Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC)
Department of State
The Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program supports joint scientific research and innovation partnerships between the United States, Israel, and countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The program funds applied research projects that address shared regional challenges while advancing U.S. economic, technological, and strategic interests. MERC is designed to bring together researchers, technical experts, and institutions to work on projects that go beyond basic research and demonstrate clear potential for application, commercialization, and broader adoption. MERC prioritizes efforts that strengthen U.S. technological leadership, expand opportunities for U.S. busines
Funding
Award size
$1M – $10M
Award ceiling
2000000
Type
Grant
Dates
Deadline
Next 90 days
Posted
07/06/2026
Closes
2026-09-30
Eligibility
Eligibility
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Program
Funding area
Science and Technology and other Research and Development - ST
Opportunity #
DFOP0019227
Source
Status
Open
Market
Government
Level
Federal
Source
Grants.gov