THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO

Their core work

The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a leading English-language university in the Middle East and North Africa region, contributing social science and regional expertise to European research projects. Their H2020 involvement centers on understanding extremism, religious identity, gender politics, and geopolitical dynamics in the MENA region. They serve as an essential on-the-ground research partner for European consortia that need deep contextual knowledge of Middle Eastern societies, political movements, and civil society dynamics.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

AUC's early H2020 engagement (2016) began with broad geopolitical analysis through the FEUTURE project on EU-Turkey relations. By 2020, their focus shifted sharply toward deeper societal questions — violent extremism prevention, religious pluralism, diaspora identity, and the global dynamics of anti-feminist movements. This evolution reflects a move from macro-level foreign policy research toward granular, community-level social analysis with direct policy relevance.

AUC is deepening its niche as a MENA-based partner for European research on radicalization, religious identity, and gender — expect continued demand for their regional expertise in Horizon Europe security and society calls.

How they like to work

AUC has never coordinated an H2020 project, consistently joining as a participant or third-party partner — a pattern typical of non-EU institutions contributing regional expertise to European-led consortia. With 29 unique partners across 19 countries from just 4 projects, they work in large, geographically diverse consortia. This suggests they are a sought-after regional specialist rather than a project driver, which makes them a low-risk, high-value addition for any consortium needing MENA-based fieldwork or analysis.

Despite only 4 projects, AUC has built a remarkably broad network of 29 partners across 19 countries, indicating participation in large multinational consortia. Their connections span Europe and the MENA region, making them a bridge institution between the two.

What sets them apart

AUC is one of very few Egypt-based institutions active in H2020, offering something European universities cannot replicate: embedded, on-the-ground research capacity in the Middle East with Western academic standards and English-language output. For any consortium addressing MENA security, migration, religious dynamics, or gender issues, AUC provides both academic rigor and genuine regional access. Their dual identity — American academic tradition in an Arab context — makes them a natural bridge partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CONNEKT
  Largest funded project (EUR 245,723), addressing violent extremism across MENA and Balkans with a focus on youth, women, and civil society prevention strategies.
• GlAntiFem
  Unusual and timely topic — mapping transnational anti-feminist networks among Islamic women's organizations, combining gender studies with political Islam research.