have been the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), where the 19 participating states countries share a common research and innovation strategy addressing the challenges around water scarcity, agriculture and food security, and fund collaborative research in these areas.

Cooperation and funding opportunities

Horizon Europe is open to the world, which means that participants from all over the world can participate in most calls. The EU can fund the participation in Horizon Europe collaborative research actions of entities established in EU Member States, in countries Associated to Horizon Europe, and in low and middle income countries, including Algeria.

Almost all calls in the Horizon Europe 2023-2024 work programme are open to Algerian participation. However cooperation with the Mediterranean region is further highlighted through a Mediterranean Initiative, which encourages cooperation with Mediterranean partners in certain topics of the work programme.

In addition, Algerian entities are eligible for EU financial through the European Research Council and Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions:

European Research Council

The European Research Council offers grants to researchers in all research domains for frontier research. Algerian researchers are welcome to apply and if selected are eligible for funding to establish a research group in Europe. Grants are available for researchers starting or consolidating their independent career and for advanced researchers.

Synergy grants are also available, where a group of 2-4 Principal Investigators (PIs) may include one PI outside the EU or countries associated to Horizon Europe, to tackle together an ambitious research problem, with all funded by the ERC.

Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions

Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions offer fellowships for post-doctoral researchers from Algeria (and other countries) to spend up to 2 years in a European group – or for European researchers to spend up to 2 years in an Algerian lab. Also offers opportunities for Algerian institutions to participate in Doctoral Training Networks and Staff Exchange consortia.

Projects and results

EU-funded research projects involving Algeria

You can also visit the Horizon Dashboard, which is a one-stop shop for data and statistics on the EU Research and Innovation Programmes – from FP1 to Horizon Europe. 

Contact

National Contact Points

National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.

Research enquiry service

Contact the research enquiry service to find out more about research in Europe, the EU's research and innovation funding programmes as well as calls for proposals and project funding.

European Commission

RTD-F-DIR-ASSISTatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (DG Research and Innovation International Cooperation)

EURAXESS Africa

Euraxess Africa provides access to a complete range of information and support services for researchers in African countries wishing to pursue a research career in Europe or looking for collaboration opportunities through Horizon Europe.

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