The PRIMA programme calls found that the success rate for Section 1 projects was very low at 2% and South Mediterranean countries were underrepresented with only one coordinator out of 36 funded projects. To address this, PRIMA will make changes such as increasing the call budget, decreasing maximum project budgets, providing more capacity building for Southern researchers, and working with national funding agencies on aligned rules and procedures. The goal is to increase the Section 1 success rate to 7% and have more balanced representation from South Mediterranean countries going forward.

1. PRIMA CALLS – FINDINGS AND
LESSONS LEARNED
1
18 September, 2019
The PRIMA programme is an Art.185 initiative supported and funded
under Horizon 2020, the European Union’s Framework Programme for
Research and Innovation.
Dr. Mohamed A. Wageih, Project Officer, PRIMA Programme
Workshop 10: Funding gaps and traps in agricultural research for development
Tropentag 2019: Filling gaps and removing traps for sustainable resources management

2. Overview
2
 PRIMA HISTORY
 PRIMA CALLS STRUCTURE
 RESULTS: 2018 [&2019]
 ANALYTICAL STUDIES AND CONCLUSION

3. trategic Research and Innovation
Agenda
raft - August 10th 2017
trategic Research and Innovation
Agenda
raft - August 10th 2017
1. PRIMA HISTORY

4. trategic Research and Innovation
Agenda
raft - August 10th 2017
CHALLENGES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA: AT A GLANCE
• Climate change
• Population growth and food security issues
• Water scarcity and overexploitation of natural resources
• Unsustainable agricultural practices
• Agro-biodiversity loss
• Lack of innovation in Mediterranean agro-food value
chains

5. GERMANY
FRANCE
ITALY
ALGERIA
TURKEY
CYPRUSMALTA
PORTUGAL
SPAIN
MOROCCO
EGYPT
GREECE
JORDAN
SLOVENIA
CROATIA
TUNISIA
ISRAEL
LEBANON
LUXEMBOURG
PRIMA can currently count on the
participation of 19 Participating States,
including: Algeria, Cyprus, Croatia, Egypt,
France, Germany, Greece, Israel Italy,
Jordan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta,
Morocco, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain,
Tunisia, Turkey

6. Financial contribution
€ 274,000 PS
€ 220.000 EU
Scientific
Advisory Committee
Board of Trustees
- Chair and Co-Chair
- PS Representatives
- EC, UfM as Observers
Steering Committee
PRIMA operates as an independent legal private entity
PRIMA Secretariat
Barcelona
advice
19 June 2017
Foundation under Spanish law
19 PS members of
Foundation
PRIMA FOUNDATION GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

7. Financial
contribution
€ 274,000 PSs
€ 220.000 EU
19 June 2017
Foundation under Spanish
law
19 PSs
members of
Foundation
Inclusive, healthy and prosperous Mediterranean
societies through innovative solutions in agro-
food and water systems, contributing, by the end
of the programme, to sustainable use of natural
resources, economic growth and stability.
VISION

8. Financial
contribution
€ 274,000 PSs
€ 220.000 EU
19 June 2017
Foundation under Spanish
law
19 PSs
members of
Foundation
An article 185 initiative as the most suitable instrument to tackle global
challenges of the Med region in an integrated way
• Equal footing
• Long-term commitment and orientation
• Avoiding fragmentation and duplications in R&I
• Focused on R&I
• Definition of a common and MED-wide 10-year Strategic Research and
Innovation Agenda (SRIA, 2018-2028)
• Institutional relationships with MED stakeholders (end users, communities,
enterprises, governments)
PRIMA MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

9. The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda
• sets the technical and scientific basis of the Programme
• is the output of a process encompassing the collection of
inputs from a wide range of sources, workshops, events
involving experts and stakeholders from all sectors of
society
• identifies three thematic areas to address: WATER
FARMING AGRO FOOD (+NEXUS)
STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION AGENDA SRIA
Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda
Draft - August 10th 2017
• The PRIMA programme is implemented by the PRIMA Foundation on the basis
of Annual Work plans, based on the priorities described in the (SRIA)

