Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
PRIMA – Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area is the most ambitious joint programme to be undertaken in the frame of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.
The overall objective of the PRIMA programme is to build research and innovation capacities and to develop knowledge and common innovative solutions for agro-food systems, to make them sustainable, and for integrated water provision and management in the Mediterranean area, to make those systems and that provision and management more climate resilient, efficient, cost-effective and environmentally and socially sustainable, and to contribute to solving water scarcity, food security, nutrition, health, well-being and migration problems upstream.
Call
Summary
The Award aims to:
- Recognise young innovators who have personally led or significantly contributed to the conception and implementation of a solution aligned with PRIMA’s mission;
Promote youth leadership, initiative and problem-solving capacity in addressing Mediterranean sustainability challenges; - Support innovations that demonstrate clear relevance to local Mediterranean contexts and respond to real societal, environmental and economic needs;
- Encourage initiatives with measurable or credible expected impacts on environmental sustainability, livelihoods, or social inclusion;
- Foster replication, scalability and youth empowerment, including inspiring and mentoring other young innovators, with particular attention to women innovators.
Detailed Call Description
The PRIMA Young Innovators Award 2026 will be awarded following a contest procedure and a transparent evaluation process, as described in the Rules of Contest (RoC) published on the PRIMA website at the time of call launch. Two equivalent recognition prizes will be awarded to the two highest-ranked eligible applications following evaluation. Each prize amounts to €10.000.
The prizes:
- are not category-based;
- are not designated as first and second prizes;
- cannot be split, combined, or reallocated.
Awardees will benefit from high visibility and recognition, including media coverage, public acknowledgement and networking opportunities.
An independent panel of experts will evaluate all eligible applications. The award will be granted to the young innovator(s) who best demonstrate the following criteria, based on the solution they have conceived, developed and/or implemented, which serves as supporting evidence across all criteria.
1. Innovator’s Leadership and Creative Contribution
The extent to which the applicant(s):
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- Have played a leading role in the conception, development, and implementation of the proposed solution;
- Demonstrate creativity, initiative, and problem-solving capacity in addressing Mediterranean challenges;
- Show personal commitment, vision, and the ability to mobilise ideas, skills, or stakeholders to deliver the solution.
2. Relevance of the Innovator’s Work to Mediterranean Challenges
The extent to which the applicant(s), through their innovation:
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- Address key Mediterranean challenges related to sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems, water management, and/or the responsible use of natural resources;
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of Mediterranean socio-environmental contexts, with the solution developed and/or implemented in at least one Mediterranean country;
- Show an innovative approach (technological, organisational, social, business-related, or community-driven) compared to existing practices.
3. Impact Achieved or Expected through the Innovator’s Initiative
The extent to which the applicant(s) can demonstrate that their initiative has generated, or is expected to generate, tangible impacts, such as:
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- Environmental benefits (e.g. reduced water or energy use, improved resource efficiency, lower emissions);
- Economic benefits (e.g. income generation, cost reduction, improved livelihoods, or market access);
- Social benefits (e.g. improved nutrition, job creation, social inclusion, gender equality, improved access to resources or services).
Applicants are encouraged to provide qualitative and/or quantitative evidence (e.g. indicators, data, or testimonials) to support their claims.
4. Potential for Growth, Replication, and Youth Empowerment
The extent to which the applicant(s):
-
- Demonstrate the potential to scale up or replicate their initiative in other Mediterranean contexts;
- Show awareness of feasibility aspects (technical, social, organisational, and/or economic);
- Contribute to youth empowerment, including the involvement, inspiration, or mentoring of other young people, and the potential to foster youth-led innovation and leadership in the Mediterranean region.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
Two awards of €10.000 each
Thematic Categories
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Water - Management of Water Resources
Eligibility for Participation
- Central Government
- International Organisations
- Large Enterprises
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Other Beneficiaries
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
Applicants must fulfil all of the following conditions:
- Be natural persons aged between 18 and 35 years at the deadline for submission;
- Be nationals and residents of one of the PRIMA Participating States bordering the Mediterranean Sea (Southern Mediterranean Countries), namely Algeria*, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco*, Tunisia, or Türkiye;
- Submit an application either:
- as an individual young innovator, or
- as a group of young innovators through a joint application, provided that all applicants fulfil all eligibility criteria.
The Award is addressed exclusively to natural persons. Applications based on affiliation with or representation of a company, organisation, or other legal entity are not foreseen and are not eligible.
In the case of joint applications submitted by a group of persons:
- One applicant shall be designated as the lead participant for administrative and financial purposes;
- Eligibility checks shall be carried out on all applicants. If one applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria, the group shall be invited to replace that applicant; failing this, the entire application shall be rejected;
- The prize shall be awarded jointly to all eligible applicants;
The prize payment shall be made exclusively to the lead participant, in accordance with the applicable rules. Any recovery of amounts shall be subject to the applicable legal framework and, where relevant, to the agreement of PRIMA-IS. In practice, recoveries should be limited to cases of misrepresentation or fraud and will, in principle, be addressed to the lead participant. Any joint and several responsibilities of other applicants shall be assessed on a case-by-case basis and subject to agreement by the Legal Service.
The following applicants are not eligible:
- Employees of PRIMA;
- Members of PRIMA governance or advisory bodies (Board of Trustees, Steering Committee, Scientific Advisory Committee);
- Applicants who have already received an EU or Euratom prize for the same activity.
The proposed solution should have been conceived, developed, and/or implemented within one of PRIMA PS.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
EU Contact Point
Mohamed Wageih : mohamed.wageih@prima-med.org