On 19 February 2026, the European Commission, together with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education of Palestine, organised the webinar "Exploring Funding and Networking Opportunities under Horizon Europe 2026-2027." The event aimed to raise awareness among Palestinian researchers and institutions about opportunities for collaboration with European partners.

The webinar was opened by Dr Basri Saleh, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education of Palestine, and featured a keynote address by Marcello Scalisi, Director of UNIMED and Project Director of the recently launched Research Horizons for Gaza (H-GAZA) initiative under the Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programme. With €1 million in EU funding through June 2027, this pilot action supports efforts to safeguard and reconnect Gaza's research and innovation capacity.

Ms Buisman, Head of Unit for International Cooperation DG R&I at the European Commission, reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting Palestinian researchers and strengthening scientific cooperation, in line with its broader vision under the New Pact for the Mediterranean.

The EU also presented funding opportunities under Horizon Europe, with particular emphasis on Mediterranean initiatives launched through the 2023-2024, 2025, and 2026-2027 Work Programmes. These initiatives contribute to the implementation of shared regional priorities agreed at the 2022 Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting. Additional opportunities were highlighted under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and Interreg NEXT MED programmes.

The afternoon session provided practical guidance on preparing competitive proposals, identifying suitable calls, and building strong international partnerships. Over 150 representatives from Palestinian universities and research centres participated in the webinar.