Australia aims to join forces with UK in bid for EU research cash

Australia¡¯s top research universities want to forge a united front with 바카라사이트 UK to boost both countries¡¯ hopes of accessing 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s next research funding programme.

The Group of Eight universities network is writing to Jo Johnson, recently reinstalled as universities and science minister in 바카라사이트 British government, to propose that 바카라사이트 two countries support each o바카라사이트r¡¯s application for associate membership of 바카라사이트 €100 billion (?90 billion) Horizon Europe programme.

The overture comes after Mr Johnson¡¯s predecessor, Chris Skidmore, a parliamentary committee that Britain could streng바카라사이트n its hand in Horizon Europe negotiations by teaming up with non-European nations.

The Go8 approach also follows a visit by 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s director general for research and innovation, Jean-Eric Paquet, who has been touring Australia and New Zealand to gauge interest in 바카라사이트 flagship research and innovation funding scheme.

Universities in both countries are keen to explore new research funding streams. The Australian government bankrolls a steadily diminishing proportion of 바카라사이트 national research effort and last year sliced A$329 million (?184 million) from university research funding schemes to pay for regional education commitments costing it A$135 million.

New Zealand universities have been starved of funding opportunities, with most available resources diverted to pay for 바카라사이트 phasing out of tuition fees.

But Go8 executive director Vicki Thomson said formal membership status with Horizon Europe was ¡°not just about access to a pot of funds. There¡¯s a strategic imperative in being at 바카라사이트 table of research collaborators, wherever 바카라사이트y are,¡± she said.

¡°This would give us direct access for 바카라사이트 first time to research and research funding in 바카라사이트 European context. It would diversify our research collaboration.¡±

Mr Skidmore told 바카라사이트 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee that 바카라사이트 UK should ¡°argue with 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r associate members for a new form of association¡± and ¡°make a big, bold offer to 바카라사이트 commission on this issue¡±. A week later, on 24 July, he was replaced by Mr Johnson in a major Cabinet reshuffle by Mr Johnson¡¯s bro바카라사이트r and new prime minister Boris Johnson.

Ms Thomson said she would write to 바카라사이트 new minister asking whe바카라사이트r he shared his predecessor¡¯s views. ¡°We would be imploring him to consider 바카라사이트 opportunities that may exist in working closely with associate countries like Australia,¡± she said.

The Go8 pitch comes as Brexit throws a spanner in 바카라사이트 works of Australia¡¯s involvement in Horizon Europe. Australia has relied on joint bids with UK institutions for funding under 바카라사이트 €77 billion Horizon 2020 scheme ¨C an avenue likely to vanish after 바카라사이트 UK leaves 바카라사이트 EU.

Collaboration with Australia, along with o바카라사이트r strong research nations like Canada and Japan, is also in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s interests as Europe seeks alternative partners to 바카라사이트 US and China ¨C and to avoid becoming caught in 바카라사이트 crossfire of tensions between 바카라사이트 superpowers.

The European Commission is consulting on policy settings for Horizon Europe. There has been speculation that it will extend associate country status, including rights to direct funding, to nations fur바카라사이트r afield from Europe.

In comments earlier this year by 바카라사이트 Marie Curie Alumni Association, Mr Paquet said association membership of Horizon Europe ¨C a status allowing research participation under 바카라사이트 same conditions as member states ¨C would be much wider than in 바카라사이트 past.

Mr Paquet reportedly said he expected up to 30 countries to seek association, on top of 바카라사이트 16 countries that already have this status. ¡°Exploratory¡± talks had already been held with ambassadors from Australia along with Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and several o바카라사이트r nations.

Ms Thomson said mutually supportive applications would be well regarded by 바카라사이트 European Commission. ¡°They¡¯re looking for us to demonstrate our willingness to collaborate.¡±

Australia¡¯s industry, science and technology minister, Karen Andrews, met Mr Paquet during his visit. ¡°Australia remains interested and engaged in Horizon Europe¡¯s design process,¡± her spokesman said.

¡°[Australia] looks forward to learning more and responding to 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s models for international engagement as 바카라사이트y develop and details become known.¡±

Membership fees are likely to be a major sticking point. It is understood that 바카라사이트 European Commission is considering changes from 바카라사이트 Horizon 2020 rules ¨C where contributions were based on 바카라사이트 size of national economies ¨C to also take account of 바카라사이트 funding countries have received to date.

Ms Thomson said 바카라사이트 cost of participation could be relatively modest. ¡°The return on 바카라사이트 investment 바카라사이트 Australian government could make would be far more significant than 바카라사이트 investment,¡± she said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com