Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC)
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DFOP0019227
- Agency
-
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
Department of State
- Applications due
- Award size
- $100,000 to $2,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of State Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs seeks applications for the Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program, funding applied research and innovation partnerships, with Statements of Interest due September 30, 2026. All projects must include at least one organization from Israel and at least one eligible MENA country or territory (Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, or West Bank and Gaza); U.S. participation is optional but encouraged when providing technical expertise or supporting commercial outcomes.
Eligible applicants include public and private educational institutions, corporations and for-profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and public international organizations and governmental institutions. No minimum cost sharing is mandated, though institutions in Israel and high-income countries are expected to provide cost share.
Approximately seven awards will be made from $10 million in total available funding, with individual award amounts ranging from $100,000 to $2 million. Projects should be completed within four years or less, with an anticipated start date of April 1, 2027.
Priority research areas include Critical & Emerging Technologies, Energy Security & Systems, Water Infrastructure & Technologies, Advanced Agriculture & Ag-Tech, Critical Minerals & Advanced Manufacturing, and Health Security & Biotechnology. The program prioritizes projects demonstrating clear potential for application and commercialization, with plans for scaling results and documented benefits to U.S. and participating country priorities.
Review criteria, weighted as follows, assess strength and durability of regional cooperation (15 points), relevance to U.S. priorities including economic competitiveness and technological leadership (20 points), relevance to recipient countries (10 points), likely impact and commercial potential (20 points), technical merit (15 points), management structure (10 points), and budget (10 points). Applicants selected from Statements of Interest (up to 20 anticipated) proceed to full application.
CFDA 19.502. Funding derives from FY18/23 through FY24/29 Economic Support Funds.
Synopsis
The Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program supports joint scientific research and innovation partnerships between the United States, Israel, and countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The program funds applied research projects that address shared regional challenges while advancing U.S. economic, technological, and strategic interests. MERC is designed to bring together researchers, technical experts, and institutions to work on projects that go beyond basic research and demonstrate clear potential for application, commercialization, and broader adoption. MERC prioritizes efforts that strengthen U.S. technological leadership, expand opportunities for U.S. businesses, promote the use of U.S. technologies, and build long-term partnerships in the region. The program places strong emphasis on collaboration. All projects must include organizations from Israel and at least one eligible MENA country or territory. MERC welcomes U.S. participation, particularly when it adds technical expertise, supports market expansion for U.S. companies, or helps connect research to markets. Projects should demonstrate a clear plan for using and scaling results and how the outcomes benefit priorities of the United States and the participating countries. Overall, MERC aims to strengthen regional cooperation by supporting high-quality scientific partnerships that produce tangible results. By connecting U.S., Israeli, and MENA organizations, the program helps build networks, promote innovation, and create opportunities for economic growth, peaceful and mutually beneficial collaboration, and long-term stability in the region.
Eligibility
The following organizations are eligible to apply: - Public and private educational institutions - Corporations and for-profit organizations - Not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations - Public International Organizations and governmental institutions
Files
On GovTribe
Work this opportunity
- Track it in your pipeline
- Find teaming partners
- Similar grant opportunities
- Ask GovTribe AI about this opportunity