American University of Beirut

Their core work

The American University of Beirut is a leading research university in Lebanon with deep expertise in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean geopolitics, migration studies, and public health. In H2020, AUB contributes regional knowledge on conflict dynamics, violent extremism, gender equality, and migration governance across the MENA region. They also participate in biomedical research on sickle cell disease and leukemia therapeutics, and have contributed to energy-autonomous networking technologies. Their unique value lies in being a high-caliber academic institution embedded in a region that is the subject of much EU-funded research.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

AUB's early H2020 work (2016-2018) centered on Middle Eastern geopolitics, regional security, and conflict dynamics — projects like MENARA and MedReset mapped shifting power structures, refugees, and natural resources across the MENA region. From 2019 onward, their portfolio diversified significantly into biomedical sciences (leukemia therapy, sickle cell disease), gender equality, and violent extremism prevention, while maintaining their regional expertise. This shift suggests a deliberate broadening from pure political science into health, social policy, and applied security research.

AUB is evolving from a purely geopolitical research contributor into a multi-disciplinary partner that bridges MENA regional expertise with health sciences and social policy — expect growing engagement in applied social and biomedical research.

How they like to work

AUB has never coordinated an H2020 project, participating exclusively as a partner or third party. With 83 unique consortium partners across 32 countries, they operate as a broadly networked contributor rather than a project leader. Their consistent role as a regional knowledge provider in large consortia (often 10+ partners) makes them a reliable, low-overhead partner for projects requiring MENA-based fieldwork, data, or expertise.

AUB has collaborated with 83 distinct partners across 32 countries, indicating an exceptionally wide network for an organization with only 10 projects. Their partnerships span Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, and the Middle East, reflecting their role as a bridge institution connecting EU research with the Global South.

What sets them apart

AUB is one of the few top-tier research universities in the MENA region with sustained EU framework programme participation, making them an irreplaceable partner for any consortium needing credible, on-the-ground research capacity in Lebanon and the broader Middle East. Unlike European institutions studying the region from afar, AUB brings embedded local knowledge, established fieldwork infrastructure, and access to communities and data that outside researchers cannot easily reach. Their combination of regional expertise with growing biomedical and social science capabilities makes them unusually versatile.

Highlights from their portfolio

• TARGETED-MPI
  Largest single funding (EUR 280,762) — gender equality monitoring and implementation project, representing AUB's expansion beyond traditional geopolitics.
• PAVE
  Addresses violent extremism prevention in both Balkans and MENA, positioning AUB at the intersection of security research and community resilience.
• PML-THERAPY
  A pure biomedical project on leukemia therapeutics — demonstrates AUB's research depth beyond social sciences and regional studies.