Barcelona, 21 May 2026. Applications are now open for the first cohort of the Research to Business (R2B) Programme, a 24-month regional initiative supporting applied research teams across the Mediterranean in transforming scientific knowledge and discoveries into market-ready innovations. Initiated by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), in partnership with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), and aligned with the UfM Research and Innovation agenda and the 2022 UfM Ministerial Declaration on Research and Innovation, the programme is led by Berytech, in partnership with ANIMA Investment Network and the University of Barcelona. The programme responds to a shared… read more
Barcelona, 23 April 2026 – Despite women making up over 50% of graduates in UfM Member States, a persistent glass ceiling keeps them critically underrepresented in top academic roles, with limited number of university heads at regional level. Highlighting structural barriers, advancements and solutions, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Catalan Development Cooperation Agency (ACCD) hosted the high-level webinar, “Leading the Future: Women at the Helm of Mediterranean Science and Higher Education.” Opening the event, UfM Deputy Secretary General Petra Kežman stressed that closing the leadership gap in higher education is not only a matter of equality, but… read more
5 January 2026, Barcelona. The Union for the Mediterranean, together with the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (ACCD), is launching the project “Women Leading Change: Gender-Responsive Leadership in Mediterranean Universities and Municipalities”, and to invite universities from Morocco, Lebanon and Syria to express their interest in participating and receiving tailored technical assistance. A total of 10 universities will be selected across the three countries and special attention will be given to universities that demonstrate a strong institutional commitment to gender equality and leadership reform, as well as existing, planned or desired cooperation with their municipality. About the project Universities play a… read more
2-3 December 2025, Alexandria, Egypt – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), in collaboration with the MedNC network and the HOMERe programme, and with the support of the Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF) and the European Commission (DG EMPL), convened a two-day event in Alexandria. On 2 December, internal governance meetings for MedNC and HOMERe were held at the Von Gerber House, headquarters of the Anna Lindh Foundation. On 3 December, the conference entitled “Education and Skills for Employment” took place at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, gathering 120 participants from NGOs, civil society organisations, academia, the private sector, and public administrations. Discussions centred… read more
Three-day UfM meetings in Brussels (21–23 October) advanced the Regional R&I Agenda and fed inputs toward a possible second Ministerial Declaration. Working Groups on Researcher Mobility and Open Data and the 2nd R&I Funders’ Coordination Meeting progressed proposals on access to infrastructure, mobility and science diplomacy, and alignment of funding. The 31st UfM Regional Platform on Research and Innovation, co-chaired by the European Commission and Jordan’s Higher Council for Science and Technology, reviewed strategic initiatives including the Research Scalability Strategy, MEL mechanism and FUTURE4PRIMA. The Innovation Fair, co-organised by the European Commission, the UfM and the African Union, drew 500+… read more
Malta, 13–15 October 2025. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), with the support of the German Development Cooperation, organised the “From Research to Business” conference to advance research valorisation as a driver of innovation, job creation and sustainable growth across the region. Held in partnership with the European Commission and Xjenza Malta, with technical support from MIMIR, the event underscored the growing importance of translating scientific knowledge into marketable solutions and employment opportunities in the Mediterranean. The opening session took place at the margins of the UfM High-Level Conference on Employment and Labour, which gathered over 200 participants. Opening remarks… read more
27 June 2025, Girona, Spain – The UfM Higher Education Stakeholders’ Meeting, titled “Greening Education in the Mediterranean – A Cross-Cutting Challenge for Universities”, convened over 40 academic leaders and experts from across the region to advance preparations for a bold new initiative: the Euromed University Initiative for Climate Action. Held within the framework of the 2nd Mediterranean Green Week, the event was co-organized by the UfM, UNIMED, and the University of Girona. A key outcome of the meeting was the collaborative development of a draft Manifesto for a Euromed University Initiative for Climate Action. This document, soon to be… read more
19–20 June 2025, Madrid. The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), in collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the National Office for Science Advice of Spain (ONAC), organised a two-day training programme on “Science for Policy: Building Capacity in the Mediterranean.” Held at the Spanish Prime Minister’s Office – La Moncloa – the event brought together almost 30 early-career researchers and scientists from across the Euro-Mediterranean region to enhance their engagement in evidence-informed policymaking. The training is part of a wider UfM effort to foster regional integration through strengthened science-policy cooperation, in line with the UfM Ministerial… read more
Barcelona, 9 April 2025 — The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) today convened its National Focal Points Meeting on Higher Education at its headquarters in Barcelona, bringing together representatives from over 20 UfM Member States and all major regional higher-education stakeholders. The meeting marked a decisive moment in the path toward building a stronger and more coordinated Euro-Mediterranean higher education space. The meeting was opened by UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel, who highlighted the transformative power of education and the need to match political rhetoric with concrete action. “Higher education is one of the most strategic investments we can make… read more
8 April 2025, Online – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) held an online session of the UfM Regional Platform on Research and Innovation to officially launch Working Groups (WGs) led and participated by UfM Member States. These WGs aim to develop concrete initiatives and action plans to support the implementation of the UfM R&I Roadmaps, in preparation for the next Ministerial Conference in 2026. The launch reflects the commitment of UfM Member States to develop a more inclusive R&I agenda able to generate impact on Mediterranean societies and economies. The session featured interventions from representatives of over 16 countries,… read more
