Policy background
The European Union cooperates with Jordan 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 EU and Jordan cooperation is based on the 2002 Association Agreement and the recently adopted EU-Jordan Partnership Priorities for the period 2021-2027, within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
Science and Technology Agreements and Arrangements
A Scientific and Technological cooperation agreement between the EU and Jordan was signed in November 2009 and entered into force on 29 March 2011.
An EU-Jordan Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee has been set up to implement the cooperation agreement.
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 innovaiton cooperation and prioritises the Mediterranean Region.
At a regional level, Jordan is a valuable EU partner in research and innovation and particularly in bi-regional science diplomacy initiatives such as the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA), where Jordan has been participating since 2017
Jordan’s Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST) co-chairs, together with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, the meetings of the Union for the Mediterranean Regional Platform in Research and Innovation which brings together all EU both south and east Mediterranean countries to define strategic orientations for Euro-Med science and technology collaboration.
Areas of cooperation
During the 6th EU–Jordan Joint S&T Cooperation Committee Meeting in April, 2023, both parties agreed to strengthen the cooperation on:
- Renewable energies
- Clean Hydrogen (to achieve a stronger participation by Jordan in the calls in the 2024 work programme of the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (CHJU), integrating the forthcoming European Hydrogen Academy and the EU Clean Hydrogen Observatory.)
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.
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 Jordan.
Almost all calls in the Horizon Europe 2023-2024 work programme are open to Jordanian participation. 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, Jordanian 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. Jordanian 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 Jordan (and other countries) to spend up to 2 years in a European group – or for European researchers to spend up to 2 years in a Jordanian lab. Also offers opportunities for Jordanian institutions to participate in Doctoral Training Networks and Staff Exchange consortia.
Projects and results
EU-funded research projects involving Jordan
For previous framework programmes, please contact the Research enquiry service.
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-ASSIST
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (DG Research and Innovation International Cooperation)