On 22 December 2014, nine Member States of the European Union (EU) submitted a proposal for the participation of the EU in a joint research and innovation programme named PRIMA.
For the first time a so long term and wide programme include European Member States (Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Czech Republic, Spain) and countries of the Mediterranean basin, which are not European member states (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia e Turkey). A total of more than two hundred million euros have been committed for this initiative over a 10 year period starting in 2018. This amount is intended to grow thanks to the UE contribution. Other countries interested to PRIMA Initiative are in the process of joining the Initiative, in particular Germany, Turkey, Romania and Israel.
In the Mediterranean area, like in other regions in the world, but with particular importance due to the natural and political context, the Water-Food-Energy nexus requires today crucial actions to ensure economic and social development.
In the light of such premises Prima aims at deveoping innovative solutions and promote their adoption for improving the efficiency and sustainability of food productions and water provision, in order to support an inclusive well-being and socio-economic development in the Mediterranean Area, within the framework of a reinforced Euro-Mediterranean co-operation.
To achieve such goal, the PRIMA Initiative will be driven by two intentions:
a) to advance existing knowledge and innovations for water management, food security, and food quality through long-term cooperation
b) to ensure the adoption of knowledge and unlock its innovation potential through end user-friendly and societally affordable solutions
In order to achieve not only scientific but also socio-economic impacts, PRIMA intends to support the whole innovation chain to ensure that research results are translated into economic development.