International Funding Initiative PRIMA
In 2018, the PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area) international funding initiative was launched. It aims to effectively address the challenges of the Mediterranean in terms of agri-food systems and water scarcity through research and innovation.
© Fundación PRIMA
News
On 19 April 2024, PRIMA was extended by three years (2025-2027). Source: European Commission
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The 8th PRIMA call for proposals was published in March 2025. From this year onwards, a single-stage procedure will be used for Section 1 and Section 2. The submission is now open. Deadline is 8 July 2025 (17:00 CEST) for Section 2, and 15 July 2025 (17:00 CEST) for Section 1. Source: PRIMA Foundation
A total of 20 countries in Europe and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean and the European Commission participate in PRIMA, an 'article 185 initiative'.
Participating countries include 12 EU Member States (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain) and 8 Mediterranean partner countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey).
On the basis of a strategic research and innovation agenda, annual calls for proposals are presented in the priority areas of 'Water Management', 'Agricultural Systems' and 'Value Chains in the Agri-Food Industry'. Since 2022 a Coordination and Support Action is also tendered. This tender aims to create the operational unit for the management of the WEFE (Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems) Nexus Community of Practice. For detailed information on the topics and the organisational structure visit the PRIMA website.
The total budget for PRIMA is just above 700 million Euro for the period 2017-2031, with the European Commission contributing 325 million Euro (220 million Euro from Horizon 2020 and 105 million Euro from Horizon Europe) and the 20 participating countries 384 million Euro in total. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) will contribute 28,5 million Euro over the entire life span of the initiative. For scientists from Germany, the programme offers funding opportunities in all three of the aforementioned subject areas.
The International Bureau of the DLR Projektträger is commissioned with implementing the funded projects by the BMFTR.
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PRIMA funding for German applicants
In order to give German applicants a legal basis for funding, the national PRIMA funding announcement has been updated. The previous funding announcements from 2028 and 2021 are no longer valid. The new BMFTR funding announcement for PRIMA applies to calls for funding in 2025, 2026 and 2027. It provides information on the legal framework and the eligible expenditure / costs.
The key data of the 2025 work plan are summarised here1. The information is provided in German language only.
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Work Programme results:
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Projects with PRIMA label (PRIMA Section 3)
Within the framework of bilateral BMBF announcements relevant to the PRIMA funding initiative, projects are funded with the PRIMA co-label.
The corresponding announcements are included in Section 3 of the PRIMA Annual Work Plans (so-called "Participating States Initiated Activities", PSIA). The funding of these projects represents an "in-kind" contribution of Germany to PRIMA.
to the projects
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Political context
The PRIMA Initiative encompasses the Member States of the European Union, the associated countries of the Horizon 2020 and the Mediterranean partner countries on an equal footing (co-ownership, co-financing and co-financing) with the participation of the European Commission under Article 185 TFEU. The PRIMA Basic Act provides the legal basis for the PRIMA Initiative.
'Article 185 initiatives' (formerly Art. 169 TEC) are intended to justify a long-term involvement of the Community in joint programs of several Member States. Participating Member States decide to set up a single joint support program and to finance this together.
The project executing organisation of the PRIMA Initiative is the PRIMA Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit public organisation founded under Spanish private law. The PRIMA Foundation is responsible for all administrative, supportive, supervisory and monitoring activities required to implement the PRIMA Programme. The seat of the foundation is Barcelona, Spain.
The following link provides additional information on the governance of the PRIMA Initiative.
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PRIMA is an Article 185 TFEU Initiative. It is funded within the framework of 'Horizon 2020', the EU's 8th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. For more details visit the international PRIMA website.
1 Disclaimer: On 29 April 2025, DLR Projektträger took part in a national information event on the 2025 PRIMA Calls in its capacity as one of the organisers. In its function as editor of the website of the 'International Bureau', DLR Projektträger agreed to upload the presentation held during this event to this website thus making them available for download in pdf format subject to the express consent of the speaker concerned. DLR Projektträger, as the uploading entity, has not monitored the contents of these presentations in any way. In case of incorrect contents, copyright infringements or other violations of the law, please contact us (DLR Projektträger, department 'European and International Cooperation', e-mail: prima@dlr.de). Any offending material will be removed immediately.