10. trategic Research and Innovation
Agenda
raft - August 10th 2017
PRIMA SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

11. trategic Research and Innovation
Agenda
raft - August 10th 2017
• MANAGEMENT OF WATER
Integrated and sustainable management of water for arid
and semi-arid Mediterranean areas
• FARMING SYSTEMS
Sustainable farming systems under Mediterranean
environmental constraints
• AGRO-FOOD VALUE CHAIN
Sustainable Mediterranean agro-food value chain for
regional and local development
THREE MAIN THEMATIC AREAS

12. Economic Impacts Social Impacts Environmental Impacts
• Increase in production
and efficiency;
• Access to new markets;
• Large-scale aggregate economic
impacts (youth employment,
new businesses…).
• Political stability
and reduced migration.
• Biodiversity conservation;
• Sustainable farming practices.
PRIMA IMPACTS

13. trategic Research and Innovation
Agenda
raft - August 10th 2017
trategic Research
and Innovation
Agenda
raft - August 10th
2017
trategic Research and Innovation
Agenda
raft - August 10th 2017
2. PRIMA CALLS
STRUCTURE

14. SECTION 1
Actions and activities organised, managed and funded by
PRIMA-IS.
SECTION 2
Actions selected following transnational open and competitive
calls for proposals organised by PRIMA-IS and funded by the
national funding bodies of PS (providing financial support mainly
in the form of grants).
PRIMA CALLS STRUCTURE

15. Call publication PRIMA-IS PRIMA-IS
Proposal evaluation
and selection PRIMA-IS PRIMA-IS
Projects
funded by
PS
Projects monitored PRIMA-IS
PRIMA-IS and PS
Rules for
participation derogations set by
Decision (EU) 2017/1324
PS Rules
SECTION 1
Transnational
calls for
proposals
SECTION 2
Transnational
calls for
proposals
PRIMA PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
PRIMA-IS
EU

16. RIA - Research and
Innovation Action
IA - Innovation Action CSA - Coordination and
Support Actions
Funding available for
collaborative research
projects tackling clearly
defined challenges which
can lead to development
of new knowledge or new
technology.
Funding Rate: 100%
TRL: 3-5
Two Stages Submission
Funding available for closer-to-the-
market activities including
prototyping, testing, demo, piloting,
scaling-up etc. for new or improved
products, processes or services.
Funding Rate: 100% (70% for profit
entities)
TRL: 5-8
Two Stages Submission
Funding for activities
coordinating or supporting
research actions and
strategies, such as
networking and exchange
actions
Funding Rate: 100%
Single Stage Submission
TYPE OF ACTIONS

17. Actual system proven
in operation al en vironment TRL 9
System complete and qualifie
d
TRL 8
System prototype demonstration
in operation al en vironment TRL 7
Technology demonstrated
in relevant environment TRL 6
Technology validated
in relevant environment TRL 5
Technology validated in lab TRL 4
Experimental proof of concept TRL 3
Technology concept formulated TRL 2
Basic principles observed TRL 1
Product demostration
Product manufacturing
Tecnologycal research
Basic research
Actual system proven
in operational environment TRL
System complete and qualifie
d
TRL
System prototype demonstration
in operational environment TRL
Technology demonstrated
in relevant environment TRL
Technology validated
in relevant environment TRL
Technology validated in lab TRL
Experimental proof of concept TRL
Technology concept formulated TRL 2
Basic principles observed TRL
IA
Innovation
Actio
n
RIA
Research and
Innovation
Actio
n
TECHNOLOGY READINESS LEVELS (TRLS)

18. For RIA/IA, the minimum number of participants in a consortium
is three.
• at least three independent legal entities established in three different
Participating States:
• at least one in an EU Member State participating to PRIMA
• at least one in a third country participating to PRIMA
For CSA, at least one legal entity established in a PRIMA PS.
ADMISSIBILITY AND ELIGIBILITY CHECK

