Action to support Gazan researchers

The action will aim at developing an extensive mapping exercise to identify existing regional and local initiatives, potential beneficiaries (Gazan researchers, displaced or in-situ), and stakeholders that could support Gazan researchers. This will be complemented by a pilot initiative to provide immediate support to an initial cohort of 50 Gazan researchers through a Virtual Research Collaboration Hub.

The hub will serve as a digital platform offering mentorship, collaboration opportunities, and access to academic resources. In parallel, engagement with European and international research networks will be fostered to start re-integrating Gazan researchers into the global scientific community.

Toward the end of the action, a feasibility assessment will be conducted to analyse insights from the overall mapping and stakeholder consultations. This assessment will provide firsthand perspectives on challenges, opportunities, and areas needing strategic intervention, culminating in an assessment report produced between months 16 and 18. The report will serve as base to orientate the design of a larger intervention.

Expected Outcomes: Project results are expected to contribute to all the following outcomes:

• Inventory of existing initiatives – A structured database of ongoing regional and local initiatives, identifying potential beneficiaries (Gazan researchers) and key stakeholders to serve as a reference for designing targeted interventions in the upcoming phases.
• Mapping of data-driven insights – A comprehensive analysis that helps prioritise research and innovation (R&I) cooperation areas requiring urgent attention, enabling a more informed allocation of resources to maximise impact.
• Recommendations for further engagement – A set of well-researched recommendations for refining engagement strategies, ensuring alignment with key priorities, and fostering more effective collaboration with stakeholders.
• First pilot action for 50 researchers in an existing Virtual Research Collaboration Hub. The access to the hub will be granted to researchers from Gaza to collaborate with peers globally. It will offer tools for joint research, data sharing, and remote access to international academic resources, such as journals and databases.
• A feasibility assessment report, will present insights derived from the overall mapping and stakeholder consultations and will serve as a foundational resource for designing a larger intervention.

Expected Impact:

Proposals should set out a credible pathway to contributing to all the following impacts:

• Continuity of research activities in Gaza and among displaced Gazan researchers.
• Strengthened international research collaborations involving Gaza’s academic community.

Scope:

The mapping exercise will encompass a wide range of regional and local initiatives across multiple sectors, ensuring a holistic understanding of the engagement landscape. It will involve data collection from various available sources. The scope will also include stakeholder consultations to gain firsthand insights into challenges, opportunities, and areas requiring strategic intervention.

The action will serve as a foundation for future strategic planning by developing a dynamic and adaptable framework for continuous assessment. The findings will be utilised to refine policies, allocate resources more efficiently, and create collaborative networks that enhance the overall effectiveness of engagement and intervention efforts. Additionally, the action will identify the target groups necessary to extend the action in the next phase.

The pilot initiative to deliver immediate support to an initial group of 50 Gazan researchers through an existing virtual research collaboration hub could start in the last period of the mapping phase (month 12). The hub will act as a digital platform providing mentorship, collaborative research opportunities, and access to academic resources. At the same time, the initiative will strengthen connections with European and international research networks to facilitate the reintegration of Gazan researchers into the global scientific community.

The insights gained from this initial phase will help shape a more extensive intervention and a feasibility assessment report to be produced between months 16 and 18 will analyse key challenges, opportunities, and areas requiring strategic intervention to provide solid foundation for designing a larger intervention.

The Commission considers that a duration of 18 Months for this action would be appropriate.

This grant will be awarded without a call for proposals, according to Article 198(e) of the Financial Regulation and Article 24(3)(b) of the Horizon Europe Regulation, to the legal entity identified below.

Specific conditions

Legal and financial set-up of the Grant Agreements: The rules are described in General Annex G.

Procedure: The evaluation committee will be fully composed by representatives of EU institutions.