Today, the European Union and Australia have taken a major step in their partnership in research and innovation by officially launching negotiations for the association of Australia with Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship program with a budget of EUR 93.5 billion dedicated to scientific excellence and innovation.
This announcement follows the recent visit to Australia by the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and marks a new chapter in the relationship between the EU and Australia by deepening cooperation in cutting-edge technologies, climate solutions, health research, and resilient supply chains. By pooling their expertise and resources, the EU and Australia aim to translate scientific excellence into concrete outcomes, promoting advancements for the benefit of citizens, businesses, and the planet.
Australia already plays an active role in Horizon Europe, with researchers and organizations participating in over 200 projects in areas such as critical raw materials, clean energy, digital innovation, and health. A full association would further allow Australian entities to access EU funding directly, participate on equal terms with member states, and engage in long-term, large-scale collaborations with reduced administrative burdens.
Commissioner for Innovation, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, said: “Following the agreements reached last week between the EU and Australia, we are moving quickly to bring our innovation ecosystems closer together. This adds to the growing list of countries that share the same values and have chosen to join Horizon Europe, the largest and most prestigious research program in the world.”
To date, 22 countries are associated with Horizon Europe: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Egypt, Faeroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Korea, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Tunisia, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. For the next long-term EU budget (2028-2034), the Commission proposes to double the budget of Horizon Europe to EUR 175 billion.