19. EVALUATION PROCEDURE
The whole process (1st deadline till announcing the final results: 8 months.)

20. CONTENT AND STRUCTURE OF THE PRE-PROPOSAL
Contracting [STAGE 3]
Negotiation
Contract Agreement, Consortium
Agreement
Full Application – STAGE 2
PART I – Admin (online, pdf)
PART II – Full Application
(pdf)
Budget Sheet (excel)
Pre Proposal –STAGE 1
PART I – Admin (online, pdf) PART II – Concept Note (pdf)
Admin Check Technical Evaluation
Admin Check Technical Evaluation
While all technical evaluation done through PRIMA IS, further Admin Check done via the NFAs for Section 2.
10 pg
50 pg

21. trategic Research and Innovation
Agenda
raft - August 10th 2017
CALL SECTION
- Calls, guidelines, templates  PRIMA website
- Submission/Assessment  ANR platform
EXPERT REGISTRATION TOOL to be PRIMA assessor  PRIMA website
PARTNERING TOOL Applicants post and read offers to look for partners  PRIMA website
Running Projects:
- Reporting, Monitoring, and Evaluation  ICARDA-PRIMA (MEL Platform)
- In depth analytical studies  Power Business Intelligence
PRIMA ELECTRONIC SERVICES

22. 3. PRIMA CALLS
RESULTS

23. PRIMA AWP PRIORITIES
23
1.1 Water resources availability and quality within catchments and aquifers
1.2 Integrated water management
1.3 Irrigation technologies and practices
1.4 Use of alternative water resource
2.1 Adaptation of agriculture to climate change
2.2 Developing sustainable and productive agro-ecosystems
2.3 Preventing emergence of animal and plant diseases
2.4 Developing farming systems able to generate income, to create employment and to contribute to
a balanced territorial development
3.1 Valorising food products from traditional Mediterranean diet
3.2 Food Safety in local food chains
3.3 Implementation of innovation in the Agro-food chain, promoting higher quality, sustainability
and competitiveness, with particular reference to smallholders
3.4 Implications of dietary shifts and sustainable diets for the Med populations and food industry
MANAGEMENT OF WATER
FARMING SYSTEMS
AGRO-FOOD VALUE CHAIN

24. MANAGEMENT OF WATER2018
Priority # of
Projects
Allocated Budget
(€)
# of
Entities
S1 Use of Alternative Water Resources 3 5 880 000 27
S2
Irrigation technologies and practices 3 2 900 000 20
Sustainable, integrated water
management
3 3 800 000 26
Water resources availability and quality
within catchments and aquifers
3 3 700 000 27
TOTAL 12 16 400 000 100
2019*
Priority # of
Projects
Allocated Budget
(€)
# of
Entities
S1 Water resources availability and quality
within catchments and aquifers
4 6 400 000 30
S2
Irrigation technologies and practices ?? ?? ??
Water resources availability and quality
within catchments and aquifers
?? ?? ??
TOTAL ?? ?? ??
* estimated
24

25. FARMING SYSTEM
25
2018
Priority # of
Projects
Allocated Budget
(€)
# of
Entities
S1 Developing Sustainable and productive
agro ecosystems
3 6 100 000 42
S2
Adoption of Agriculture to climate change 5 6 500 000 51
Developing farming systems 1 1 000 000 8
Preventing emergence of animal and
plant diseases
6 5 800 000 48
TOTAL 15 19 500 000 149
2019*
Priority # of
Projects
Allocated Budget
(€)
# of
Entities
S1 Developing Sustainable and productive
agro ecosystems-IA
4 6 400 000 34
Adoption of Agriculture to climate change-
RIA
3 4 500 000 38
S2
Developing Sustainable and productive
agro ecosystems
?? ?? ??
TOTAL ?? ?? ??
* estimated

26. AGRO FOOD VALUE CHAIN
26
2018
Priority # of
Projects
Allocated Budget
(€)
# of
Entities
S1 Implementation of innovation in the agro
food chain
3 5 900 000 34
S2
Food safety in local food chains 2 2 270 000 20
Implications of dietary shifts and
sustainable diets
1 1 000 000 6
Valorizing food products from traditional
Mediterranean diet
3 3 500 000 25
TOTAL 9 12 700 000 85
* estimated
2019*
Priority # of
Projects
Allocated Budget
(€)
# of
Entities
S1 Food safety in local food chains 4 6 400 000
S2
Food safety in local food chains ?? ?? ??
Implementation of innovation in the agro
food chain
?? ?? ??
TOTAL ?? ?? ??

