Australia Engages EU in Strategic Research and Innovation Talks
September 10On September 10, the European Commission announced the start of exploratory talks with Australia to potentially associate the country with Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme.
This move follows persistent lobbying from Australian universities, facing domestic funding challenges and geopolitical uncertainty in traditional partnerships.
The talks aim to explore participation costs and strategic alignment, with comparisons drawn to New Zealand’s €19 million commitment over four years. If successful, Australia would join other geographically distant democracies like Canada, South Korea, and New Zealand, reinforcing Horizon Europe’s global reach.
What This Means for AMIRES
Australia’s strong research ecosystem, particularly in health, energy, and advanced manufacturing, aligns well with our focus areas. After this exploratory talks with Australia, from AMIRES side, we anticipate:
- Broader consortium possibilities with Australian institutions.
- Increased innovation exchange across EU-Pacific regions.
- Strategic alignment with global R&D priorities.
This is a promising step toward a more inclusive and globally connected Horizon Europe.