January 2026 marks the official launch of H-Gaza – Research Horizons for Gaza, a new Horizon Europe initiative designed to support and revitalize Gaza’s research and innovation ecosystem amid ongoing geopolitical instability and disruption.
Implemented by UNIMED – Mediterranean Universities Union, the 18-month project seeks to safeguard the present and future of Palestinian research capacity by fostering collaboration, access to resources, and international engagement.
At its core, H-Gaza will focus on three key actions. First, it will map existing regional and local support initiatives, as well as identify key stakeholders and potential beneficiaries—primarily Palestinian researchers in and from Gaza. This effort aims to create a clearer picture of available resources and opportunities for collaboration.
Second, the project will pilot a Virtual Research Collaboration Hub through EURAXESS. The hub will bring together 75 researchers at different career stages, including early-stage, postdoctoral, and experienced researchers. Participants will benefit from mentorship, career guidance, access to research infrastructure, discipline-specific discussion groups, training in transferable skills, and opportunities for collaborative research and professional matchmaking.
Finally, H-Gaza will conduct a scenario-based feasibility assessment to inform the development of a larger-scale, long-term intervention aimed at strengthening Gaza’s research landscape.
The call for expressions of interest for both researchers and mentors is expected to open between May and June 2026, with the Virtual Research Collaboration Hub scheduled to begin in September 2026 and run for nine months.
Beyond immediate academic support, H-Gaza underscores the broader importance of science diplomacy. By investing in research capacity in fragile contexts, the project highlights how scientific collaboration can serve as a bridge for dialogue, resilience, and continuity, even in the face of systemic challenges.
Funded under Horizon Europe, H-Gaza represents a strategic effort to harness the power of science as a tool for stability and connection in times of crisis.