27. STATISTICS OF AWP2018 & AWP2019
27
SECTION 1
2ND STAGE
WATER 9
FARMING 12
AGRO FOOD 9
FUNDED
WATER 3
FARMING 3
AGRO FOOD 3
1ST STAGE
WATER 177
FARMING 197
AGRO FOOD 83
2ND STAGE
WATER 15
FARMING 20
AGRO FOOD 11
Nexus 9
FUNDED
WATER 4
FARMING 7
AGRO FOOD 4
1ST STAGE
WATER 85
FARMING 102
AGRO FOOD 65
Nexus 26
55
18
278
18M€ 28M€
Success Rate
7%2%
Budget

28. STATISTICS OF AWP2018 & AWP2019
28
SECTION 2
2ND STAGE
WATER 15
FARMING 27
AGRO FOOD 32
FUNDED
WATER ??
FARMING ??
AGRO FOOD ??
1ST STAGE
WATER 85
FARMING 102
AGRO FOOD 65
Nexus 26
74
35
154
Success Rate
35M€
2ND STAGE
WATER 22
FARMING 49
AGRO FOOD 32
FUNDED
WATER 9
FARMING 12
AGRO FOOD 6
1ST STAGE
WATER 88
FARMING 165
AGRO FOOD 107
30M€
22%7%
Budget

29. 29
Countries received
funds under Section 2
Countries received
funds under Section 1
Section 2 available
budgets used
Section 1 budget for
Non-EU
Amount of grants
under Section2 (PS)
# of submission under
Section 1&2
# of participating entities, S1
&S2, funded projects
Amount of grants of
AWP2018 S1&S2
Amount of grants
under Section1 (EC)
#of funded projects
under Call 2018, S1&S2
Private sector of Section 1
funded projects
Passed the S1 eligibility
and admissibility check
PRIMA FIRST CALL 2018, ACHIEVEMENTS BOARD

30. trategic Research and Innovation
Agenda
raft - August 10th 2017
4. ANALYTICAL ASSESSMENT
AND CONCLUSION

31. IN DEPTH ANALYSIS

32. South CO
2%
1/36
Over Subscription
IN DEPTH ANALYSIS

33. 33
• More focused/specific and fewer topics (9 topics instead of 12)
• Increase the call overall budget (60 M€ instead of 50M€)
• Decrease the project max req. budget (1.6 M€, instead of 2M€)
Low Success Rate for S1, 2%
• Increase allocated budget (S2) for coordinators from the south
• Organize a set of capacity building workshops for southern researchers,
in partnership with ICARDA and NCPs
• Adjusting the NFAs regulations and rules of participation
Limited Coordination from the South, One out
of 36
• Official negotiation with NFAs for adoption
• Update PRIMA Risk Management Plan
Different start dates, national procedures, for
S2
IN DEPTH ANALYSIS
Increase the
Success Rate
from 2% to 7%
Increase SEMC
CO from 1 to 7
More balanced
figures and
statistics
More aligned R&I
national agendas
ActionsActionsActions
Results

34.  Types of Action: mixed between RIA (low TRL) and IA (higher TRL).
 Two stage submission/evaluation: less effort and time consuming.
 Full application: moved from 70 pages (2018) to 50 pages (2019)
 Co funding + equal rights and obligations.
 Risk management and contingency plan.
 PRIMA Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda, Logframe and M&E plan.
 Stakeholders’ engagements (public consultations, surveys, info days,
workshops/training…).
 Strategic partnership and continuous communication with similar programmes.
CONCLUSION

35. The PRIMA programme is an Art.185 initiative supported & funded under
Horizon 2020, the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research
& Innovation.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
DR. Mohamed Ahmed Wageih
Project Officer, Agro Food Value Chain
PRIMA – The Partnership for Research and Innovation in
the Mediterranean Area
Mohamed.wageih@prima-med.org