Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) 2026

The Middle East Regional Cooperation program is administered by the Bureau for Near Eastern Affairs within the U.S. Department of State. Established following the Camp David Accords, the program is designed to foster scientific and technical collaboration across the Middle East and North Africa region. It emphasizes partnerships between the United States, Israel, and eligible countries in the region, aiming to advance U.S. strategic, economic, and technological interests while promoting regional cooperation and stability. The program reflects a long-standing policy objective of encouraging peaceful collaboration through shared scientific and economic development initiatives. The primary purpose of the program is to fund applied research and innovation projects that address shared regional challenges while producing tangible, scalable outcomes. The program prioritizes research that moves beyond theoretical exploration and demonstrates clear pathways to application, commercialization, and adoption. Areas of focus include critical technologies, energy systems, water infrastructure, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and health security. Projects must demonstrate alignment with U.S. priorities, including technological leadership, economic competitiveness, and the promotion of U.S. technologies in international markets. Funding is provided through grants with award amounts typically ranging from one hundred thousand dollars to two million dollars, with a total program funding pool of approximately ten million dollars. Projects may last from one to four years, and continuation funding may be considered based on performance and availability of funds. Allowable costs include personnel, equipment, materials, travel, and collaboration activities, while restrictions prohibit funding for basic research as a standalone activity, infrastructure construction, political activities, and entertainment expenses. Cost sharing is not mandatory, but institutions in higher income countries are generally expected to contribute financially or in kind. Eligibility is broad and includes public and private educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, corporations, governmental entities, and international organizations. However, all proposals must include at least one Israeli organization and at least one organization from an eligible Middle East or North Africa country. Participation from U.S. entities is encouraged but not required. The program strongly emphasizes collaboration, requiring meaningful joint engagement among partners and discouraging arrangements where one party acts only as an intermediary rather than an active contributor. The application process is conducted in two stages. Applicants must first submit a Statement of Interest, which serves as a preliminary proposal outlining the concept, objectives, technical approach, and anticipated outcomes. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a full application with more detailed documentation. The Statement of Interest must follow strict formatting requirements, including page limits and content structure, and must be submitted as a single PDF document via email. Required components include project objectives, technical background, work plan, expected outcomes, collaboration plans, and a preliminary budget. Applications are evaluated through a competitive review process involving both technical experts and Department of State representatives. Evaluation criteria include the strength of regional collaboration, alignment with U.S. and regional priorities, technical merit, commercial potential, management structure, and budget justification. Projects that demonstrate strong potential for commercialization and measurable impact are prioritized. The review process includes initial screening, panel evaluation, and invitation to submit full proposals, followed by final selection and award decisions. The timeline for this funding opportunity includes a Statement of Interest deadline of September 30, 2026, with invitations for full applications expected shortly thereafter. Full applications are reviewed in early 2027, with awards anticipated to begin around April 1, 2027. Applicants are notified of outcomes by December 2026 for the initial stage. The program operates on a recurring basis, offering opportunities for future cycles, and maintains ongoing communication through a designated program email for inquiries and support throughout the application process.

Focus on strong Israel-MENA collaboration, demonstrate commercialization potential, align clearly with U.S. strategic priorities and measurable outcomes