The INCOMMET proposal is a response to the Call FP7-INCO-2011-6 but is also relevant to the EU objectives of the Environment Work Programme. The INCOMMET project, coordinated by the National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (INSTM), the major public research institution in Tunisia in the field of oceanography and marine environments, and also involving the Université d'Aix-Marseille (AMU, France) and the Zoological Station of Naples (SZN, Italy) aims at increasing research excellence and visibility of INSTM, and fostering its participation into ERA.INCOMMET is structured in 6 WP providing ideal conditions to achieve its goals.To reinforce the management capacity of INSTM with EU projects, a twinned management will be ensured by INSTM and the European Research Grant Unit of AMU. The consortium will make a scientific literature review on Mediterranean areas close to Tunisia and will undertake a SWOT analysis of INSTM.This will define training courses, workshops, twinnings and visits targeting INSTM staff, early stage researchers, PhD and master students to improve INSTM scientific and technological capacities.To enhance EU-INSTM cooperations and visibility and increase INSTM’s participation in EU FP or related EU programmes, specific training will be provided by the EU Grant Unit of AMU to INSTM administrative staff and researchers.INCOMMET will elaborate a strategy to improve the internal and scientific structuring of INSTM and will conduct regional and national lobbying to increase the visibility of INSTM. INCOMMET will design an International Mixed Laboratory involving INSTM and its partners and elaborate a common EU research programme.The international scientific recognition of INSTM will be reinforced by strengthening communication and dissemination through a public website, production of leaflets, scientific DVDs, local conferences targeting socio-economic partners and stakeholders and a final international conference.