The Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) annual calls address the unique challenges faced by the Mediterranean region, in Water Management, Farming Systems & Agro-Food Value Chain. Projects should highlight and enhance the WEFE NEXUS i.e. the interdependence of water, energy, food security, ecosystem, and their stakeholders — aiming for sustainable, scalable solutions.

The call is split into two distinct funding streams:

Section 1 (Centralised EU funding) and Section 2 (National funding).

Section 1: EU-Funded Innovation Actions
Coordinated and funded directly by the European Commission under Horizon Europe.

Section 1 calls generally focus on Innovation Actions (IA), which target higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRL). These projects aim to move research results into the market or toward practical application through prototyping, testing, and demonstrating. All applications should address one of the following areas: 

• Topic 1.1.1 Water Management
  Decentralised Brackish Water Desalination for Climate-Resilient and Resource Efficient Mediterranean Agriculture
• Topic 1.2.1 Farming Systems
  Next Generation of Sustainable and Alternative Animal Feeds for Circular and Resilient Mediterranean Farming Systems.
• Topic 1.3.1 Agro-food Value Chain
  Sustainable On-Site Transformation of Perishable Mediterranean Agri-food Products.
• Topic 1.4.1 Nexus Theme
  Institutionalizing and Scaling the Mediterranean WEFE (Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems) Nexus Community of Practice (Coordinator Support Action)

Section 2: Nationally-Funded Research Actions
Coordinated by the PRIMA Foundation but funded by National Agencies, including Xjenza Malta for entities registered in Malta

Section 2 calls focus on Research and Innovation Actions (RIA). These are typically lower TRL projects aimed at establishing new knowledge or exploring the feasibility of new technologies and solutions.

• Topic 2.1.1 Water Management
  Leveraging Ecosystem Functions and Enhancing Water Allocation for the Protection and Restoration of Non-Perennial Watercourses in the Mediterranean
• Topic 2.2.1 Farming systems
  Novel remote and non-invasive ICT monitoring and control systems against disease and pest infestation
• Topic 2.3.1 Food value chain
  Empowering Mediterranean Food Value Chains through Context-Aware Digital Traceability

Both calls are 2 Stage calls, with Stage 1: Preproposal currently open for submissions.

Funding and Consortium Requirements

PRIMA Section 1 (EU funded)
A typical project budget is between EUR 2 and EUR 4 million

PRIMA Section 2 (Nationally funded)
Funding is available up to EUR 500,000 for Malta-based entities

Funding Rates are typically 70% for profit-making entities and 100% for non-profit entities, including the UM.

Consortia must include at least 4 independent legal entities established in at least 3 different PRIMA Participating States, as follows:

• At least 1 entity must be from an EU Member State participating in PRIMA:
  Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia.
• At least 2 entities must be from Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPC):
  Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, or Türkiye.
• The 4th entity can be from either a participant state or an MPC. The consortium must include at least one for profit legal entity, including SMEs.

Please ensure that your consortium composition (Organisations, Coordinator and PIs), budget and scientific objectives are confirmed  by Stage 1 since no modifications will be allowed in Stage 2.

This page provides a general summary. For full eligibility criteria regarding Sections 1 and 2, please consult the official call text and guidelines. Applicants from the University of Malta should also refer to the dedicated National Rules for Non State-Aid published by Xjenza Malta