The European Commission (EC), through the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), will host the EU–South MED Matchmaking Event in Cairo, Egypt, from 16 to 18 June 2025. This event will be organised in collaboration with the Euromed Cluster Forward initiative funded by DG MENA, the Federation of Egyptian Industries, and Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). It will take place in the framework of two major international exhibitions: Egypt Infrastructure & Water Expo and Big 5 Construct Egypt.

The EU – South MED Matchmaking Event will bring together cluster organisations and SMEs from the European Union (EU), non-EU countries participating in the Single Market Programme/COSME Strand, and South MED countries: Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Tunisia. It will provide participants an excellent chance to promote Cluster to Cluster (C2C), Cluster to Business (C2B), and Business to Business (B2B) collaborations. 

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

This invitation is addressed to cluster and business network organisations interested in collaborating with South MED counterparts in the following sectors:

• Green Tech & Renewable Energy (focus on water and waste management)
• Smart Cities & Digital Technologies (enabling urban connectivity)
• Sustainable Construction (supporting resilient infrastructure)
• Communications - Communication Equipment & Services, Data Communications and Telecommunications Services, Digital Transformation Solutions, ICT Services

The event will provide funded participation for up to 20 cluster representatives. Additional participants may join at their own expense, subject to confirmation.  

DEADLINE:

• 1 April 2025, 23:59 Brussels time

• 29 April 2025, 23:59 Brussels time 

A third cut-off date will be available only if places are still available after the first and second rounds of evaluation (after the first cut-off dates). The organisers reserve the right to close the application process once the maximum participant capacity is reached.

First cut-off

Applicants will receive a notification whether their application is selected, put on the reserve list or rejected within one week after the first cut-off date. 

Applications on the reserve list may be edited and resubmitted for the next cut-off date(s) – the last submitted application will be considered in the evaluation. 

Applications that have been rejected can be improved and re-submitted for the next cut-off date(s).

Second cut-off 

Applicants will receive a notification whether their application is selected or rejected within one week after the second cut-off date.

Applications on the reserve list may be edited and resubmitted at the latest before the deadline of the third cut-off – the last submitted application will be considered in the evaluation.

Applications that have been rejected can be improved and re-submitted for the next cut-off date.

Third cut-off date (only available if necessary)

Applicants will receive a notification whether their application is selected or rejected within one week after the third cut-off date. 

Late applications after 20 May could be accepted for participation, provided eligibility criteria are fulfilled and costs are borne by the participants. Late applications are accepted if submitted through B2Match until 6 June 2025, 23:59 Brussels time at the latest.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply and submit your expression of interest as a Cluster here until 29 April (Tuesday), 23:59 (second cut-off date) Brussels Time.

The call for expressions of interest is being launched to identify a European delegation made up of representatives from cluster organisations who are willing and committed to participate in the EU-South MED Matchmaking Event.

By submitting an expression of interest in response to this call, you are indicating your acceptance of the call's terms.

Further details about the event, the eligibility requirements, and how to submit an expression of interest can be found here.

This call is targeting only cluster organisations and business network organisations. A separate call exists for SMEs. So if you are an SME you should respond to the call that is available here.